- Enrollment
- 1,881
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tucson, AZ
Desert Willow Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Willow Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040885001003
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Willow Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Arizona schools.
- #19 of 54
- elementary schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.3:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 26.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Willow Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Willow Elementary School ranks #19 of 54 elementary schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Vail Unified District (4413) · Arizona
NCES ID 040885001003 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+47 students YoY
Desert Willow Elementary School grew from 712 students in 2022-23 to 759 in 2023-24 (+6.6%).
Teacher FTE added 42.7 → 44.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+47 students YoY 040885001003 · Tucson, AZ Elementary · MID · TRAD
811 enr · 19.3:1 · 26.0% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Cienega High School (1,881 students)
Desert Willow Elementary School grew from 712 students in 2022-23 to 759 in 2023-24 (+6.6%). Teacher FTE added 42.7 → 44.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Willow Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cienega High S
Cienega High School
1,881 students
- Mica Mountain
Mica Mountain High
1,319 students
- Empire High Sc
Empire High School
886 students
- Andrada Polyte
Andrada Polytechnic High School
836 students
- This school
Desert Willow Elementary School
811 students
- Old Vail Middl
Old Vail Middle School
811 students
What this shows Desert Willow Elementary School reports 811 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Willow Elementary School compares
Desert Willow Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.3:1 | ▲ 14% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.0% | ▼ 46% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 811 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.3:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
811
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.3:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 71% in Arizona - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
37.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,071
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 47.3%
White 36.5%
Two or More 8.1%
African American 6.8%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.2, Desert Willow Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Vail Unified District (4413) reports $10,071 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Willow Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cienega High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mica Mountain High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Empire High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Andrada Polytechnic High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Old Vail Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Willow Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,319
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 886
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 836
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar elementary schools in Tucson
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Los Amigos Elementary School
Standard public school
613 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Sonoran Science Academy East
Standard public school
467 students
Legacy Traditional School - East Tucson
Standard public school
439 students
Summit View Elementary
Standard public school
403 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Da Vinci Tree Academy
Standard public school
265 students
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~811 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Willow Elementary School
How many students attend Desert Willow Elementary School?
Desert Willow Elementary School has 811 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tucson, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 712 (2022-23) → 759 (2023-24), up 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Elementary School is 19.3:1, which is 14% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Willow Elementary School?
26.0% of students at Desert Willow Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Willow Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Willow Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 47.3% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Willow Elementary School?
Desert Willow Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Willow Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Willow Elementary School ranks #19 of 54 elementary schools in Tucson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Tucson on the city page.
What other schools are in Vail Unified District (4413)?
Besides Desert Willow Elementary School, Vail Unified District (4413) also operates Cienega High School (1,881 students), Mica Mountain High (1,319 students), and Empire High School (886 students). See the Vail Unified District (4413) district page for the complete list.