- Enrollment
- 1,840
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Maricopa, AZ
Desert Wind Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Wind Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040472002914
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Wind Middle School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #9 of 16
- public schools in Maricopa · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.3:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 43.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Wind Middle School has class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Wind Middle School ranks #9 of 16 public schools in Maricopa, AZ.
School address
District: Maricopa Unified School District (4441) · Arizona
NCES ID 040472002914 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+86 students YoY
Desert Wind Middle School grew from 817 students in 2022-23 to 903 in 2023-24 (+10.5%).
Teacher FTE added 37.9 → 44.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+86 students YoY 040472002914 · Maricopa, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
898 enr · 24.3:1 · 43.0% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Maricopa High School (1,840 students)
Desert Wind Middle School grew from 817 students in 2022-23 to 903 in 2023-24 (+10.5%). Teacher FTE added 37.9 → 44.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Wind Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Maricopa High
Maricopa High School
1,840 students
- Desert Sunrise
Desert Sunrise High School
1,261 students
- Santa Cruz Ele
Santa Cruz Elementary School
941 students
- Maricopa Wells
Maricopa Wells Middle School
940 students
- Butterfield El
Butterfield Elementary School
920 students
- This school
Desert Wind Middle School
898 students
What this shows Desert Wind Middle School reports 898 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Wind Middle School compares
Desert Wind Middle 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 | 24.3:1 | ▲ 43% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.0% | ▼ 11% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 898 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.3:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
898
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.3:1
students per teacher
- 43% above state mean
Top 93% in Arizona - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
55.6%
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
$9,671
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 299 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
244
in-school suspensions + 167 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 45.4%
White 21.9%
African American 19.0%
Two or More 8.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.6%
Asian 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.2, Desert Wind Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Maricopa Unified School District (4441) reports $9,671 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Wind Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Sunrise High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santa Cruz Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Maricopa Wells Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Butterfield Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Wind Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,261
- Students per teacher
- 42:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 940
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 920
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~898 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Wind Middle School
How many students attend Desert Wind Middle School?
Desert Wind Middle School has 898 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Maricopa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 817 (2022-23) → 903 (2023-24), up 86.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Wind Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Wind Middle School is 24.3:1, which is 43% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Wind Middle School?
43.0% of students at Desert Wind Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Wind Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Wind Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 45.4% of enrollment, in Maricopa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Wind Middle School?
Desert Wind Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Wind Middle School rank among public schools in Maricopa?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Wind Middle School ranks #9 of 16 public schools in Maricopa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Maricopa on the city page.
What other schools are in Maricopa Unified School District (4441)?
Besides Desert Wind Middle School, Maricopa Unified School District (4441) also operates Maricopa High School (1,840 students), Desert Sunrise High School (1,261 students), and Santa Cruz Elementary School (941 students). See the Maricopa Unified School District (4441) district page for the complete list.