- Enrollment
- 1,881
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Tucson, AZ
Empire High School
Federal NCES profile for Empire High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040885002552
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Empire High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Arizona schools.
- #16 of 38
- high schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.1:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 16.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Empire High School has class sizes larger than 81% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Empire High School ranks #16 of 38 high schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Vail Unified District (4413) · Arizona
NCES ID 040885002552 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Empire High School held near 888 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 42.3 → 43.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 040885002552 · Tucson, AZ High · MID · TRAD
886 enr · 21.1:1 · 16.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Cienega High School (1,881 students)
Empire High School held near 888 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 42.3 → 43.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Empire High 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
- This school
Empire High School
886 students
- Andrada Polyte
Andrada Polytechnic High School
836 students
- Old Vail Middl
Old Vail Middle School
811 students
- Desert Willow
Desert Willow Elementary School
811 students
What this shows Empire High School reports 886 students on the CCD universe file.
How Empire High School compares
Empire High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.1:1 | ▲ 24% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.0% | ▼ 67% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 886 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.1:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
886
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
16.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 67% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.1:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 81% in Arizona - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
29.2%
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
Counselors3.2 FTE
Per 276 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.8%
Hispanic or Latino 34.8%
Two or More 7.0%
African American 3.5%
Asian 3.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 50.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.4, Empire High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
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 Empire High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cienega High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mica Mountain High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Andrada Polytechnic High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Old Vail Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Empire High 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
- 836
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar high schools in Tucson
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Mica Mountain High
Standard public school
1,319 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Innovation Tech High School
Standard public school
333 students 27.8:1 students per teacher
Project More High School
Alternative education program
61 students 7.6:1 students per teacher
Jted Innovative Learning Center @ the Bridges
Vocational / career-technical school
3 students
Nationwide high 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 (~886 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Empire High School
How many students attend Empire High School?
Empire High School has 886 students enrolled. It is a high school in Tucson, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 876 (2022-23) → 888 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Empire High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Empire High School is 21.1:1, which is 24% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 34% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Empire High School?
16.0% of students at Empire High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Empire High School?
The largest demographic group at Empire High School is White at 50.8% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Empire High School?
Empire High School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Empire High School rank among high schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Empire High School ranks #16 of 38 high 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 high schools in Tucson on the city page.
What other schools are in Vail Unified District (4413)?
Besides Empire High School, Vail Unified District (4413) also operates Cienega High School (1,881 students), Mica Mountain High (1,319 students), and Andrada Polytechnic High School (836 students). See the Vail Unified District (4413) district page for the complete list.