Enrollment
495
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tucson, AZ
Esperero Canyon Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Esperero Canyon Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040176001487
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Esperero Canyon Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #7 of 25
- middle schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 10.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Esperero Canyon Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Esperero Canyon Middle School ranks #7 of 25 middle schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410) · Arizona
NCES ID 040176001487 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-79% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Esperero Canyon Middle School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Esperero Canyon Middle School
Esperero Canyon Middle School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Tucson, Arizona, enrolling 495 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.0% free-meal eligibility runs 79% below the Arizona average.
With 495 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 159 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #30.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (35%) (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 248 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410) spends $9,138 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Tucson's middle schools, it stands alongside Apollo Middle School (480 students): Esperero Canyon Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.6:1 vs 14.1:1).
Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410) also operates Catalina Foothills High School (1,865 students) and Orange Grove Middle School (683 students) alongside Esperero Canyon Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Esperero Canyon Middle School compares
Esperero Canyon Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.0% | ▼ 79% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 495 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
495
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 32% in Arizona - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.1%
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
$9,138
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 248 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
25
in-school suspensions + 42 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 52.1%
Hispanic or Latino 35.2%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 3.8%
African American 1.8%
Largest group: White at 52.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.8, Esperero Canyon Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410), which includes Esperero Canyon Middle School.
$9,138
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-45%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 61.5%
State 30.3%
Federal 8.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Esperero Canyon Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Foothills High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orange Grove Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manzanita School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Drive Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ventana Vista Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Esperero Canyon Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,865
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 683
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 579
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 469
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 411
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Tucson
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~495 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Esperero Canyon Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Esperero Canyon Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Esperero Canyon Middle School
How many students attend Esperero Canyon Middle School?
Esperero Canyon Middle School has 495 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tucson, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Esperero Canyon Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Esperero Canyon Middle School is 14.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Esperero Canyon Middle School?
10.0% of students at Esperero Canyon Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Esperero Canyon Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Esperero Canyon Middle School is White at 52.1% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Esperero Canyon Middle School?
Esperero Canyon Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Esperero Canyon Middle School rank among middle schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Esperero Canyon Middle School ranks #7 of 25 middle 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 middle schools in Tucson on the city page.
Is Esperero Canyon Middle School a good school?
Esperero Canyon Middle School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410)?
Besides Esperero Canyon Middle School, Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410) also operates Catalina Foothills High School (1,865 students), Orange Grove Middle School (683 students), and Manzanita School (579 students). See the Catalina Foothills Unified District (4410) district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.