- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Explorer Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Explorer Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040593001230
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Explorer Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #8 of 24
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- students per teacher
- 4.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Explorer Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Explorer Middle School ranks #8 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593001230 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-37 students YoY
Explorer Middle School shrank from 678 students in 2022-23 to 641 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 34.8 → 30.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-37 students YoY 040593001230 · Phoenix, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
607 enr · 17.9:1 · 4.9% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Explorer Middle School shrank from 678 students in 2022-23 to 641 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE lost 34.8 → 30.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Explorer Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinnacle High
Pinnacle High School
2,430 students
- Paradise Valle
Paradise Valley High School
1,900 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,767 students
- North Canyon H
North Canyon High School
1,560 students
- Shadow Mountai
Shadow Mountain High School
1,080 students
- This school 607
Explorer Middle School
607 students
What this shows Explorer Middle School reports 607 students on the CCD universe file.
How Explorer Middle School compares
Explorer Middle School is a shrinking 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 | 17.9:1 | ▲ 5% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 4.9% | ▼ 90% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 607 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
607
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
4.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% 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
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 62% in Arizona - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
45.1%
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
$11,848
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 304 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 77.9%
Hispanic or Latino 12.9%
Two or More 4.4%
Asian 3.1%
African American 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 77.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.3, Explorer Middle School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) reports $11,848 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Explorer Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Explorer Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~607 students)
Frequently asked questions about Explorer Middle School
How many students attend Explorer Middle School?
Explorer Middle School has 607 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 678 (2022-23) → 641 (2023-24), down 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Explorer Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Explorer Middle School is 17.9:1, which is 5% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Explorer Middle School?
4.9% of students at Explorer Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Explorer Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Explorer Middle School is White at 77.9% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Explorer Middle School?
Explorer Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Explorer Middle School rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Explorer Middle School ranks #8 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, 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 Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Explorer Middle School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) district page for the complete list.