Enrollment
529
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Surprise, AZ
Freedom Traditional Academy
Federal NCES profile for Freedom Traditional Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040269003656
👥 S:T ratio 4
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Freedom Traditional Academy earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Arizona schools.
- #7 of 14
- schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 30.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Freedom Traditional Academy has class sizes larger than 92% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Freedom Traditional Academy ranks #7 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269003656 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+41% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Freedom Traditional Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Freedom Traditional Academy
Freedom Traditional Academy is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Surprise, Arizona, enrolling 529 students.
Class loads run heavy: 24:1 is larger than about 92% of Arizona schools and 41% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 30.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 529 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 280 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #77.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (38%) (diversity index 63/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dysart Unified District (4243) spends $9,891 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Surprise's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy West Foothills K-12 (2,276 students): Freedom Traditional Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students) and Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students) alongside Freedom Traditional Academy.
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 Freedom Traditional Academy compares
Freedom Traditional Academy on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24:1 | ▲ 41% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.8% | ▼ 36% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 529 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
529
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
24:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 92% in Arizona - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
26.8%
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
$9,891
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 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 46.5%
Hispanic or Latino 37.6%
Two or More 8.5%
African American 5.1%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 46.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.2, Freedom Traditional Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dysart Unified District (4243), which includes Freedom Traditional Academy.
$9,891
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.2%
State 44.3%
Federal 17.5%
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 Freedom Traditional Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Freedom Traditional Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,212
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,901
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,471
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Surprise
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other 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 (~529 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Freedom Traditional Academy's federal record.
- Compare Freedom Traditional Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Dysart Unified District (4243)'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 Freedom Traditional Academy
How many students attend Freedom Traditional Academy?
Freedom Traditional Academy has 529 students enrolled. It is a public school in Surprise, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Freedom Traditional Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Freedom Traditional Academy is 24:1, which is 41% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 53% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Freedom Traditional Academy?
30.8% of students at Freedom Traditional Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Freedom Traditional Academy?
The largest demographic group at Freedom Traditional Academy is White at 46.5% of enrollment, in Surprise, 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 Freedom Traditional Academy?
Freedom Traditional Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Freedom Traditional Academy rank among schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Freedom Traditional Academy ranks #7 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Surprise on the city page.
Is Freedom Traditional Academy a good school?
Freedom Traditional Academy earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Arizona schools. 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 Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Freedom Traditional Academy, Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students), Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students), and Willow Canyon High School (1,901 students). See the Dysart Unified District (4243) 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.