- Enrollment
- 932
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Avondale, AZ
Garden Lakes Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Garden Lakes Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040621001499
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Garden Lakes Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Arizona schools.
- #5 of 8
- schools in Avondale · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.4:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 44.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Garden Lakes Elementary School has class sizes larger than 88% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Garden Lakes Elementary School ranks #5 of 8 schools in Avondale, AZ.
School address
District: Pendergast Elementary District (4283) · Arizona
NCES ID 040621001499 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Garden Lakes Elementary School held near 908 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 43.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+23 students YoY 040621001499 · Avondale, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
941 enr · 22.4:1 · 44.0% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Westwind Elementary School (932 students)
Garden Lakes Elementary School held near 908 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount). Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 43.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Garden Lakes Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Garden Lakes Elementary School
941 students
- Westwind Eleme
Westwind Elementary School
932 students
- Copper King El
Copper King Elementary
738 students
- Desert Horizon
Desert Horizon Elementary School
690 students
- Desert Mirage
Desert Mirage Elementary School
675 students
- Pendergast Ele
Pendergast Elementary School
665 students
What this shows Garden Lakes Elementary School reports 941 students on the CCD universe file.
How Garden Lakes Elementary School compares
Garden Lakes Elementary 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 | 22.4:1 | ▲ 32% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.0% | ▼ 9% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 941 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.4:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
941
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
22.4:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 88% in Arizona - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
36.0%
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
$10,225
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 941 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 63.4%
White 16.9%
African American 10.1%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.5, Garden Lakes Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pendergast Elementary District (4283) reports $10,225 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Garden Lakes Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwind Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Copper King Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Horizon Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Mirage Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pendergast Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Garden Lakes Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 738
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 690
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 675
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Avondale
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~941 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Garden Lakes Elementary School
How many students attend Garden Lakes Elementary School?
Garden Lakes Elementary School has 941 students enrolled. It is a public school in Avondale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 885 (2022-23) → 908 (2023-24), nearly flat (+23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Garden Lakes Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Garden Lakes Elementary School is 22.4:1, which is 32% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Garden Lakes Elementary School?
44.0% of students at Garden Lakes Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Garden Lakes Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Garden Lakes Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.4% of enrollment, in Avondale, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Garden Lakes Elementary School?
Garden Lakes Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 Garden Lakes Elementary School rank among schools in Avondale?
By Resource Investment Index, Garden Lakes Elementary School ranks #5 of 8 schools in Avondale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Avondale on the city page.
What other schools are in Pendergast Elementary District (4283)?
Besides Garden Lakes Elementary School, Pendergast Elementary District (4283) also operates Westwind Elementary School (932 students), Copper King Elementary (738 students), and Desert Horizon Elementary School (690 students). See the Pendergast Elementary District (4283) district page for the complete list.