Enrollment
1,003
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mesa, AZ
Gateway Polytechnic Academy
Federal NCES profile for Gateway Polytechnic Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040681003477
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gateway Polytechnic Academy earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #45 of 70
- schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- students per teacher
- 7.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Gateway Polytechnic Academy has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gateway Polytechnic Academy ranks #45 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Queen Creek Unified District (4245) · Arizona
NCES ID 040681003477 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
54.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
7.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-84% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gateway Polytechnic Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gateway Polytechnic Academy
Gateway Polytechnic Academy is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Mesa, Arizona, enrolling 1,003 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 7.9% free-meal eligibility runs 84% below the Arizona average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 91% of state schools at 1,003 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 145 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #66.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%) (diversity index 50/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 1003 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Queen Creek Unified District (4245) spends $8,699 per pupil, 34% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Mesa's public schools, it stands alongside Eastmark High School (1,889 students): Gateway Polytechnic Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.6:1 vs 23.6:1).
Queen Creek Unified District (4245) also operates Crismon High School (2,009 students) and Queen Creek High School (1,968 students) alongside Gateway Polytechnic 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 Gateway Polytechnic Academy compares
Gateway Polytechnic 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 9% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 7.9% | ▼ 84% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,003 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,003
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
7.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 84% 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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 67% in Arizona - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.3%
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
$8,699
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 1003 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 66.9%
Hispanic or Latino 21.6%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 3.0%
African American 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 66.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.1, Gateway Polytechnic Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Queen Creek Unified District (4245), which includes Gateway Polytechnic Academy.
$8,699
Per student
-34%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.3%
State 62.2%
Federal 7.5%
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 Gateway Polytechnic Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crismon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Queen Creek High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastmark High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Silver Valley Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gateway Polytechnic Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,009
- Students per teacher
- 44.6:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
- Enrollment
- 1,968
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Mesa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eastmark High School
Standard public school
1,889 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School
Standard public school
1,711 students
Silver Valley Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Astravo Online Academy
Standard public school
849 students
Eagleridge Enrichment Program
Standard public school
694 students 63.1:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy Virtual
Standard public school
660 students
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 (~1,003 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gateway Polytechnic Academy's federal record.
- Compare Gateway Polytechnic Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Queen Creek Unified District (4245)'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 Gateway Polytechnic Academy
How many students attend Gateway Polytechnic Academy?
Gateway Polytechnic Academy has 1,003 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mesa, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gateway Polytechnic Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Gateway Polytechnic Academy is 18.6:1, which is 9% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gateway Polytechnic Academy?
7.9% of students at Gateway Polytechnic Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gateway Polytechnic Academy?
The largest demographic group at Gateway Polytechnic Academy is White at 66.9% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gateway Polytechnic Academy?
Gateway Polytechnic Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Gateway Polytechnic Academy rank among schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Gateway Polytechnic Academy ranks #45 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mesa on the city page.
Is Gateway Polytechnic Academy a good school?
Gateway Polytechnic Academy earns 32/100 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 Queen Creek Unified District (4245)?
Besides Gateway Polytechnic Academy, Queen Creek Unified District (4245) also operates Crismon High School (2,009 students), Queen Creek High School (1,968 students), and Eastmark High School (1,889 students). See the Queen Creek Unified District (4245) 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.