Enrollment
2,005
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
Higley High School
Federal NCES profile for Higley High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040378002119
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Higley High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #39 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.7:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 8.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Higley High School has class sizes larger than 74% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Higley High School ranks #39 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Higley Unified School District (4248) · Arizona
NCES ID 040378002119 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
102.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.7:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
8.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-83% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Higley High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Higley High School
Higley High School is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 2,005 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 8.0% free-meal eligibility runs 83% below the Arizona average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 97% of state schools at 2,005 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 41 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #18.
Its student body is led by White (64%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 501 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
The surrounding Higley Unified School District (4248) spends $8,545 per pupil, 35% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Gilbert's public schools, it stands alongside Williams Field High School (2,150 students): Higley High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.7:1 vs 21.9:1).
Higley Unified School District (4248) also operates Williams Field High School (2,150 students) and Sossaman Middle School (1,094 students) alongside Higley High 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 Higley High School compares
Higley High 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 | 19.7:1 | ▲ 16% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 8.0% | ▼ 83% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,005 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,005
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
8.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 83% 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
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 74% in Arizona - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$8,545
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 501 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 115 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 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 64.2%
Hispanic or Latino 21.0%
Two or More 6.9%
African American 3.6%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 64.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.7, Higley High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 22
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Higley Unified School District (4248), which includes Higley High School.
$8,545
Per student
-35%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-49%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 40.1%
State 48.7%
Federal 11.2%
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 Higley High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Field High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sossaman Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Tan Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cooley Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bridges Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Higley High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,150
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,094
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 854
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 795
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 770
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Gilbert
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Williams Field High School
Standard public school
2,150 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Gateway Pointe Elementary
Standard public school
685 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Arete Prep
Standard public school
540 students
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Gilbert
Standard public school
259 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 (~2,005 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Higley High School's federal record.
- Compare Higley High School against another school. Compare schools
- Higley Unified School District (4248)'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 Higley High School
How many students attend Higley High School?
Higley High School has 2,005 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Higley High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Higley High School is 19.7:1, which is 16% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Higley High School?
8.0% of students at Higley High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Higley High School?
The largest demographic group at Higley High School is White at 64.2% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Higley High School?
Higley High School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Higley High School rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, Higley High School ranks #39 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gilbert on the city page.
Is Higley High School a good school?
Higley High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Higley Unified School District (4248)?
Besides Higley High School, Higley Unified School District (4248) also operates Williams Field High School (2,150 students), Sossaman Middle School (1,094 students), and San Tan Elementary (854 students). See the Higley Unified School District (4248) 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.