Enrollment
726
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
Higley Traditional Academy
Federal NCES profile for Higley Traditional Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040378001392
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Higley Traditional Academy earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #29 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- students per teacher
- 13.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Higley Traditional Academy has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Higley Traditional Academy ranks #29 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Higley Unified School District (4248) · Arizona
NCES ID 040378001392 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
13.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Higley Traditional Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Higley Traditional Academy
Higley Traditional Academy is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 726 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.1:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 13.9% free-meal eligibility runs 71% below the Arizona average.
Enrollment of 726 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 227 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #76.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%) (diversity index 62/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 35.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
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 Traditional Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.1:1 vs 21.9:1).
Higley Unified School District (4248) also operates Williams Field High School (2,150 students) and Higley High School (2,005 students) alongside Higley 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 Higley Traditional Academy compares
Higley 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 6% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.9% | ▼ 71% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 726 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
726
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
13.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 64% in Arizona - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
35.3%
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
$8,545
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 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 55.5%
Hispanic or Latino 24.2%
African American 7.0%
Asian 6.3%
Two or More 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, Higley 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 Higley Unified School District (4248), which includes Higley Traditional Academy.
$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 Traditional Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Field High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Higley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sossaman Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Tan Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cooley Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Higley Traditional Academy'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
- 2,005
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- 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
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 (~726 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Higley Traditional Academy's federal record.
- Compare Higley Traditional Academy 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 Traditional Academy
How many students attend Higley Traditional Academy?
Higley Traditional Academy has 726 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Higley Traditional Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Higley Traditional Academy is 18.1:1, which is 6% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Higley Traditional Academy?
13.9% of students at Higley Traditional Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Higley Traditional Academy?
The largest demographic group at Higley Traditional Academy is White at 55.5% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Higley Traditional Academy?
Higley 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 Higley Traditional Academy rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, Higley Traditional Academy ranks #29 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 Traditional Academy a good school?
Higley Traditional Academy earns 36/100 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 Higley Unified School District (4248)?
Besides Higley Traditional Academy, Higley Unified School District (4248) also operates Williams Field High School (2,150 students), Higley High School (2,005 students), and Sossaman Middle School (1,094 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.