Enrollment
424
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Phoenix, AZ
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Horseshoe Trails Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040000102484
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #10 of 15
- elementary schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17:1
- students per teacher
- 3.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Horseshoe Trails Elementary School ranks #10 of 15 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Cave Creek Unified District (4244) · Arizona
NCES ID 040000102484 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+0% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
3.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-92% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Horseshoe Trails Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 424 students.
At 17:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arizona median, within a few percentage points of the 17:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 3.9% free-meal eligibility runs 92% below the Arizona average.
With 424 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 86 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #72, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (80% of enrollment) (diversity index 35/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Cave Creek Unified District (4244) spends $8,436 per pupil, 36% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Phoenix's elementary schools, it stands alongside Academy of Math and Science Avondale (1,175 students): Horseshoe Trails Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Cave Creek Unified District (4244) also operates Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students) and Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students) alongside Horseshoe Trails Elementary 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 Horseshoe Trails Elementary School compares
Horseshoe Trails Elementary 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 | 17:1 | ▼ 0% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 3.9% | ▼ 92% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 424 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
424
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
3.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 92% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 54% in Arizona - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.5%
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
$8,436
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
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 80.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 2.6%
African American 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.7, Horseshoe Trails Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cave Creek Unified District (4244), which includes Horseshoe Trails Elementary School.
$8,436
Per student
-36%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-49%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 65.6%
State 24.9%
Federal 9.4%
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 Horseshoe Trails Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus Shadows High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sonoran Trails Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lone Mountain Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Horseshoe Trails Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,362
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 338
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Phoenix
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Academy of Math and Science Avondale
Standard public school
1,175 students
Kyrene Altadena Middle School
Standard public school
857 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Catalina Ventura School
Standard public school
842 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Inspiration Mountain School
Standard public school
789 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Alhambra Traditional School
Standard public school
733 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Legacy Traditional School - North Phoenix
Standard public school
567 students
Similar elementary 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 (~424 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Horseshoe Trails Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Horseshoe Trails Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Cave Creek Unified District (4244)'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 Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
How many students attend Horseshoe Trails Elementary School?
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School has 424 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School is 17:1, which is 0% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School?
3.9% of students at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horseshoe Trails Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Horseshoe Trails Elementary School is White at 80.0% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horseshoe Trails Elementary School?
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Horseshoe Trails Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Horseshoe Trails Elementary School ranks #10 of 15 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Horseshoe Trails Elementary School a good school?
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School earns 26/100 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 Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Besides Horseshoe Trails Elementary School, Cave Creek Unified District (4244) also operates Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students), Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students), and Black Mountain Elementary School (496 students). See the Cave Creek Unified District (4244) 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.