Enrollment
581
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Tan Valley, AZ
J. O. Combs Middle School
Federal NCES profile for J. O. Combs Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040399000320
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. O. Combs Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in San Tan Valley · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.5:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 33.9%
- free-lunch eligible
J. O. Combs Middle School has class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. O. Combs Middle School ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in San Tan Valley, AZ.
School address
District: J O Combs Unified School District (4445) · Arizona
NCES ID 040399000320 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.5:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J. O. Combs Middle School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at J. O. Combs Middle School
J. O. Combs Middle School is a mid-sized elementary school in San Tan Valley, Arizona, enrolling 581 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 33.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 581 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 312 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #139.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (44%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 291 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 58.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding J O Combs Unified School District (4445) spends $8,666 per pupil, 34% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 233 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 581 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among San Tan Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Legacy Traditional-San Tan (749 students): J. O. Combs Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
J O Combs Unified School District (4445) also operates Combs High School (1,182 students) and Ellsworth Elementary School (516 students) alongside J. O. Combs Middle 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 J. O. Combs Middle School compares
J. O. Combs Middle 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 | 21.5:1 | ▲ 26% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.9% | ▼ 30% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 581 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.5:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
581
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21.5:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 84% in Arizona - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
58.2%
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
$8,666
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 291 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
139
in-school suspensions + 94 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 23.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 40.1 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 44.6%
Hispanic or Latino 43.5%
African American 5.0%
Two or More 4.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 44.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.7, J. O. Combs Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for J O Combs Unified School District (4445), which includes J. O. Combs Middle School.
$8,666
Per student
-34%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.0%
State 53.2%
Federal 14.9%
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 J. O. Combs Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combs High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ellsworth Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ranch Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jack Harmon Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. O. Combs Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 384
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in San Tan Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Legacy Traditional-San Tan
Standard public school
749 students
Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy
Standard public school
728 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy San Tan Valley K-6
Standard public school
637 students
Champion San Tan
Standard public school
458 students
Happy Valley School East Campus
Standard public school
396 students
Combs Traditional Academy
Standard public school
211 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~581 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J. O. Combs Middle School's federal record.
- Compare J. O. Combs Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- J O Combs Unified School District (4445)'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 J. O. Combs Middle School
How many students attend J. O. Combs Middle School?
J. O. Combs Middle School has 581 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Tan Valley, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. O. Combs Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at J. O. Combs Middle School is 21.5:1, which is 26% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 37% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J. O. Combs Middle School?
33.9% of students at J. O. Combs Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. O. Combs Middle School?
The largest demographic group at J. O. Combs Middle School is White at 44.6% of enrollment, in San Tan Valley, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. O. Combs Middle School?
J. O. Combs Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 J. O. Combs Middle School rank among elementary schools in San Tan Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, J. O. Combs Middle School ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in San Tan Valley, 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 San Tan Valley on the city page.
Is J. O. Combs Middle School a good school?
J. O. Combs Middle School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. 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 J O Combs Unified School District (4445)?
Besides J. O. Combs Middle School, J O Combs Unified School District (4445) also operates Combs High School (1,182 students), Ellsworth Elementary School (516 students), and Ranch Elementary School (509 students). See the J O Combs Unified School District (4445) district page for the complete list.
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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.