- Enrollment
- 1,182
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-59 students YoY
J. O. Combs Middle School shrank from 655 students in 2022-23 to 596 in 2023-24 (-9.0%).
Teacher FTE added 27.9 → 30.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-59 students YoY 040399000320 · San Tan Valley, AZ Elementary · MID · TRAD
581 enr · 21.5:1 · 33.9% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Combs High School (1,182 students)
J. O. Combs Middle School shrank from 655 students in 2022-23 to 596 in 2023-24 (-9.0%). Teacher FTE added 27.9 → 30.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
J. O. Combs Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Combs High Sch
Combs High School
1,182 students
- This school
J. O. Combs Middle School
581 students
- Ellsworth Elem
Ellsworth Elementary School
516 students
- Ranch Elementa
Ranch Elementary School
509 students
- Kathryn Sue Si 384
Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary
384 students
- Jack Harmon El 382
Jack Harmon Elementary School
382 students
What this shows J. O. Combs Middle School reports 581 students on the CCD universe file.
How J. O. Combs Middle School compares
J. O. Combs Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$9,719
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
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.
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
District finance for J O Combs Unified School District (4445) reports $9,719 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~581 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 655 (2022-23) → 596 (2023-24), down 59.
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.