Enrollment
686
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
James W. Rice Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James W. Rice Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040060000007
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James W. Rice Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #127 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 62.0%
- free-lunch eligible
James W. Rice Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James W. Rice Elementary School ranks #127 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Alhambra Elementary District (4280) · Arizona
NCES ID 040060000007 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James W. Rice Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at James W. Rice Elementary School
James W. Rice Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 686 students.
At 17.6:1, 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.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 62.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 686 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 301 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #202.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (91% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 18/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 343 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 76.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 36.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 150 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 686 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Phoenix's public schools, it stands alongside Pan-American Charter School (1,221 students): James W. Rice Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Alhambra Elementary District (4280) also operates Granada Elementary School-West Campus (905 students) and Barcelona Elementary School (847 students) alongside James W. Rice 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 James W. Rice Elementary School compares
James W. Rice 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 | 17.6:1 | ▲ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.0% | ▲ 28% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 686 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
686
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 60% in Arizona - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
76.7%
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
$11,648
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 343 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
92
in-school suspensions + 58 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.9 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
Hispanic or Latino 90.5%
Asian 3.5%
African American 3.1%
White 1.6%
Two or More 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 90.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.8, James W. Rice Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alhambra Elementary District (4280), which includes James W. Rice Elementary School.
$11,648
Per student
-11%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.7%
State 42.7%
Federal 36.6%
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 James W. Rice Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granada Elementary School-West Campus | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Barcelona Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Catalina Ventura School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Alhambra Traditional School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sevilla Elementary School-East Campus | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James W. Rice Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 905
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 842
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 733
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 717
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
Similar other schools in Phoenix
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pan-American Charter School
Standard public school
1,221 students
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep
Standard public school
1,031 students
Westwind Elementary School
Standard public school
932 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stetson Hills School
Standard public school
887 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Union Park School
Standard public school
873 students 19:1 students per teacher
Fireside Elementary School
Standard public school
693 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~686 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James W. Rice Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare James W. Rice Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Alhambra Elementary District (4280)'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 James W. Rice Elementary School
How many students attend James W. Rice Elementary School?
James W. Rice Elementary School has 686 students enrolled. It is a public school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James W. Rice Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James W. Rice Elementary School is 17.6:1, which is 4% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James W. Rice Elementary School?
62.0% of students at James W. Rice Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James W. Rice Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James W. Rice Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 90.5% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James W. Rice Elementary School?
James W. Rice Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 James W. Rice Elementary School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, James W. Rice Elementary School ranks #127 of 179 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 schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is James W. Rice Elementary School a good school?
James W. Rice Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Alhambra Elementary District (4280)?
Besides James W. Rice Elementary School, Alhambra Elementary District (4280) also operates Granada Elementary School-West Campus (905 students), Barcelona Elementary School (847 students), and Catalina Ventura School (842 students). See the Alhambra Elementary District (4280) 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.