Enrollment
410
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Douglas, AZ
Joe Carlson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Joe Carlson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040253000190
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joe Carlson Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in Douglas · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.5:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 79.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Joe Carlson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 78% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joe Carlson Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 schools in Douglas, AZ.
School address
District: Douglas Unified District (4174) · Arizona
NCES ID 040253000190 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.5:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
79.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+64% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Joe Carlson Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Joe Carlson Elementary School
Joe Carlson Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Douglas, Arizona, enrolling 410 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 79.0% of students qualify for free meals, 64% above the Arizona average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 410 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 240 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #174, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (98% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 4/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 820 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 62.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Douglas Unified District (4174) spends $9,602 per pupil, 27% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 23.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Douglas Unified District (4174) also operates Douglas High School (1,288 students) and Stevenson Elementary School (392 students) alongside Joe Carlson 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 Joe Carlson Elementary School compares
Joe Carlson 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 | 20.5:1 | ▲ 21% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.0% | ▲ 64% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 410 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.5:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
410
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
79.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 78% in Arizona - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
62.9%
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
$9,602
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 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 98.0%
White 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Two or More 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 98.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 3.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 3.9, Joe Carlson Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Douglas Unified District (4174), which includes Joe Carlson Elementary School.
$9,602
Per student
-27%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-42%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 12.2%
State 64.6%
Federal 23.2%
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 Joe Carlson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Stevenson Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paul H Huber Jr High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ray Borane Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clawson School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joe Carlson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,288
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 392
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 381
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 344
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
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 (~410 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Joe Carlson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Joe Carlson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Douglas Unified District (4174)'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 Joe Carlson Elementary School
How many students attend Joe Carlson Elementary School?
Joe Carlson Elementary School has 410 students enrolled. It is a public school in Douglas, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joe Carlson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joe Carlson Elementary School is 20.5:1, which is 21% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joe Carlson Elementary School?
79.0% of students at Joe Carlson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joe Carlson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Joe Carlson Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 98.0% of enrollment, in Douglas, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joe Carlson Elementary School?
Joe Carlson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (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 Joe Carlson Elementary School rank among schools in Douglas?
By Resource Investment Index, Joe Carlson Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 schools in Douglas, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Douglas on the city page.
Is Joe Carlson Elementary School a good school?
Joe Carlson Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Arizona schools. 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 Douglas Unified District (4174)?
Besides Joe Carlson Elementary School, Douglas Unified District (4174) also operates Douglas High School (1,288 students), Stevenson Elementary School (392 students), and Paul H Huber Jr High School (381 students). See the Douglas Unified District (4174) 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.