Enrollment
356
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Flagstaff, AZ
John Q Thomas Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for John Q Thomas Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040286000225
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Q Thomas Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #7 of 14
- schools in Flagstaff · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.7:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 60.8%
- free-lunch eligible
John Q Thomas Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 81% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Q Thomas Elementary School ranks #7 of 14 schools in Flagstaff, AZ.
School address
District: Flagstaff Unified District (4192) · Arizona
NCES ID 040286000225 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.7:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How John Q Thomas Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at John Q Thomas Elementary School
John Q Thomas Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Flagstaff, Arizona, enrolling 356 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 60.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 356 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 250 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #95.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (46%) and American Indian / Alaska Native (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 356 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 64.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Flagstaff's public schools, it stands alongside Northland Preparatory Academy (637 students): John Q Thomas Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Flagstaff Unified District (4192) also operates Flagstaff High School (1,631 students) and Coconino High School (1,444 students) alongside John Q Thomas 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 John Q Thomas Elementary School compares
John Q Thomas 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 | 12.7:1 | ▼ 25% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.8% | ▲ 26% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 356 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
356
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 19% in Arizona - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
64.3%
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
$11,218
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 356 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 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 46.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 23.3%
White 22.8%
Two or More 5.9%
African American 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.6, John Q Thomas Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Flagstaff Unified District (4192), which includes John Q Thomas Elementary School.
$11,218
Per student
-15%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 61.3%
State 20.2%
Federal 18.4%
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 John Q Thomas Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coconino High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sinagua Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mount Elden Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manuel Demiguel Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John Q Thomas Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,631
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,444
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 561
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Flagstaff
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~356 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on John Q Thomas Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare John Q Thomas Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Flagstaff Unified District (4192)'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 John Q Thomas Elementary School
How many students attend John Q Thomas Elementary School?
John Q Thomas Elementary School has 356 students enrolled. It is a public school in Flagstaff, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Q Thomas Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at John Q Thomas Elementary School is 12.7:1, which is 25% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 19% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at John Q Thomas Elementary School?
60.8% of students at John Q Thomas Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Q Thomas Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at John Q Thomas Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 46.3% of enrollment, in Flagstaff, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Q Thomas Elementary School?
John Q Thomas Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 John Q Thomas Elementary School rank among schools in Flagstaff?
By Resource Investment Index, John Q Thomas Elementary School ranks #7 of 14 schools in Flagstaff, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Flagstaff on the city page.
Is John Q Thomas Elementary School a good school?
John Q Thomas Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of Arizona schools. It is also more 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 Flagstaff Unified District (4192)?
Besides John Q Thomas Elementary School, Flagstaff Unified District (4192) also operates Flagstaff High School (1,631 students), Coconino High School (1,444 students), and Sinagua Middle School (1,013 students). See the Flagstaff Unified District (4192) 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.