Enrollment
387
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Phoenix, AZ
Joseph Zito Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Joseph Zito Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040396000319
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph Zito Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #79 of 116
- elementary schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 69.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph Zito Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph Zito Elementary School ranks #79 of 116 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Isaac Elementary District (4259) · Arizona
NCES ID 040396000319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+45% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Joseph Zito Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Joseph Zito Elementary School
Joseph Zito Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 387 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 69.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 387 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 296 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #243, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (92% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 15/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 387 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 55.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Phoenix's elementary schools, it stands alongside Academy of Math and Science Avondale (1,175 students): Joseph Zito Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Isaac Elementary District (4259) also operates Pueblo Del Sol Middle School (659 students) and Morris K. Udall Escuela De Bellas Artes (553 students) alongside Joseph Zito 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 Joseph Zito Elementary School compares
Joseph Zito 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 | 69.9% | ▲ 45% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 387 | top 53% | - | - |
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.
387
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% 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
55.8%
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
$13,884
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arizona avg of $13,145
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 387 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 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 92.2%
African American 5.2%
White 1.6%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 92.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.7, Joseph Zito Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Isaac Elementary District (4259), which includes Joseph Zito Elementary School.
$13,884
Per student
+6%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.1%
State 52.7%
Federal 19.2%
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 Joseph Zito Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo Del Sol Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Morris K. Udall Escuela De Bellas Artes | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Alta E Butler School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| J B Sutton Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Isaac Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph Zito Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 659
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 553
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 541
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 522
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar elementary schools in Phoenix
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Academy of Math and Science Avondale
Standard public school
1,175 students
Kyrene Altadena Middle School
Standard public school
857 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Catalina Ventura School
Standard public school
842 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Inspiration Mountain School
Standard public school
789 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Alhambra Traditional School
Standard public school
733 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Legacy Traditional School - North Phoenix
Standard public school
567 students
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 (~387 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Joseph Zito Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Joseph Zito Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Isaac Elementary District (4259)'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 Joseph Zito Elementary School
How many students attend Joseph Zito Elementary School?
Joseph Zito Elementary School has 387 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph Zito Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph Zito 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 Joseph Zito Elementary School?
69.9% of students at Joseph Zito Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph Zito Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Joseph Zito Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 92.2% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph Zito Elementary School?
Joseph Zito Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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 Joseph Zito Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph Zito Elementary School ranks #79 of 116 elementary 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 elementary schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Joseph Zito Elementary School a good school?
Joseph Zito Elementary School earns 21/100 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 Isaac Elementary District (4259)?
Besides Joseph Zito Elementary School, Isaac Elementary District (4259) also operates Pueblo Del Sol Middle School (659 students), Morris K. Udall Escuela De Bellas Artes (553 students), and Alta E Butler School (541 students). See the Isaac Elementary District (4259) 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.