Enrollment
908
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Queen Creek, AZ
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040681003651
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Arizona schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Queen Creek · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 29.3:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 3.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary has class sizes larger than 98% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary ranks #1 of 6 schools in Queen Creek, AZ.
School address
District: Queen Creek Unified District (4245) · Arizona
NCES ID 040681003651 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
29.3:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+72% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
3.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-94% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Queen Creek, Arizona, enrolling 908 students.
Class loads run heavy: 29.3:1 is larger than about 98% of Arizona schools and 72% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 3.0% free-meal eligibility runs 94% below the Arizona average.
Enrollment of 908 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 132 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #56.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and Hispanic or Latino (19%) (diversity index 46/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 908 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
13.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Queen Creek Unified District (4245) spends $8,699 per pupil, 34% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Queen Creek's public schools, it stands alongside Crismon High School (2,009 students): Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (29.3:1 vs 44.6:1).
Queen Creek Unified District (4245) also operates Crismon High School (2,009 students) and Queen Creek High School (1,968 students) alongside Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary.
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 Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary compares
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 29.3:1 | ▲ 72% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 3.0% | ▼ 94% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 908 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
29.3:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
908
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
3.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 94% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
29.3:1
students per teacher
- 72% above state mean
Top 98% in Arizona - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
13.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$8,699
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 908 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 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
White 71.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.9%
Two or More 3.4%
African American 3.3%
Asian 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 71.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.6, Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary is about as mixed as the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Queen Creek Unified District (4245), which includes Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary.
$8,699
Per student
-34%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.3%
State 62.2%
Federal 7.5%
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 Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crismon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Queen Creek High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastmark High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Silver Valley Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,009
- Students per teacher
- 44.6:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
- Enrollment
- 1,968
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Queen Creek
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Crismon High School
Standard public school
2,009 students 44.6:1 students per teacher
Heritage Academy Gateway
Standard public school
1,556 students
Benjamin Franklin High School
Standard public school
1,324 students
Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School
Standard public school
1,153 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary
Standard public school
642 students 18.9:1 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 (~908 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~29.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Queen Creek Unified District (4245)'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 Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary
How many students attend Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary?
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary has 908 students enrolled. It is a public school in Queen Creek, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary is 29.3:1, which is 72% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 87% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary?
3.0% of students at Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary is White at 71.1% of enrollment, in Queen Creek, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary?
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary rank among schools in Queen Creek?
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary ranks #1 of 6 schools in Queen Creek, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Queen Creek on the city page.
Is Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary a good school?
Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of 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 Queen Creek Unified District (4245)?
Besides Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary, Queen Creek Unified District (4245) also operates Crismon High School (2,009 students), Queen Creek High School (1,968 students), and Eastmark High School (1,889 students). See the Queen Creek Unified District (4245) 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.