- Enrollment
- 828
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Safford, AZ
Lafe Nelson School
Federal NCES profile for Lafe Nelson School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 11/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040724001030
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lafe Nelson School earns 11/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Safford · Resource Index
- 11
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.4:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 48.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Lafe Nelson School has class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lafe Nelson School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Safford, AZ.
School address
District: Safford Unified District (4218) · Arizona
NCES ID 040724001030 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Lafe Nelson School held near 462 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 22.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 040724001030 · Safford, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
471 enr · 21.4:1 · 48.8% lunch · RII 11
Nearest enrollment peer: Safford High School (828 students)
Lafe Nelson School held near 462 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 22.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Lafe Nelson School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Safford High S
Safford High School
828 students
- Ruth Powell El
Ruth Powell Elementary School
575 students
- Dorothy Stinso
Dorothy Stinson School
539 students
- This school
Lafe Nelson School
471 students
- Safford Middle
Safford Middle School
375 students
- Mt Graham High 86
Mt Graham High School
86 students
What this shows Lafe Nelson School reports 471 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lafe Nelson School compares
Lafe Nelson School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.4:1 | ▲ 26% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.8% | ▲ 1% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 471 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.4:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
471
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% 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
21.4:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 83% in Arizona - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
46.3%
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
$10,262
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
40
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 58.0%
White 37.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.1%
Two or More 1.7%
African American 1.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 58.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.4, Lafe Nelson School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Safford Unified District (4218) reports $10,262 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lafe Nelson School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safford High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ruth Powell Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dorothy Stinson School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Safford Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mt Graham High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lafe Nelson School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 7/100
- Enrollment
- 539
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 375
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 86
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~471 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lafe Nelson School
How many students attend Lafe Nelson School?
Lafe Nelson School has 471 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Safford, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 455 (2022-23) → 462 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lafe Nelson School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lafe Nelson School is 21.4:1, which is 26% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lafe Nelson School?
48.8% of students at Lafe Nelson School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lafe Nelson School?
The largest demographic group at Lafe Nelson School is Hispanic or Latino at 58.0% of enrollment, in Safford, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lafe Nelson School?
Lafe Nelson School has a Resource Investment Index of 11/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lafe Nelson School rank among elementary schools in Safford?
By Resource Investment Index, Lafe Nelson School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Safford, 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 Safford on the city page.
What other schools are in Safford Unified District (4218)?
Besides Lafe Nelson School, Safford Unified District (4218) also operates Safford High School (828 students), Ruth Powell Elementary School (575 students), and Dorothy Stinson School (539 students). See the Safford Unified District (4218) district page for the complete list.