- Enrollment
- 960
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
Manuel Pena Jr. School
Federal NCES profile for Manuel Pena Jr. School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040168003122
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 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
Manuel Pena Jr. School earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools.
- #154 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.4:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 59.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Manuel Pena Jr. School has class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Manuel Pena Jr. School ranks #154 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Cartwright Elementary District (4282) · Arizona
NCES ID 040168003122 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Manuel Pena Jr. School held near 730 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 33.5 → 39.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-19 students YoY 040168003122 · Phoenix, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
806 enr · 24.4:1 · 59.9% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Frank Borman School (960 students)
Manuel Pena Jr. School held near 730 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-19 headcount). Teacher FTE added 33.5 → 39.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Manuel Pena Jr. School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Frank Borman S
Frank Borman School
960 students
- Charles W. Har
Charles W. Harris School
875 students
- Peralta School
Peralta School
817 students
- This school
Manuel Pena Jr. School
806 students
- Sunset School
Sunset School
739 students
- Tomahawk Schoo
Tomahawk School
718 students
What this shows Manuel Pena Jr. School reports 806 students on the CCD universe file.
How Manuel Pena Jr. School compares
Manuel Pena Jr. 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 | 24.4:1 | ▲ 44% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.9% | ▲ 24% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 806 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.4:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
806
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
24.4:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 93% in Arizona - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
58.6%
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
$11,949
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 806 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 81.0%
African American 11.5%
White 2.9%
Two or More 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.9%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 81.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.9, Manuel Pena Jr. School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cartwright Elementary District (4282) reports $11,949 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Manuel Pena Jr. School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Borman School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Charles W. Harris School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Peralta School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunset School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tomahawk School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Manuel Pena Jr. School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 875
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 817
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 739
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 718
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar other schools in Phoenix
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pan-American Charter School
Standard public school
1,221 students
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep
Standard public school
1,031 students
Westwind Elementary School
Standard public school
932 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stetson Hills School
Standard public school
887 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Union Park School
Standard public school
873 students 19:1 students per teacher
Fireside Elementary School
Standard public school
693 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~806 students)
Frequently asked questions about Manuel Pena Jr. School
How many students attend Manuel Pena Jr. School?
Manuel Pena Jr. School has 806 students enrolled. It is a public school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 749 (2022-23) → 730 (2023-24), nearly flat (-19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Manuel Pena Jr. School?
The student-teacher ratio at Manuel Pena Jr. School is 24.4:1, which is 44% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Manuel Pena Jr. School?
59.9% of students at Manuel Pena Jr. School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Manuel Pena Jr. School?
The largest demographic group at Manuel Pena Jr. School is Hispanic or Latino at 81.0% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Manuel Pena Jr. School?
Manuel Pena Jr. School has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Manuel Pena Jr. School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Manuel Pena Jr. School ranks #154 of 179 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 schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Cartwright Elementary District (4282)?
Besides Manuel Pena Jr. School, Cartwright Elementary District (4282) also operates Frank Borman School (960 students), Charles W. Harris School (875 students), and Peralta School (817 students). See the Cartwright Elementary District (4282) district page for the complete list.