Enrollment
205
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy
Federal NCES profile for Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040168002005
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #1 of 24
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.6:1
- students per teacher
- 62.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy ranks #1 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Cartwright Elementary District (4282) · Arizona
NCES ID 040168002005 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
11.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.5%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 205 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 62.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 205 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 90% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 122 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #11, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (88% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 22/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 205 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Its district draws 41.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 113 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 205 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Phoenix's middle schools, it stands alongside Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students): Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.6:1 vs 17.6:1).
Cartwright Elementary District (4282) also operates Frank Borman School (960 students) and Charles W. Harris School (875 students) alongside Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy.
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 Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy compares
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.6:1 | ▲ 9% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.5% | ▲ 29% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 205 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
205
Bigger than 20% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 67% in Arizona - lower ratio than 33% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$11,851
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 205 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 102 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 55.1 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 88.3%
White 4.9%
African American 3.9%
Two or More 2.0%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 88.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.6, Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cartwright Elementary District (4282), which includes Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy.
$11,851
Per student
-10%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.7%
State 42.2%
Federal 41.1%
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 Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Borman School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Charles W. Harris School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Peralta School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Manuel Pena Jr. School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunset School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 960
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- 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
- 806
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 739
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~205 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy's federal record.
- Compare Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Cartwright Elementary District (4282)'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 Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy
How many students attend Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy?
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy has 205 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy is 18.6:1, which is 9% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy?
62.5% of students at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy?
The largest demographic group at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 88.3% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy?
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy ranks #1 of 24 middle 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 middle schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy a good school?
Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy earns 52/100 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 Cartwright Elementary District (4282)?
Besides Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy, 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.
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.