Enrollment
940
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Maricopa, AZ
Maricopa Wells Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Maricopa Wells Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040472001468
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Maricopa Wells Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #5 of 16
- public schools in Maricopa · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 48.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Maricopa Wells Middle School has class sizes larger than 74% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Maricopa Wells Middle School ranks #5 of 16 public schools in Maricopa, AZ.
School address
District: Maricopa Unified School District (4441) · Arizona
NCES ID 040472001468 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
48.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Maricopa Wells Middle School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Maricopa Wells Middle School
Maricopa Wells Middle School is a large middle school in Maricopa, Arizona, enrolling 940 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 48.0% lands close to the Arizona typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 90% of state schools at 940 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 186 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #53.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (46%) and White (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 313 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 60.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Maricopa Unified School District (4441) spends $9,227 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 413 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 940 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Maricopa Unified School District (4441) also operates Maricopa High School (1,840 students) and Desert Sunrise High School (1,261 students) alongside Maricopa Wells Middle 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 Maricopa Wells Middle School compares
Maricopa Wells Middle 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 | 19.6:1 | ▲ 15% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.0% | ▼ 1% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 940 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
940
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
48.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 74% in Arizona - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
60.0%
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
$9,227
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 313 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
275
in-school suspensions + 138 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 29.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.9 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 46.3%
White 21.0%
African American 17.8%
Two or More 7.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.3%
Asian 1.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.2, Maricopa Wells Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Maricopa Unified School District (4441), which includes Maricopa Wells Middle School.
$9,227
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.7%
State 65.3%
Federal 13.0%
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 Maricopa Wells Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Sunrise High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santa Cruz Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Butterfield Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Wind Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Maricopa Wells Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,840
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,261
- Students per teacher
- 42:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 920
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
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 (~940 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Maricopa Wells Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Maricopa Wells Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Maricopa Unified School District (4441)'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 Maricopa Wells Middle School
How many students attend Maricopa Wells Middle School?
Maricopa Wells Middle School has 940 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Maricopa, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Maricopa Wells Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Maricopa Wells Middle School is 19.6:1, which is 15% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Maricopa Wells Middle School?
48.0% of students at Maricopa Wells Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Maricopa Wells Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Maricopa Wells Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 46.3% of enrollment, in Maricopa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Maricopa Wells Middle School?
Maricopa Wells Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Maricopa Wells Middle School rank among public schools in Maricopa?
By Resource Investment Index, Maricopa Wells Middle School ranks #5 of 16 public schools in Maricopa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Maricopa on the city page.
Is Maricopa Wells Middle School a good school?
Maricopa Wells Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Arizona schools. It is also more 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 Maricopa Unified School District (4441)?
Besides Maricopa Wells Middle School, Maricopa Unified School District (4441) also operates Maricopa High School (1,840 students), Desert Sunrise High School (1,261 students), and Santa Cruz Elementary School (941 students). See the Maricopa Unified School District (4441) 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.