Enrollment
212
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tucson, AZ
Marion Donaldson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Marion Donaldson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040068000022
👥 S:T ratio 67
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Marion Donaldson Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Arizona schools.
- #14 of 131
- schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8.2:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 38.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Marion Donaldson Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 95% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Marion Donaldson Elementary School ranks #14 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Amphitheater Unified District (4406) · Arizona
NCES ID 040068000022 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
8.2:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-52% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
38.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Marion Donaldson Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Marion Donaldson Elementary School
Marion Donaldson Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Tucson, Arizona, enrolling 212 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 8.2:1, Marion Donaldson Elementary School is leaner than roughly 95% of Arizona schools and 52% under the state's 17:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 38.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 212 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 92 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #10, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (52%) and White (34%) (diversity index 60/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 59.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Amphitheater Unified District (4406) spends $10,331 per pupil, 21% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Tucson's public schools, it stands alongside Craycroft Elementary School (586 students): Marion Donaldson Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (8.2:1 vs 21.7:1).
Amphitheater Unified District (4406) also operates Canyon Del Oro High School (1,758 students) and Ironwood Ridge High School (1,539 students) alongside Marion Donaldson Elementary 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 Marion Donaldson Elementary School compares
Marion Donaldson Elementary 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 | 8.2:1 | ▼ 52% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.8% | ▼ 20% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 212 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.2:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
212
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
38.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.2:1
students per teacher
- 52% below state mean
Top 5% in Arizona - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
59.0%
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
$10,331
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.4 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 52.4%
White 34.0%
Two or More 6.1%
African American 5.2%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.3, Marion Donaldson Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Amphitheater Unified District (4406), which includes Marion Donaldson Elementary School.
$10,331
Per student
-21%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-38%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.9%
State 27.9%
Federal 17.3%
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 Marion Donaldson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon Del Oro High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ironwood Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Amphitheater High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence W Cross Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richard B Wilson Jr School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Marion Donaldson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,758
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,539
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 827
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 770
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar other schools in Tucson
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~212 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~8.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Marion Donaldson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Marion Donaldson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Amphitheater Unified District (4406)'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 Marion Donaldson Elementary School
How many students attend Marion Donaldson Elementary School?
Marion Donaldson Elementary School has 212 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tucson, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Marion Donaldson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Marion Donaldson Elementary School is 8.2:1, which is 52% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 48% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Marion Donaldson Elementary School?
38.8% of students at Marion Donaldson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Marion Donaldson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Marion Donaldson Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 52.4% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Marion Donaldson Elementary School?
Marion Donaldson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Marion Donaldson Elementary School rank among schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Marion Donaldson Elementary School ranks #14 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Tucson on the city page.
Is Marion Donaldson Elementary School a good school?
Marion Donaldson Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% 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 Amphitheater Unified District (4406)?
Besides Marion Donaldson Elementary School, Amphitheater Unified District (4406) also operates Canyon Del Oro High School (1,758 students), Ironwood Ridge High School (1,539 students), and Amphitheater High School (996 students). See the Amphitheater Unified District (4406) 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.