Enrollment
439
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Casa Grande, AZ
Mesquite Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mesquite Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040171001027
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mesquite Elementary School earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #6 of 8
- schools in Casa Grande · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.3:1
- students per teacher
- 78.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Mesquite Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite Elementary School ranks #6 of 8 schools in Casa Grande, AZ.
School address
District: Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) · Arizona
NCES ID 040171001027 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.3:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+63% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mesquite Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mesquite Elementary School
Mesquite Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Casa Grande, Arizona, enrolling 439 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 78.8% of students qualify for free meals, 63% above the Arizona average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 439 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 255 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #219, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (60%) and White (19%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 439 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 94.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) spends $10,041 per pupil, 24% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 22.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Casa Grande's public schools, it stands alongside Mccartney Ranch Elementary School (668 students): Mesquite Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.3:1 vs 24.7:1).
Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) also operates Cactus Middle School (737 students) and Villago Middle School (723 students) alongside Mesquite 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 Mesquite Elementary School compares
Mesquite 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 8% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.8% | ▲ 63% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 439 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
439
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 65% in Arizona - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
94.3%
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
$10,041
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 439 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 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 60.1%
White 18.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 9.3%
Two or More 5.5%
African American 5.0%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.0, Mesquite Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Casa Grande Elementary District (4446), which includes Mesquite Elementary School.
$10,041
Per student
-24%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-39%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.9%
State 49.5%
Federal 22.6%
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 Mesquite Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Villago Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mccartney Ranch Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Casa Grande Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Palo Verde School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mesquite Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 737
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 723
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 548
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar other schools in Casa Grande
3 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 (~439 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mesquite Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Mesquite Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Casa Grande Elementary District (4446)'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 Mesquite Elementary School
How many students attend Mesquite Elementary School?
Mesquite Elementary School has 439 students enrolled. It is a public school in Casa Grande, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesquite Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mesquite Elementary School is 18.3:1, which is 8% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mesquite Elementary School?
78.8% of students at Mesquite Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mesquite Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mesquite Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 60.1% of enrollment, in Casa Grande, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mesquite Elementary School?
Mesquite Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower 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 Mesquite Elementary School rank among schools in Casa Grande?
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite Elementary School ranks #6 of 8 schools in Casa Grande, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Casa Grande on the city page.
Is Mesquite Elementary School a good school?
Mesquite Elementary School earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. 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 Casa Grande Elementary District (4446)?
Besides Mesquite Elementary School, Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) also operates Cactus Middle School (737 students), Villago Middle School (723 students), and Mccartney Ranch Elementary School (668 students). See the Casa Grande Elementary District (4446) 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.