Enrollment
480
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mesa, AZ
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Michael T. Hughes Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040497000389
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 82% of Arizona schools.
- #47 of 70
- schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 12.6:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 65.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Michael T. Hughes Elementary School ranks #47 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Mesa Unified District (4235) · Arizona
NCES ID 040497000389 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
65.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Michael T. Hughes Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Michael T. Hughes Elementary School
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Mesa, Arizona, enrolling 480 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 65.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 480 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 328 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #143.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (69%) and White (16%) (diversity index 50/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 480 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Mesa's public schools, it stands alongside Eastmark High School (1,889 students): Michael T. Hughes Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.6:1 vs 23.6:1).
Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students) and Red Mountain High School (3,379 students) alongside Michael T. Hughes 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 Michael T. Hughes Elementary School compares
Michael T. Hughes 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 26% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.9% | ▲ 36% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 480 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
480
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
65.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 18% in Arizona - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
49.2%
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
$11,160
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 480 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 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 68.5%
White 16.0%
African American 5.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.6%
Two or More 3.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 68.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.8, Michael T. Hughes 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 Mesa Unified District (4235), which includes Michael T. Hughes Elementary School.
$11,160
Per student
-15%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.4%
State 44.5%
Federal 18.1%
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 Michael T. Hughes Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dobson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Michael T. Hughes Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,421
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 3,379
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 3,233
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 3,135
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,284
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Mesa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eastmark High School
Standard public school
1,889 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School
Standard public school
1,711 students
Silver Valley Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Astravo Online Academy
Standard public school
849 students
Eagleridge Enrichment Program
Standard public school
694 students 63.1:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy Virtual
Standard public school
660 students
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 (~480 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Michael T. Hughes Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Michael T. Hughes Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Mesa Unified District (4235)'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 Michael T. Hughes Elementary School
How many students attend Michael T. Hughes Elementary School?
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School has 480 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mesa, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Michael T. Hughes Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Michael T. Hughes Elementary School is 12.6:1, which is 26% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 20% 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 Michael T. Hughes Elementary School?
65.9% of students at Michael T. Hughes Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Michael T. Hughes Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Michael T. Hughes Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 68.5% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Michael T. Hughes Elementary School?
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (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 Michael T. Hughes Elementary School rank among schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Michael T. Hughes Elementary School ranks #47 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mesa on the city page.
Is Michael T. Hughes Elementary School a good school?
Michael T. Hughes Elementary School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 82% 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 Mesa Unified District (4235)?
Besides Michael T. Hughes Elementary School, Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students), Red Mountain High School (3,379 students), and Mesa High School (3,233 students). See the Mesa Unified District (4235) 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.