Enrollment
1,560
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
North Canyon High School
Federal NCES profile for North Canyon High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040593000488
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Canyon High School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #28 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.7:1
- students per teacher
- 44.0%
- free-lunch eligible
North Canyon High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Canyon High School ranks #28 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593000488 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
88.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.7:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
44.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-9% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Canyon High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Canyon High School
North Canyon High School is a large combined-grade school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 1,560 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 44.0% 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 95% of state schools at 1,560 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 68 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (64%) and White (20%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 260 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Discipline events run high: 427 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,560 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 16 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Phoenix's public schools, it stands alongside Pan-American Charter School (1,221 students): North Canyon High School is larger than that campus by headcount.
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students) and Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students) alongside North Canyon High 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 North Canyon High School compares
North Canyon High 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 | 17.7:1 | ▲ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.0% | ▼ 9% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,560 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,560
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
44.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 61% in Arizona - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$11,154
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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 260 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
231
in-school suspensions + 196 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 16 expulsions.
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 63.9%
White 19.6%
African American 8.0%
Two or More 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.2%
Asian 1.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.4, North Canyon High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241), which includes North Canyon High School.
$11,154
Per student
-15%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.8%
State 27.3%
Federal 14.9%
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 North Canyon High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain Trail Middle School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Canyon High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar other schools in Phoenix
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pan-American Charter School
Standard public school
1,221 students
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep
Standard public school
1,031 students
Westwind Elementary School
Standard public school
932 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stetson Hills School
Standard public school
887 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Union Park School
Standard public school
873 students 19:1 students per teacher
Fireside Elementary School
Standard public school
693 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~1,560 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Canyon High School's federal record.
- Compare North Canyon High School against another school. Compare schools
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)'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 North Canyon High School
How many students attend North Canyon High School?
North Canyon High School has 1,560 students enrolled. It is a public school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Canyon High School?
The student-teacher ratio at North Canyon High School is 17.7:1, which is 4% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Canyon High School?
44.0% of students at North Canyon High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Canyon High School?
The largest demographic group at North Canyon High School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.9% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Canyon High School?
North Canyon High School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does North Canyon High School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, North Canyon High School ranks #28 of 179 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 schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is North Canyon High School a good school?
North Canyon High School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides North Canyon High School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) 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.