Enrollment
643
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Goodyear, AZ
Palm Valley Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Palm Valley Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040438001420
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palm Valley Elementary earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Arizona schools.
- #11 of 13
- schools in Goodyear · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.5:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 24.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Palm Valley Elementary has class sizes larger than 73% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palm Valley Elementary ranks #11 of 13 schools in Goodyear, AZ.
School address
District: Litchfield Elementary District (4281) · Arizona
NCES ID 040438001420 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.5:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Palm Valley Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Palm Valley Elementary
Palm Valley Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Goodyear, Arizona, enrolling 643 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 643 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 288 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #261, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (46%) and White (33%) (diversity index 67/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Litchfield Elementary District (4281) spends $8,750 per pupil, 33% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Goodyear's public schools, it stands alongside Belen Soto Elementary School (1,123 students): Palm Valley Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.5:1 vs 25.5:1).
Litchfield Elementary District (4281) also operates Belen Soto Elementary School (1,123 students) and Verrado Heritage Elementary School (1,014 students) alongside Palm Valley Elementary.
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 Palm Valley Elementary compares
Palm Valley Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.5:1 | ▲ 15% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.0% | ▼ 50% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 643 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.5:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
643
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
24.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
19.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 73% in Arizona - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
42.1%
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
$8,750
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
39
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 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 45.6%
White 33.0%
African American 9.8%
Two or More 6.8%
Asian 3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.8, Palm Valley Elementary is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Litchfield Elementary District (4281), which includes Palm Valley Elementary.
$8,750
Per student
-33%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-47%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.8%
State 50.0%
Federal 13.2%
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 Palm Valley Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belen Soto Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Verrado Heritage Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Sky Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Verrado Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wigwam Creek Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palm Valley Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,123
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 782
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar other schools in Goodyear
1 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 (~643 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Palm Valley Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Palm Valley Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Litchfield Elementary District (4281)'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 Palm Valley Elementary
How many students attend Palm Valley Elementary?
Palm Valley Elementary has 643 students enrolled. It is a public school in Goodyear, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palm Valley Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Palm Valley Elementary is 19.5:1, which is 15% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Palm Valley Elementary?
24.0% of students at Palm Valley Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palm Valley Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Palm Valley Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 45.6% of enrollment, in Goodyear, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palm Valley Elementary?
Palm Valley Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower 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 Palm Valley Elementary rank among schools in Goodyear?
By Resource Investment Index, Palm Valley Elementary ranks #11 of 13 schools in Goodyear, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Goodyear on the city page.
Is Palm Valley Elementary a good school?
Palm Valley Elementary earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% 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 Litchfield Elementary District (4281)?
Besides Palm Valley Elementary, Litchfield Elementary District (4281) also operates Belen Soto Elementary School (1,123 students), Verrado Heritage Elementary School (1,014 students), and Western Sky Middle School (952 students). See the Litchfield Elementary District (4281) 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.