Enrollment
1,213
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Apple Valley, CA
Phoenix Academy
Federal NCES profile for Phoenix Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060001712663
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Phoenix Academy earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools.
- #2 of 11
- elementary schools in Apple Valley · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.3:1
- large classes for California
- 80.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Phoenix Academy has class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Phoenix Academy ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Apple Valley, CA.
School address
District: Apple Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 060001712663 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
50.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.6%
vs 55.5% California avg
+45% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Phoenix Academy compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Phoenix Academy
Phoenix Academy is a high-poverty, large elementary school in Apple Valley, California, enrolling 1,213 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.3:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 80.6% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 92% of state schools at 1,213 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 533 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #420, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (63%) and African American (17%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 1213 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 72.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Apple Valley Unified spends $11,440 per pupil, 31% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Apple Valley's elementary schools, it stands alongside Sitting Bull Academy (1,695 students): Phoenix Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.3:1 vs 25.3:1).
Apple Valley Unified also operates Apple Valley High (2,211 students) and Granite Hills High (1,791 students) alongside Phoenix Academy.
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 Phoenix Academy compares
Phoenix Academy on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.6% | ▲ 45% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,213 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.3:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,213
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 74% in California - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
72.5%
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
$11,440
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
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 1213 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
48
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 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 63.1%
African American 16.5%
White 14.8%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.1, Phoenix Academy is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Apple Valley Unified, which includes Phoenix Academy.
$11,440
Per student
-31%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 13.5%
State 72.2%
Federal 14.3%
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 Phoenix Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Granite Hills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sitting Bull Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Vanguard Preparatory | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rio Vista School of Applied Learning | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Phoenix Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,211
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,791
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,695
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,153
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 927
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
Similar elementary schools in Apple Valley
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sitting Bull Academy
Standard public school
1,695 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Vanguard Preparatory
Standard public school
1,153 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Rio Vista School of Applied Learning
Standard public school
927 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Sandia Elementary
Standard public school
848 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Mariana Academy
Standard public school
781 students 26:1 students per teacher
Rancho Verde Elementary
Standard public school
748 students 24.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,213 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Phoenix Academy's federal record.
- Compare Phoenix Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Apple Valley Unified'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 Phoenix Academy
How many students attend Phoenix Academy?
Phoenix Academy has 1,213 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Apple Valley, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Phoenix Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Phoenix Academy is 24.3:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Phoenix Academy?
80.6% of students at Phoenix Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Phoenix Academy?
The largest demographic group at Phoenix Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 63.1% of enrollment, in Apple Valley, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Phoenix Academy?
Phoenix Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Phoenix Academy rank among elementary schools in Apple Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Phoenix Academy ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Apple Valley, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Apple Valley on the city page.
Is Phoenix Academy a good school?
Phoenix Academy earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California 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 Apple Valley Unified?
Besides Phoenix Academy, Apple Valley Unified also operates Apple Valley High (2,211 students), Granite Hills High (1,791 students), and Sitting Bull Academy (1,695 students). See the Apple Valley Unified 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.