Enrollment
310
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
Pioneer Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040340001215
👥 S:T ratio 64
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Arizona schools.
- #10 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.1:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 25.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 94% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Elementary School ranks #10 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Gilbert Unified District (4239) · Arizona
NCES ID 040340001215 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
9.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-46% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Pioneer Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pioneer Elementary School
Pioneer Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 310 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 9.1:1, Pioneer Elementary School is leaner than roughly 94% of Arizona schools and 46% under the state's 17:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 310 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 129 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #16.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and Hispanic or Latino (36%) (diversity index 63/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Gilbert Unified District (4239) spends $9,253 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Gilbert's public schools, it stands alongside Williams Field High School (2,150 students): Pioneer Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (9.1:1 vs 21.9:1).
Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students) and Gilbert High School (2,418 students) alongside Pioneer 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 Pioneer Elementary School compares
Pioneer 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 | 9.1:1 | ▼ 46% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.0% | ▼ 48% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 310 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.1:1
Leaner classes than 92% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
310
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
9.1:1
students per teacher
- 46% below state mean
Top 6% in Arizona - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
43.2%
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
$9,253
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
4
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 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
White 48.7%
Hispanic or Latino 35.5%
Two or More 6.5%
African American 4.5%
Asian 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 48.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.0, Pioneer 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 Gilbert Unified District (4239), which includes Pioneer Elementary School.
$9,253
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.1%
State 44.8%
Federal 12.1%
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 Pioneer Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gilbert High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Campo Verde High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesquite High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,992
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,418
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,103
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,863
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,303
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar other schools in Gilbert
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Williams Field High School
Standard public school
2,150 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Gateway Pointe Elementary
Standard public school
685 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Arete Prep
Standard public school
540 students
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Gilbert
Standard public school
259 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 (~310 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pioneer Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Pioneer Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Gilbert Unified District (4239)'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 Pioneer Elementary School
How many students attend Pioneer Elementary School?
Pioneer Elementary School has 310 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary School is 9.1:1, which is 46% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 42% 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 Pioneer Elementary School?
25.0% of students at Pioneer Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer Elementary School is White at 48.7% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer Elementary School?
Pioneer Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical 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 Pioneer Elementary School rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Elementary School ranks #10 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gilbert on the city page.
Is Pioneer Elementary School a good school?
Pioneer Elementary School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% 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 Gilbert Unified District (4239)?
Besides Pioneer Elementary School, Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students), Gilbert High School (2,418 students), and Desert Ridge High (2,103 students). See the Gilbert Unified District (4239) 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.