Enrollment
1,310
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · San Tan Valley, AZ
Poston Butte High School
Federal NCES profile for Poston Butte High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040292002972
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Poston Butte High School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #9 of 9
- schools in San Tan Valley · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.5:1
- students per teacher
- 34.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Poston Butte High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Poston Butte High School ranks #9 of 9 schools in San Tan Valley, AZ.
School address
District: Florence Unified School District (4437) · Arizona
NCES ID 040292002972 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
71.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.5:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Poston Butte High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Poston Butte High School
Poston Butte High School is a large combined-grade school in San Tan Valley, Arizona, enrolling 1,310 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 34.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,310 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 104 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #80, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and White (40%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 328 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 50.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Florence Unified School District (4437) spends $8,692 per pupil, 34% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 16.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 389 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,310 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among San Tan Valley's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy Ironwood K12 (2,084 students): Poston Butte High School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Florence Unified School District (4437) also operates Florence High School (857 students) and Florence K-8 (805 students) alongside Poston Butte 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 Poston Butte High School compares
Poston Butte 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 | 18.5:1 | ▲ 9% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.0% | ▼ 30% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,310 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,310
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 66% in Arizona - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
50.1%
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
$8,692
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 328 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
256
in-school suspensions + 133 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.7 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 44.0%
White 40.4%
African American 8.2%
Two or More 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Asian 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.5, Poston Butte High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Florence Unified School District (4437), which includes Poston Butte High School.
$8,692
Per student
-34%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.7%
State 52.4%
Federal 16.0%
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 Poston Butte High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Florence K-8 | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Tan Foothills High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Anthem Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Poston Butte High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 793
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 728
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 722
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar other schools in San Tan Valley
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
American Leadership Academy Ironwood K12
Standard public school
2,084 students
Combs High School
Standard public school
1,182 students 20:1 students per teacher
Walker Butte K-8
Standard public school
718 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
San Tan Heights Elementary
Standard public school
669 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Skyline Ranch Elementary School
Standard public school
583 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Copper Basin
Standard public school
557 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 (~1,310 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Poston Butte High School's federal record.
- Compare Poston Butte High School against another school. Compare schools
- Florence Unified School District (4437)'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 Poston Butte High School
How many students attend Poston Butte High School?
Poston Butte High School has 1,310 students enrolled. It is a public school in San Tan Valley, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Poston Butte High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Poston Butte High School is 18.5:1, which is 9% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Poston Butte High School?
34.0% of students at Poston Butte High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Poston Butte High School?
The largest demographic group at Poston Butte High School is Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment, in San Tan Valley, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Poston Butte High School?
Poston Butte High School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Poston Butte High School rank among schools in San Tan Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Poston Butte High School ranks #9 of 9 schools in San Tan Valley, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in San Tan Valley on the city page.
Is Poston Butte High School a good school?
Poston Butte High School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. 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 Florence Unified School District (4437)?
Besides Poston Butte High School, Florence Unified School District (4437) also operates Florence High School (857 students), Florence K-8 (805 students), and San Tan Foothills High School (793 students). See the Florence Unified School District (4437) district page for the complete list.
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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.