- Enrollment
- 3,421
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Mesa, AZ
Poston Junior High School
Federal NCES profile for Poston Junior High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040497000409
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 48
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Poston Junior High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #5 of 11
- middle schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- students per teacher
- 48.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Poston Junior High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Poston Junior High School ranks #5 of 11 middle schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Mesa Unified District (4235) · Arizona
NCES ID 040497000409 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-102 students YoY
Poston Junior High School shrank from 881 students in 2022-23 to 779 in 2023-24 (-11.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 49.0 → 43.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-102 students YoY 040497000409 · Mesa, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
782 enr · 16:1 · 48.9% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain View High School (3,421 students)
Poston Junior High School shrank from 881 students in 2022-23 to 779 in 2023-24 (-11.6%). Teacher FTE lost 49.0 → 43.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Poston Junior High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain View
Mountain View High School
3,421 students
- Red Mountain H
Red Mountain High School
3,379 students
- Mesa High Scho
Mesa High School
3,233 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High School
3,135 students
- Dobson High Sc
Dobson High School
2,284 students
- This school 782
Poston Junior High School
782 students
What this shows Poston Junior High School reports 782 students on the CCD universe file.
How Poston Junior High School compares
Poston Junior High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▼ 6% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.9% | ▲ 1% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 782 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
782
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 45% in Arizona - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
65.2%
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
$12,121
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 261 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
149
in-school suspensions + 135 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 49.1%
White 38.5%
African American 4.5%
Two or More 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.6, Poston Junior High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mesa Unified District (4235) reports $12,121 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Poston Junior High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dobson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Poston Junior High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,379
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 3,233
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 3,135
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,284
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~782 students)
Frequently asked questions about Poston Junior High School
How many students attend Poston Junior High School?
Poston Junior High School has 782 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Mesa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 881 (2022-23) → 779 (2023-24), down 102.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Poston Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Poston Junior High School is 16:1, which is 6% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 2% higher 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 Poston Junior High School?
48.9% of students at Poston Junior High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Poston Junior High School?
The largest demographic group at Poston Junior High School is Hispanic or Latino at 49.1% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Poston Junior High School?
Poston Junior High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Poston Junior High School rank among middle schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Poston Junior High School ranks #5 of 11 middle schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa Unified District (4235)?
Besides Poston Junior High School, Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students), Red Mountain High School (3,379 students), and Mesa High School (3,233 students). See the Mesa Unified District (4235) district page for the complete list.