Enrollment
583
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Buckeye, AZ
Rainbow Valley Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Rainbow Valley Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040432002133
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 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
Rainbow Valley Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools.
- #8 of 12
- schools in Buckeye · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.6:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 52.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Rainbow Valley Elementary School has class sizes larger than 84% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rainbow Valley Elementary School ranks #8 of 12 schools in Buckeye, AZ.
School address
District: Liberty Elementary District (4266) · Arizona
NCES ID 040432002133 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.6:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+27% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+10% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rainbow Valley Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rainbow Valley Elementary School
Rainbow Valley Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Buckeye, Arizona, enrolling 583 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 52.9% lands close to the Arizona typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 583 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 345 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #266, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (80%) and White (16%) (diversity index 34/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 583 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 50.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Liberty Elementary District (4266) spends $8,165 per pupil, 38% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Buckeye's public schools, it stands alongside Verrado Heritage Elementary School (1,014 students): Rainbow Valley Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.6:1 vs 24.1:1).
Liberty Elementary District (4266) also operates Blue Horizons Elementary School (976 students) and Westar Elementary School (815 students) alongside Rainbow Valley 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 Rainbow Valley Elementary School compares
Rainbow Valley 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 | 21.6:1 | ▲ 27% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.9% | ▲ 10% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 583 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.6:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
583
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% 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
21.6:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 84% in Arizona - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
50.8%
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
$8,165
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 583 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
34
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.9 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
Hispanic or Latino 79.8%
White 16.0%
Two or More 1.9%
African American 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 79.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.7, Rainbow Valley Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Liberty Elementary District (4266), which includes Rainbow Valley Elementary School.
$8,165
Per student
-38%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-51%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.1%
State 61.6%
Federal 10.3%
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 Rainbow Valley Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Horizons Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westar Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Las Brisas Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Freedom Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Estrella Mountain Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rainbow Valley Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 976
- Students per teacher
- 26.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 815
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 574
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 525
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Buckeye
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Verrado Heritage Elementary School
Standard public school
1,014 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Blue Horizons Elementary School
Standard public school
976 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Marionneaux Elementary School
Standard public school
697 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Desert Sunset Elementary School
Standard public school
648 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Pathfinder Academy at Verrado Way and I-10
Standard public school
602 students
Festival Foothills Elementary School
Standard public school
262 students 16.4:1 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 (~583 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rainbow Valley Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Rainbow Valley Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Liberty Elementary District (4266)'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 Rainbow Valley Elementary School
How many students attend Rainbow Valley Elementary School?
Rainbow Valley Elementary School has 583 students enrolled. It is a public school in Buckeye, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rainbow Valley Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Rainbow Valley Elementary School is 21.6:1, which is 27% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rainbow Valley Elementary School?
52.9% of students at Rainbow Valley Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rainbow Valley Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Rainbow Valley Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 79.8% of enrollment, in Buckeye, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rainbow Valley Elementary School?
Rainbow Valley Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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 Rainbow Valley Elementary School rank among schools in Buckeye?
By Resource Investment Index, Rainbow Valley Elementary School ranks #8 of 12 schools in Buckeye, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Buckeye on the city page.
Is Rainbow Valley Elementary School a good school?
Rainbow Valley Elementary School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% 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 Liberty Elementary District (4266)?
Besides Rainbow Valley Elementary School, Liberty Elementary District (4266) also operates Blue Horizons Elementary School (976 students), Westar Elementary School (815 students), and Las Brisas Academy (663 students). See the Liberty Elementary District (4266) 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.