Enrollment
1,300
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Scottsdale, AZ
Saguaro High School
Federal NCES profile for Saguaro High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040757000659
👥 S:T ratio 24
📚 AP courses 70
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Saguaro High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Arizona schools.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.1:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 19.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Saguaro High School has class sizes larger than 70% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Saguaro High School ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Scottsdale Unified District (4240) · Arizona
NCES ID 040757000659 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
68.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
19.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-61% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Saguaro High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Saguaro High School
Saguaro High School is a lower-poverty, large high school in Scottsdale, Arizona, enrolling 1,300 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.1:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 19.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 94% of state schools at 1,300 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 128 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #52.
Its student body is led by White (56%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%) (diversity index 62/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 14 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 342 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 47.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Scottsdale Unified District (4240) spends $9,802 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Scottsdale's high schools, it stands alongside Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students): Saguaro High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.1:1 vs 21.9:1).
Scottsdale Unified District (4240) also operates Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students) and Chaparral High School (1,773 students) alongside Saguaro 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 Saguaro High School compares
Saguaro 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 | 19.1:1 | ▲ 12% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.0% | ▼ 61% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,300 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,300
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
19.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 70% in Arizona - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.0%
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
$9,802
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
Counselors3.8 FTE
Per 342 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 117 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 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 55.5%
Hispanic or Latino 24.6%
African American 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.8%
Asian 4.6%
Two or More 4.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, Saguaro High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Scottsdale Unified District (4240), which includes Saguaro High School.
$9,802
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-41%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 68.5%
State 19.1%
Federal 12.5%
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 Saguaro High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chaparral High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Arcadia High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cheyenne Traditional School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cocopah Middle School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Saguaro High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,773
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,679
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 953
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 861
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar high schools in Scottsdale
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high 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 (~1,300 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Saguaro High School's federal record.
- Compare Saguaro High School against another school. Compare schools
- Scottsdale Unified District (4240)'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 Saguaro High School
How many students attend Saguaro High School?
Saguaro High School has 1,300 students enrolled. It is a high school in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Saguaro High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Saguaro High School is 19.1:1, which is 12% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Saguaro High School?
19.0% of students at Saguaro High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Saguaro High School?
The largest demographic group at Saguaro High School is White at 55.5% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Saguaro High School?
Saguaro High School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 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 Saguaro High School rank among high schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Saguaro High School ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Scottsdale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
Is Saguaro High School a good school?
Saguaro High School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% 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 Scottsdale Unified District (4240)?
Besides Saguaro High School, Scottsdale Unified District (4240) also operates Desert Mountain High School (1,905 students), Chaparral High School (1,773 students), and Arcadia High School (1,679 students). See the Scottsdale Unified District (4240) 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.