Enrollment
854
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
San Tan Elementary
Federal NCES profile for San Tan Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040378002118
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
San Tan Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #17 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- students per teacher
- 10.0%
- free-lunch eligible
San Tan Elementary has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, San Tan Elementary ranks #17 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Higley Unified School District (4248) · Arizona
NCES ID 040378002118 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
49.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.4:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-79% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How San Tan Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at San Tan Elementary
San Tan Elementary is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 854 students.
At 17.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Arizona median, within a few percentage points of the 17:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.0% free-meal eligibility runs 79% below the Arizona average.
Enrollment of 854 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 193 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #38.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (29%) (diversity index 53/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Higley Unified School District (4248) spends $8,545 per pupil, 35% 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): San Tan Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.4:1 vs 21.9:1).
Higley Unified School District (4248) also operates Williams Field High School (2,150 students) and Higley High School (2,005 students) alongside San Tan Elementary.
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 San Tan Elementary compares
San Tan Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 2% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.0% | ▼ 79% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 854 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
854
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% 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
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 58% in Arizona - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
32.7%
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
$8,545
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
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 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 62.1%
Hispanic or Latino 29.3%
Two or More 3.7%
African American 2.2%
Asian 2.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 62.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.6, San Tan Elementary is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Higley Unified School District (4248), which includes San Tan Elementary.
$8,545
Per student
-35%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-49%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 40.1%
State 48.7%
Federal 11.2%
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 San Tan Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Field High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Higley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sossaman Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cooley Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bridges Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to San Tan Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,150
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,005
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,094
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 795
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 770
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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 (~854 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on San Tan Elementary's federal record.
- Compare San Tan Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Higley Unified School District (4248)'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 San Tan Elementary
How many students attend San Tan Elementary?
San Tan Elementary has 854 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Tan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at San Tan Elementary is 17.4:1, which is 2% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at San Tan Elementary?
10.0% of students at San Tan Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of San Tan Elementary?
The largest demographic group at San Tan Elementary is White at 62.1% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for San Tan Elementary?
San Tan Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 San Tan Elementary rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, San Tan Elementary ranks #17 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 San Tan Elementary a good school?
San Tan Elementary earns 40/100 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 Higley Unified School District (4248)?
Besides San Tan Elementary, Higley Unified School District (4248) also operates Williams Field High School (2,150 students), Higley High School (2,005 students), and Sossaman Middle School (1,094 students). See the Higley Unified School District (4248) 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.