Enrollment
669
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · San Tan Valley, AZ
San Tan Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for San Tan Heights Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040292003079
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
San Tan Heights Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #5 of 9
- schools in San Tan Valley · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- students per teacher
- 46.9%
- free-lunch eligible
San Tan Heights Elementary has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, San Tan Heights Elementary ranks #5 of 9 schools in San Tan Valley, AZ.
School address
District: Florence Unified School District (4437) · Arizona
NCES ID 040292003079 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How San Tan Heights Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at San Tan Heights Elementary
San Tan Heights Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in San Tan Valley, Arizona, enrolling 669 students.
At 17.2:1, 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.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 46.9% lands close to the Arizona typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 669 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 323 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #85.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and Hispanic or Latino (39%) (diversity index 66/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 70.0% 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: 153 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 669 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): San Tan Heights Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Florence Unified School District (4437) also operates Poston Butte High School (1,310 students) and Florence High School (857 students) alongside San Tan Heights 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 Heights Elementary compares
San Tan Heights 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 | 17.2:1 | ▲ 1% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.9% | ▼ 3% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 669 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
669
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 56% in Arizona - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
70.0%
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
$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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
69
in-school suspensions + 84 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.9 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
White 41.6%
Hispanic or Latino 39.2%
African American 10.6%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.5%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 41.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, San Tan Heights Elementary is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Florence Unified School District (4437), which includes San Tan Heights Elementary.
$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 San Tan Heights Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poston Butte High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Florence High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Florence K-8 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Tan Foothills High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Circle Cross K8 Stem Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to San Tan Heights Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,310
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- 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
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
Poston Butte High School
Standard public school
1,310 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
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
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 (~669 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on San Tan Heights Elementary's federal record.
- Compare San Tan Heights Elementary 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 San Tan Heights Elementary
How many students attend San Tan Heights Elementary?
San Tan Heights Elementary has 669 students enrolled. It is a public school in San Tan Valley, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Tan Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at San Tan Heights Elementary is 17.2:1, which is 1% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at San Tan Heights Elementary?
46.9% of students at San Tan Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of San Tan Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at San Tan Heights Elementary is White at 41.6% 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 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for San Tan Heights Elementary?
San Tan Heights Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Heights Elementary rank among schools in San Tan Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, San Tan Heights Elementary ranks #5 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 San Tan Heights Elementary a good school?
San Tan Heights Elementary earns 34/100 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 San Tan Heights Elementary, Florence Unified School District (4437) also operates Poston Butte High School (1,310 students), Florence High School (857 students), and Florence K-8 (805 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.