- Enrollment
- 1,840
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Maricopa, AZ
Santa Cruz Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Santa Cruz Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040472002665
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Santa Cruz Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools.
- #11 of 11
- schools in Maricopa · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.4:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 44.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Santa Cruz Elementary School has class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Cruz Elementary School ranks #11 of 11 schools in Maricopa, AZ.
School address
District: Maricopa Unified School District (4441) · Arizona
NCES ID 040472002665 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+88 students YoY
Santa Cruz Elementary School grew from 764 students in 2022-23 to 852 in 2023-24 (+11.5%).
Teacher FTE added 44.0 → 55.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+88 students YoY 040472002665 · Maricopa, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
941 enr · 21.4:1 · 44.0% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Maricopa High School (1,840 students)
Santa Cruz Elementary School grew from 764 students in 2022-23 to 852 in 2023-24 (+11.5%). Teacher FTE added 44.0 → 55.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Santa Cruz Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Maricopa High
Maricopa High School
1,840 students
- Desert Sunrise
Desert Sunrise High School
1,261 students
- This school
Santa Cruz Elementary School
941 students
- Maricopa Wells
Maricopa Wells Middle School
940 students
- Butterfield El
Butterfield Elementary School
920 students
- Desert Wind Mi
Desert Wind Middle School
898 students
What this shows Santa Cruz Elementary School reports 941 students on the CCD universe file.
How Santa Cruz Elementary School compares
Santa Cruz Elementary School is a growing 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 | 21.4:1 | ▲ 26% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.0% | ▼ 9% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 941 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.4:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
941
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
21.4:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 83% in Arizona - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
38.7%
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
$9,671
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 941 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 52.5%
African American 18.3%
White 16.6%
Two or More 8.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.7%
Asian 1.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.6, Santa Cruz Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Maricopa Unified School District (4441) reports $9,671 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Santa Cruz Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Sunrise High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maricopa Wells Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Butterfield Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Wind Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Santa Cruz Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,261
- Students per teacher
- 42:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
- Enrollment
- 940
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 920
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Maricopa
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~941 students)
Frequently asked questions about Santa Cruz Elementary School
How many students attend Santa Cruz Elementary School?
Santa Cruz Elementary School has 941 students enrolled. It is a public school in Maricopa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 764 (2022-23) → 852 (2023-24), up 88.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz Elementary School is 21.4:1, which is 26% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Santa Cruz Elementary School?
44.0% of students at Santa Cruz Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Santa Cruz Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Santa Cruz Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 52.5% of enrollment, in Maricopa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Santa Cruz Elementary School?
Santa Cruz Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower 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 Santa Cruz Elementary School rank among schools in Maricopa?
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Cruz Elementary School ranks #11 of 11 schools in Maricopa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Maricopa on the city page.
What other schools are in Maricopa Unified School District (4441)?
Besides Santa Cruz Elementary School, Maricopa Unified School District (4441) also operates Maricopa High School (1,840 students), Desert Sunrise High School (1,261 students), and Maricopa Wells Middle School (940 students). See the Maricopa Unified School District (4441) district page for the complete list.