- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Santa Maria Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Santa Maria Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040306000679
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 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
Santa Maria Middle School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools.
- #17 of 24
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.9:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 44.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Santa Maria Middle School has class sizes larger than 86% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Maria Middle School ranks #17 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Fowler Elementary District (4273) · Arizona
NCES ID 040306000679 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Santa Maria Middle School shrank from 622 students in 2022-23 to 583 in 2023-24 (-6.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 27.5 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 040306000679 · Phoenix, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
591 enr · 21.9:1 · 44.9% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Sun Canyon School (563 students)
Santa Maria Middle School shrank from 622 students in 2022-23 to 583 in 2023-24 (-6.3%). Teacher FTE lost 27.5 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Santa Maria Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Santa Maria Middle School
591 students
- Sun Canyon Sch
Sun Canyon School
563 students
- Western Valley
Western Valley Middle School
553 students
- Tuscano Elemen
Tuscano Elementary School
532 students
- Western Valley
Western Valley Elementary School
532 students
- Sunridge Eleme
Sunridge Elementary School
504 students
What this shows Santa Maria Middle School reports 591 students on the CCD universe file.
How Santa Maria Middle School compares
Santa Maria Middle School is a shrinking 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 | 21.9:1 | ▲ 29% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.9% | ▼ 7% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 591 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.9:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
591
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
44.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
21.9:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 86% in Arizona - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
56.5%
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
$10,609
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 591 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.0%
African American 14.7%
White 4.2%
Two or More 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Asian 1.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.8, Santa Maria Middle School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fowler Elementary District (4273) reports $10,609 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Santa Maria Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Canyon School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Valley Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tuscano Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Western Valley Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunridge Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Santa Maria Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 553
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 504
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 9/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~591 students)
Frequently asked questions about Santa Maria Middle School
How many students attend Santa Maria Middle School?
Santa Maria Middle School has 591 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 622 (2022-23) → 583 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria Middle School is 21.9:1, which is 29% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Santa Maria Middle School?
44.9% of students at Santa Maria Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Santa Maria Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Santa Maria Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 76.0% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Santa Maria Middle School?
Santa Maria Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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 Maria Middle School rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Maria Middle School ranks #17 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Fowler Elementary District (4273)?
Besides Santa Maria Middle School, Fowler Elementary District (4273) also operates Sun Canyon School (563 students), Western Valley Middle School (553 students), and Tuscano Elementary School (532 students). See the Fowler Elementary District (4273) district page for the complete list.