Enrollment
1,080
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
Shadow Mountain High School
Federal NCES profile for Shadow Mountain High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040593000491
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shadow Mountain High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #48 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 21.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Shadow Mountain High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shadow Mountain High School ranks #48 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593000491 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
75.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-55% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Shadow Mountain High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Shadow Mountain High School
Shadow Mountain High School is a large combined-grade school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 1,080 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 21.9% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 92% of state schools at 1,080 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 180 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #28.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 309 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 51.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Phoenix's public schools, it stands alongside Pan-American Charter School (1,221 students): Shadow Mountain High School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students) and Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students) alongside Shadow Mountain 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 Shadow Mountain High School compares
Shadow Mountain 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 | 14.4:1 | ▼ 15% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.9% | ▼ 55% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,080 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,080
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 31% in Arizona - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
51.9%
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
$11,154
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
Counselors3.5 FTE
Per 309 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
106
in-school suspensions + 50 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 54.0%
Hispanic or Latino 34.2%
Two or More 5.0%
African American 4.4%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 54.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.7, Shadow Mountain High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241), which includes Shadow Mountain High School.
$11,154
Per student
-15%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.8%
State 27.3%
Federal 14.9%
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 Shadow Mountain High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain Trail Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shadow Mountain High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar other schools in Phoenix
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pan-American Charter School
Standard public school
1,221 students
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep
Standard public school
1,031 students
Westwind Elementary School
Standard public school
932 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stetson Hills School
Standard public school
887 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Union Park School
Standard public school
873 students 19:1 students per teacher
Fireside Elementary School
Standard public school
693 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 (~1,080 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Shadow Mountain High School's federal record.
- Compare Shadow Mountain High School against another school. Compare schools
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)'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 Shadow Mountain High School
How many students attend Shadow Mountain High School?
Shadow Mountain High School has 1,080 students enrolled. It is a public school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shadow Mountain High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shadow Mountain High School is 14.4:1, which is 15% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Shadow Mountain High School?
21.9% of students at Shadow Mountain High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shadow Mountain High School?
The largest demographic group at Shadow Mountain High School is White at 54.0% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shadow Mountain High School?
Shadow Mountain High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 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 Shadow Mountain High School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Shadow Mountain High School ranks #48 of 179 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 schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Shadow Mountain High School a good school?
Shadow Mountain High School earns 38/100 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 Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Shadow Mountain High School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) 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.