Enrollment
2,212
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Surprise, AZ
Shadow Ridge High School
Federal NCES profile for Shadow Ridge High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040269002971
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shadow Ridge High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #6 of 14
- schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.9:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 15.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Shadow Ridge High School has class sizes larger than 81% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shadow Ridge High School ranks #6 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269002971 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
106.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.9:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
15.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Shadow Ridge High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Shadow Ridge High School
Shadow Ridge High School is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Surprise, Arizona, enrolling 2,212 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 15.0% free-meal eligibility runs 69% below the Arizona average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 98% of state schools at 2,212 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 52 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (32%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 369 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
The surrounding Dysart Unified District (4243) spends $9,891 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 485 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 2,212 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Surprise's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy West Foothills K-12 (2,276 students): Shadow Ridge High School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students) and Willow Canyon High School (1,901 students) alongside Shadow Ridge 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 Ridge High School compares
Shadow Ridge 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 | 20.9:1 | ▲ 23% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.0% | ▼ 69% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,212 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,212
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
15.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% 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
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 81% in Arizona - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$9,891
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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 369 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
321
in-school suspensions + 164 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.9 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 52.3%
Hispanic or Latino 32.2%
Two or More 7.5%
African American 5.4%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 52.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.4, Shadow Ridge High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dysart Unified District (4243), which includes Shadow Ridge High School.
$9,891
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.2%
State 44.3%
Federal 17.5%
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 Ridge High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Canyon Ridge School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shadow Ridge High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,901
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,471
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,042
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Surprise
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~2,212 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Shadow Ridge High School's federal record.
- Compare Shadow Ridge High School against another school. Compare schools
- Dysart Unified District (4243)'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 Ridge High School
How many students attend Shadow Ridge High School?
Shadow Ridge High School has 2,212 students enrolled. It is a public school in Surprise, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shadow Ridge High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shadow Ridge High School is 20.9:1, which is 23% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 33% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Shadow Ridge High School?
15.0% of students at Shadow Ridge High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shadow Ridge High School?
The largest demographic group at Shadow Ridge High School is White at 52.3% of enrollment, in Surprise, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shadow Ridge High School?
Shadow Ridge High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Shadow Ridge High School rank among schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Shadow Ridge High School ranks #6 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Surprise on the city page.
Is Shadow Ridge High School a good school?
Shadow Ridge High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Shadow Ridge High School, Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students), Willow Canyon High School (1,901 students), and Dysart High School (1,471 students). See the Dysart Unified District (4243) 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.