- Enrollment
- 3,421
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mesa, AZ
Shepherd Junior High School
Federal NCES profile for Shepherd Junior High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040497001376
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shepherd Junior High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #5 of 26
- elementary schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 24.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Shepherd Junior High School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shepherd Junior High School ranks #5 of 26 elementary schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Mesa Unified District (4235) · Arizona
NCES ID 040497001376 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+64 students YoY
Shepherd Junior High School grew from 603 students in 2022-23 to 667 in 2023-24 (+10.6%).
Teacher FTE added 33.6 → 33.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+64 students YoY 040497001376 · Mesa, AZ Elementary · MID · TRAD
581 enr · 17.6:1 · 24.9% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain View High School (3,421 students)
Shepherd Junior High School grew from 603 students in 2022-23 to 667 in 2023-24 (+10.6%). Teacher FTE added 33.6 → 33.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Shepherd Junior High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain View
Mountain View High School
3,421 students
- Red Mountain H
Red Mountain High School
3,379 students
- Mesa High Scho
Mesa High School
3,233 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High School
3,135 students
- Dobson High Sc
Dobson High School
2,284 students
- This school 581
Shepherd Junior High School
581 students
What this shows Shepherd Junior High School reports 581 students on the CCD universe file.
How Shepherd Junior High School compares
Shepherd Junior High 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 | 17.6:1 | ▲ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.9% | ▼ 48% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 581 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
581
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 60% in Arizona - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
50.6%
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
$12,121
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 291 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
40
in-school suspensions + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.1%
Hispanic or Latino 27.9%
Two or More 4.5%
African American 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 62.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.3, Shepherd Junior High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mesa Unified District (4235) reports $12,121 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Shepherd Junior High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dobson High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shepherd Junior High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,379
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 3,233
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 3,135
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,284
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar elementary schools in Mesa
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~581 students)
Frequently asked questions about Shepherd Junior High School
How many students attend Shepherd Junior High School?
Shepherd Junior High School has 581 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mesa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 603 (2022-23) → 667 (2023-24), up 64.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shepherd Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shepherd Junior High School is 17.6:1, which is 4% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Shepherd Junior High School?
24.9% of students at Shepherd Junior High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shepherd Junior High School?
The largest demographic group at Shepherd Junior High School is White at 62.1% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shepherd Junior High School?
Shepherd Junior High School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical 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 Shepherd Junior High School rank among elementary schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Shepherd Junior High School ranks #5 of 26 elementary schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa Unified District (4235)?
Besides Shepherd Junior High School, Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students), Red Mountain High School (3,379 students), and Mesa High School (3,233 students). See the Mesa Unified District (4235) district page for the complete list.