Enrollment
801
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tucson, AZ
Sierra 2-8 School
Federal NCES profile for Sierra 2-8 School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040817001149
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sierra 2-8 School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #41 of 54
- elementary schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 79.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sierra 2-8 School has class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra 2-8 School ranks #41 of 54 elementary schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Sunnyside Unified District (4407) · Arizona
NCES ID 040817001149 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
79.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+64% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sierra 2-8 School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sierra 2-8 School
Sierra 2-8 School is a high-poverty, large elementary school in Tucson, Arizona, enrolling 801 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 79.0% of students qualify for free meals, 64% above the Arizona average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 801 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 149 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #57.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (90% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 19/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 401 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 94.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Sunnyside Unified District (4407) spends $9,713 per pupil, 26% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 32.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 250 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 801 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Tucson's elementary schools, it stands alongside Los Amigos Elementary School (613 students): Sierra 2-8 School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20:1 vs 17.5:1).
Sunnyside Unified District (4407) also operates Sunnyside High School (2,258 students) and Desert View High School (2,102 students) alongside Sierra 2-8 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 Sierra 2-8 School compares
Sierra 2-8 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 | 20:1 | ▲ 18% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.0% | ▲ 64% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 801 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
801
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
79.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 76% in Arizona - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
94.0%
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
$9,713
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 401 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
148
in-school suspensions + 102 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.2 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
Hispanic or Latino 89.9%
African American 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Two or More 1.6%
White 1.5%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 89.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.9, Sierra 2-8 School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sunnyside Unified District (4407), which includes Sierra 2-8 School.
$9,713
Per student
-26%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-41%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.6%
State 48.9%
Federal 32.5%
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 Sierra 2-8 School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert View High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gallego Intermediate Fine Arts Magnet School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elvira Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Los Amigos Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sierra 2-8 School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,258
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 2,102
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 642
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Tucson
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Los Amigos Elementary School
Standard public school
613 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Sonoran Science Academy East
Standard public school
467 students
Legacy Traditional School - East Tucson
Standard public school
439 students
Summit View Elementary
Standard public school
403 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Da Vinci Tree Academy
Standard public school
265 students
Similar elementary 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 (~801 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sierra 2-8 School's federal record.
- Compare Sierra 2-8 School against another school. Compare schools
- Sunnyside Unified District (4407)'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 Sierra 2-8 School
How many students attend Sierra 2-8 School?
Sierra 2-8 School has 801 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tucson, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra 2-8 School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sierra 2-8 School is 20:1, which is 18% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sierra 2-8 School?
79.0% of students at Sierra 2-8 School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sierra 2-8 School?
The largest demographic group at Sierra 2-8 School is Hispanic or Latino at 89.9% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sierra 2-8 School?
Sierra 2-8 School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sierra 2-8 School rank among elementary schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra 2-8 School ranks #41 of 54 elementary schools in Tucson, 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 Tucson on the city page.
Is Sierra 2-8 School a good school?
Sierra 2-8 School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools. 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 Sunnyside Unified District (4407)?
Besides Sierra 2-8 School, Sunnyside Unified District (4407) also operates Sunnyside High School (2,258 students), Desert View High School (2,102 students), and Gallego Intermediate Fine Arts Magnet School (768 students). See the Sunnyside Unified District (4407) 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.