- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Surprise, AZ
Sonoran Heights Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Sonoran Heights Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040269002649
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sonoran Heights Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Arizona schools.
- #2 of 8
- elementary schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 26.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sonoran Heights Middle School has class sizes smaller than 72% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sonoran Heights Middle School ranks #2 of 8 elementary schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269002649 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-130 students YoY
Sonoran Heights Middle School shrank from 712 students in 2022-23 to 582 in 2023-24 (-18.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 40.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-130 students YoY 040269002649 · Surprise, AZ Elementary · MID · TRAD
560 enr · 14:1 · 26.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley Vista High School (2,334 students)
Sonoran Heights Middle School shrank from 712 students in 2022-23 to 582 in 2023-24 (-18.3%). Teacher FTE lost 40.0 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Sonoran Heights Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valley Vista H
Valley Vista High School
2,334 students
- Shadow Ridge H
Shadow Ridge High School
2,212 students
- Willow Canyon
Willow Canyon High School
1,901 students
- Dysart High Sc
Dysart High School
1,471 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View
1,045 students
- This school 560
Sonoran Heights Middle School
560 students
What this shows Sonoran Heights Middle School reports 560 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sonoran Heights Middle School compares
Sonoran Heights 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 | 14:1 | ▼ 18% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.0% | ▼ 46% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 560 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
560
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
14:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 28% in Arizona - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
61.8%
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
$10,550
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 69 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 44.1%
Hispanic or Latino 37.5%
African American 8.0%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 44.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.4, Sonoran Heights Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dysart Unified District (4243) reports $10,550 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sonoran Heights Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sonoran Heights Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,212
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools in Surprise
1 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 (~560 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sonoran Heights Middle School
How many students attend Sonoran Heights Middle School?
Sonoran Heights Middle School has 560 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Surprise, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 712 (2022-23) → 582 (2023-24), down 130.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sonoran Heights Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sonoran Heights Middle School is 14:1, which is 18% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 11% 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 Sonoran Heights Middle School?
26.0% of students at Sonoran Heights Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sonoran Heights Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Sonoran Heights Middle School is White at 44.1% of enrollment, in Surprise, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sonoran Heights Middle School?
Sonoran Heights Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sonoran Heights Middle School rank among elementary schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Sonoran Heights Middle School ranks #2 of 8 elementary 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 elementary schools in Surprise on the city page.
What other schools are in Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Sonoran Heights Middle School, Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students), Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students), and Willow Canyon High School (1,901 students). See the Dysart Unified District (4243) district page for the complete list.