- Enrollment
- 1,362
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Sonoran Trails Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Sonoran Trails Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040000101871
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sonoran Trails Middle School earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 5.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Sonoran Trails Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sonoran Trails Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Cave Creek Unified District (4244) · Arizona
NCES ID 040000101871 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-122 students YoY
Sonoran Trails Middle School shrank from 761 students in 2022-23 to 639 in 2023-24 (-16.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.8 → 33.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-122 students YoY 040000101871 · Phoenix, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
615 enr · 17.6:1 · 5.9% lunch · RII 15
Nearest enrollment peer: Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students)
Sonoran Trails Middle School shrank from 761 students in 2022-23 to 639 in 2023-24 (-16.0%). Teacher FTE lost 35.8 → 33.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Sonoran Trails Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cactus Shadows
Cactus Shadows High School
1,362 students
- This school
Sonoran Trails Middle School
615 students
- Black Mountain 496
Black Mountain Elementary School
496 students
- Horseshoe Trai 424
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
424 students
- Lone Mountain 376
Lone Mountain Elementary School
376 students
- Desert Willow 338
Desert Willow Elementary School
338 students
What this shows Sonoran Trails Middle School reports 615 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sonoran Trails Middle School compares
Sonoran Trails 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 | 17.6:1 | ▲ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.9% | ▼ 88% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 615 | top 27% | - | - |
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.
615
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 88% 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
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
58.7%
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
$9,626
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 615 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
32
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 79.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
Two or More 4.6%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 79.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.3, Sonoran Trails Middle School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Cave Creek Unified District (4244) reports $9,626 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sonoran Trails Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus Shadows High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horseshoe Trails Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lone Mountain Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sonoran Trails Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 338
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~615 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sonoran Trails Middle School
How many students attend Sonoran Trails Middle School?
Sonoran Trails Middle School has 615 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 761 (2022-23) → 639 (2023-24), down 122.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sonoran Trails Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sonoran Trails Middle 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 Sonoran Trails Middle School?
5.9% of students at Sonoran Trails Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sonoran Trails Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Sonoran Trails Middle School is White at 79.0% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sonoran Trails Middle School?
Sonoran Trails Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower 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 Sonoran Trails Middle School rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Sonoran Trails Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Phoenix on the city page.
What other schools are in Cave Creek Unified District (4244)?
Besides Sonoran Trails Middle School, Cave Creek Unified District (4244) also operates Cactus Shadows High School (1,362 students), Black Mountain Elementary School (496 students), and Horseshoe Trails Elementary School (424 students). See the Cave Creek Unified District (4244) district page for the complete list.