Enrollment
295
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Phoenix, AZ
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy
Federal NCES profile for South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040085303297Charter school
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index on federal resource data. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #93 of 116
- elementary schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 70.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 295
- students enrolled
By Resource Investment Index, South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy ranks #93 of 116 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108) · Arizona
NCES ID 040085303297 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Free-lunch eligible
70.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+45% vs state
What stands out at South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized charter elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 295 students.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 70.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 295 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 212 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #200, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (41%) and African American (38%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 69.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108) spends $8,184 per pupil, 38% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Phoenix's elementary schools, it stands alongside Academy of Math and Science Avondale (1,175 students): South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount.
South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108) is a single-school charter district, so South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy operates independently rather than alongside district-mates.
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 South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy compares
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.0% | ▲ 45% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 295 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
295
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Engagement
69.8%
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
$8,184
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 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 41.4%
African American 38.0%
Two or More 7.5%
White 6.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Asian 1.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 41.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.3, South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108), which includes South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy.
$8,184
Per student
-38%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-51%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 1.1%
State 80.0%
Federal 18.9%
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.
Similar elementary schools in Phoenix
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Academy of Math and Science Avondale
Standard public school
1,175 students
Kyrene Altadena Middle School
Standard public school
857 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Catalina Ventura School
Standard public school
842 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Inspiration Mountain School
Standard public school
789 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Alhambra Traditional School
Standard public school
733 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Legacy Traditional School - North Phoenix
Standard public school
567 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.
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy's federal record.
- Compare South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy against another school. Compare schools
- South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108)'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 South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy
How many students attend South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy?
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy has 295 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Phoenix, AZ.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy?
70.0% of students at South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy?
The largest demographic group at South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 41.4% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy?
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy rank among elementary schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy ranks #93 of 116 elementary 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 elementary schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy a good school?
South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index on federal resource data. It is also more 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 South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108)?
None; South Phoenix Academy Inc. (91108) is a single-school charter district, and South Phoenix Prep and Arts Academy is its only campus.
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.