Enrollment
578
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gilbert, AZ
Spectrum Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Spectrum Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040340003146
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Spectrum Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #17 of 46
- schools in Gilbert · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 20.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Spectrum Elementary has class sizes smaller than 71% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Spectrum Elementary ranks #17 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ.
School address
District: Gilbert Unified District (4239) · Arizona
NCES ID 040340003146 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-57% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Spectrum Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Spectrum Elementary
Spectrum Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Gilbert, Arizona, enrolling 578 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 20.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 578 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 280 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #64.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Gilbert Unified District (4239) spends $9,253 per pupil, 30% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Gilbert's public schools, it stands alongside Williams Field High School (2,150 students): Spectrum Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.1:1 vs 21.9:1).
Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students) and Gilbert High School (2,418 students) alongside Spectrum Elementary.
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 Spectrum Elementary compares
Spectrum Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.9% | ▼ 57% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 578 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
578
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 29% in Arizona - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
37.7%
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
$9,253
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
7
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 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
White 38.9%
Hispanic or Latino 34.4%
Two or More 8.8%
African American 8.1%
Asian 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 38.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.1, Spectrum Elementary is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gilbert Unified District (4239), which includes Spectrum Elementary.
$9,253
Per student
-30%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-44%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.1%
State 44.8%
Federal 12.1%
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 Spectrum Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gilbert High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Ridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Campo Verde High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesquite High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Spectrum Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,992
- Students per teacher
- 23:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,418
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,103
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,863
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,303
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar other schools in Gilbert
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Williams Field High School
Standard public school
2,150 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Gateway Pointe Elementary
Standard public school
685 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Great Hearts Academies - Arete Prep
Standard public school
540 students
Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Gilbert
Standard public school
259 students
Similar other 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 (~578 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Spectrum Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Spectrum Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Gilbert Unified District (4239)'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 Spectrum Elementary
How many students attend Spectrum Elementary?
Spectrum Elementary has 578 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gilbert, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spectrum Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Spectrum Elementary is 14.1:1, which is 17% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 10% 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 Spectrum Elementary?
20.9% of students at Spectrum Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Spectrum Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Spectrum Elementary is White at 38.9% of enrollment, in Gilbert, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Spectrum Elementary?
Spectrum Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Spectrum Elementary rank among schools in Gilbert?
By Resource Investment Index, Spectrum Elementary ranks #17 of 46 schools in Gilbert, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gilbert on the city page.
Is Spectrum Elementary a good school?
Spectrum Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of Arizona schools. 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 Gilbert Unified District (4239)?
Besides Spectrum Elementary, Gilbert Unified District (4239) also operates Highland High School (2,992 students), Gilbert High School (2,418 students), and Desert Ridge High (2,103 students). See the Gilbert Unified District (4239) 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.