Enrollment
2,322
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Phoenix, AZ
Sunnyslope High School
Federal NCES profile for Sunnyslope High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040345000281
👥 S:T ratio 1
📚 AP courses 90
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunnyslope High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #62 of 65
- high schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.7:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 35.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunnyslope High School has class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunnyslope High School ranks #62 of 65 high schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Glendale Union High School District (4285) · Arizona
NCES ID 040345000281 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
94.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.7:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+45% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sunnyslope High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sunnyslope High School
Sunnyslope High School is a large high school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 2,322 students.
Class loads run heavy: 24.7:1 is larger than about 93% of Arizona schools and 45% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 99% of state schools at 2,322 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 53 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #45, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (57%) and White (32%) (diversity index 57/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 18 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 528 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Glendale Union High School District (4285) spends $10,022 per pupil, 24% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Phoenix's high schools, it stands alongside Madison Highland Prep (510 students): Sunnyslope High School is larger than that campus by headcount.
Glendale Union High School District (4285) also operates Apollo High School (2,152 students) and Independence High School (1,907 students) alongside Sunnyslope High 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 Sunnyslope High School compares
Sunnyslope High 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 | 24.7:1 | ▲ 45% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.0% | ▼ 28% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,322 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.7:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,322
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
24.7:1
students per teacher
- 45% above state mean
Top 93% in Arizona - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
39.7%
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
$10,022
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
Counselors4.4 FTE
Per 528 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 180 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.7 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 56.6%
White 31.8%
African American 5.0%
Two or More 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.4, Sunnyslope High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 18
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Glendale Union High School District (4285), which includes Sunnyslope High School.
$10,022
Per student
-24%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.6%
State 49.0%
Federal 15.4%
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 Sunnyslope High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Independence High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glendale High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Washington High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Thunderbird High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunnyslope High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,152
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,907
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,734
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,659
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,592
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar high schools in Phoenix
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Madison Highland Prep
Standard public school
510 students
Arizona Preparatory Academy
Alternative education program
233 students
Ombudsman - Charter West
Alternative education program
176 students
Skyline Prep High School
Alternative education program
167 students
Intelli-School - Paradise Valley
Alternative education program
63 students
Think Through Academy
Standard public school
61 students
Similar high 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 (~2,322 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sunnyslope High School's federal record.
- Compare Sunnyslope High School against another school. Compare schools
- Glendale Union High School District (4285)'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 Sunnyslope High School
How many students attend Sunnyslope High School?
Sunnyslope High School has 2,322 students enrolled. It is a high school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunnyslope High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunnyslope High School is 24.7:1, which is 45% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 57% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sunnyslope High School?
35.0% of students at Sunnyslope High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunnyslope High School?
The largest demographic group at Sunnyslope High School is Hispanic or Latino at 56.6% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunnyslope High School?
Sunnyslope High School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sunnyslope High School rank among high schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunnyslope High School ranks #62 of 65 high 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 high schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Sunnyslope High School a good school?
Sunnyslope High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Glendale Union High School District (4285)?
Besides Sunnyslope High School, Glendale Union High School District (4285) also operates Apollo High School (2,152 students), Independence High School (1,907 students), and Glendale High School (1,734 students). See the Glendale Union High School District (4285) 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.