- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Surprise, AZ
Sunset Hills Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sunset Hills Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040269002481
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunset Hills Elementary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools.
- #11 of 14
- schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.9:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 32.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunset Hills Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Hills Elementary ranks #11 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269002481 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+10 students YoY
Sunset Hills Elementary held near 979 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 44.5 → 47.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+10 students YoY 040269002481 · Surprise, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
877 enr · 19.9:1 · 32.9% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley Vista High School (2,334 students)
Sunset Hills Elementary held near 979 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 44.5 → 47.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Sunset Hills Elementary 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 877
Sunset Hills Elementary
877 students
What this shows Sunset Hills Elementary reports 877 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunset Hills Elementary compares
Sunset Hills Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.9:1 | ▲ 17% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.9% | ▼ 32% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 877 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
877
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 76% in Arizona - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
58.0%
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
45
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.8%
Hispanic or Latino 37.1%
Two or More 10.0%
African American 7.8%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 42.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Sunset Hills Elementary 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 Sunset Hills Elementary 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunset Hills Elementary'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 other schools in Surprise
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~877 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sunset Hills Elementary
How many students attend Sunset Hills Elementary?
Sunset Hills Elementary has 877 students enrolled. It is a public school in Surprise, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 969 (2022-23) → 979 (2023-24), nearly flat (+10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Hills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Hills Elementary is 19.9:1, which is 17% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sunset Hills Elementary?
32.9% of students at Sunset Hills Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunset Hills Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sunset Hills Elementary is White at 42.8% of enrollment, in Surprise, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunset Hills Elementary?
Sunset Hills Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Sunset Hills Elementary rank among schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunset Hills Elementary ranks #11 of 14 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 schools in Surprise on the city page.
What other schools are in Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Sunset Hills Elementary, 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.