- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · El Mirage, AZ
Surprise Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Surprise Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040269000201
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Surprise Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #2 of 5
- schools in El Mirage · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.3:1
- students per teacher
- 62.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Surprise Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Surprise Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 schools in El Mirage, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269000201 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+60 students YoY
Surprise Elementary School grew from 771 students in 2022-23 to 831 in 2023-24 (+7.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 48.5 → 48.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+60 students YoY 040269000201 · El Mirage, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
782 enr · 16.3:1 · 62.0% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley Vista High School (2,334 students)
Surprise Elementary School grew from 771 students in 2022-23 to 831 in 2023-24 (+7.8%). Teacher FTE lost 48.5 → 48.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Surprise Elementary School 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 782
Surprise Elementary School
782 students
What this shows Surprise Elementary School reports 782 students on the CCD universe file.
How Surprise Elementary School compares
Surprise Elementary School is a growing 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 | 16.3:1 | ▼ 4% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.0% | ▲ 28% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 782 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
782
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 48% in Arizona - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
59.7%
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
$10,550
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
59
in-school suspensions + 56 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 65.3%
White 16.6%
African American 10.1%
Two or More 5.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 65.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.3, Surprise Elementary School 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 Surprise Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Surprise Elementary School'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
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 (~782 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Surprise Elementary School
How many students attend Surprise Elementary School?
Surprise Elementary School has 782 students enrolled. It is a public school in El Mirage, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 771 (2022-23) → 831 (2023-24), up 60.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Surprise Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Surprise Elementary School is 16.3:1, which is 4% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 4% higher 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 Surprise Elementary School?
62.0% of students at Surprise Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Surprise Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Surprise Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 65.3% of enrollment, in El Mirage, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Surprise Elementary School?
Surprise Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical 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 Surprise Elementary School rank among schools in El Mirage?
By Resource Investment Index, Surprise Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 schools in El Mirage, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in El Mirage on the city page.
What other schools are in Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Surprise Elementary School, 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.