Enrollment
165
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
Sweetwater Community School
Federal NCES profile for Sweetwater Community School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 81/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040593003431
👥 S:T ratio 83
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 89
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sweetwater Community School earns 81/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of Arizona schools.
- #1 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 81
- Resource Index · Higher
- 4.2:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 40.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Sweetwater Community School has class sizes smaller than 98% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sweetwater Community School ranks #1 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593003431 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
4.2:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-75% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
40.6%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sweetwater Community School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sweetwater Community School
Sweetwater Community School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 165 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 4.2:1, Sweetwater Community School is leaner than roughly 98% of Arizona schools and 75% under the state's 17:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 40.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 165 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 99% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 59 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (64%) and White (22%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 55 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 6 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Phoenix's public schools, it stands alongside Pan-American Charter School (1,221 students): Sweetwater Community School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students) and Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students) alongside Sweetwater Community 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 Sweetwater Community School compares
Sweetwater Community 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 | 4.2:1 | ▼ 75% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.6% | ▼ 16% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 165 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
4.2:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
165
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
40.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
4.2:1
students per teacher
- 75% below state mean
Top 2% in Arizona - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$11,154
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 55 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
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 63.6%
White 22.4%
African American 5.5%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.0, Sweetwater Community School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241), which includes Sweetwater Community School.
$11,154
Per student
-15%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.8%
State 27.3%
Federal 14.9%
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.
How Sweetwater Community School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sweetwater Community School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Phoenix
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pan-American Charter School
Standard public school
1,221 students
Great Hearts Academies - Anthem Prep
Standard public school
1,031 students
Westwind Elementary School
Standard public school
932 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Stetson Hills School
Standard public school
887 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Union Park School
Standard public school
873 students 19:1 students per teacher
Fireside Elementary School
Standard public school
693 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~165 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~4.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sweetwater Community School's federal record.
- Compare Sweetwater Community School against another school. Compare schools
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)'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 Sweetwater Community School
How many students attend Sweetwater Community School?
Sweetwater Community School has 165 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sweetwater Community School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sweetwater Community School is 4.2:1, which is 75% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 73% 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 Sweetwater Community School?
40.6% of students at Sweetwater Community School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sweetwater Community School?
The largest demographic group at Sweetwater Community School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.6% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sweetwater Community School?
Sweetwater Community School has a Resource Investment Index of 81/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sweetwater Community School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Sweetwater Community School ranks #1 of 179 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 schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Sweetwater Community School a good school?
Sweetwater Community School earns 81/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of 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 Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Sweetwater Community School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) 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.