- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Sweetwater Community School shrank from 187 students in 2022-23 to 175 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 24.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-12 students YoY 040593003431 · Phoenix, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
165 enr · 4.2:1 · 40.6% lunch · RII 81
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Sweetwater Community School shrank from 187 students in 2022-23 to 175 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 24.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Sweetwater Community School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinnacle High
Pinnacle High School
2,430 students
- Paradise Valle
Paradise Valley High School
1,900 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,767 students
- North Canyon H
North Canyon High School
1,560 students
- Shadow Mountai
Shadow Mountain High School
1,080 students
- This school 165
Sweetwater Community School
165 students
What this shows Sweetwater Community School reports 165 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sweetwater Community School compares
Sweetwater Community School is a shrinking 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 | 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 methodology
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
$11,848
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
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.
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
District finance for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) reports $11,848 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~165 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~4.2:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 187 (2022-23) → 175 (2023-24), down 12.
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, gifted-program reporting, 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.
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.