- Enrollment
- 3,421
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mesa, AZ
Taft Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Taft Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040497000416
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Taft Elementary School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 77% of Arizona schools.
- #52 of 70
- schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.3:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 55.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Taft Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 77% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Taft Elementary School ranks #52 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Mesa Unified District (4235) · Arizona
NCES ID 040497000416 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+44 students YoY
Taft Elementary School grew from 462 students in 2022-23 to 506 in 2023-24 (+9.5%).
Teacher FTE held 37.2 → 37.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+44 students YoY 040497000416 · Mesa, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
491 enr · 13.3:1 · 55.8% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain View High School (3,421 students)
Taft Elementary School grew from 462 students in 2022-23 to 506 in 2023-24 (+9.5%). Teacher FTE held 37.2 → 37.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Taft Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain View
Mountain View High School
3,421 students
- Red Mountain H
Red Mountain High School
3,379 students
- Mesa High Scho
Mesa High School
3,233 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High School
3,135 students
- Dobson High Sc
Dobson High School
2,284 students
- This school 491
Taft Elementary School
491 students
What this shows Taft Elementary School reports 491 students on the CCD universe file.
How Taft Elementary School compares
Taft 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 22% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.8% | ▲ 16% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 491 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
491
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
55.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 23% in Arizona - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
47.9%
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
$12,121
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 491 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 64.4%
White 27.7%
Two or More 3.7%
African American 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 64.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.6, Taft Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mesa Unified District (4235) reports $12,121 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Taft Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dobson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Taft Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,379
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 3,233
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 3,135
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,284
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Mesa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eastmark High School
Standard public school
1,889 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School
Standard public school
1,711 students
Silver Valley Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Astravo Online Academy
Standard public school
849 students
Eagleridge Enrichment Program
Standard public school
694 students 63.1:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy Virtual
Standard public school
660 students
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 (~491 students)
Frequently asked questions about Taft Elementary School
How many students attend Taft Elementary School?
Taft Elementary School has 491 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mesa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 462 (2022-23) → 506 (2023-24), up 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Taft Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Taft Elementary School is 13.3:1, which is 22% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 15% 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 Taft Elementary School?
55.8% of students at Taft Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Taft Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Taft Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 64.4% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Taft Elementary School?
Taft Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Taft Elementary School rank among schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Taft Elementary School ranks #52 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa Unified District (4235)?
Besides Taft Elementary School, Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students), Red Mountain High School (3,379 students), and Mesa High School (3,233 students). See the Mesa Unified District (4235) district page for the complete list.