Enrollment
1,592
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Phoenix, AZ
Thunderbird High School
Federal NCES profile for Thunderbird High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 040345000282
👥 S:T ratio 15
📚 AP courses 85
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thunderbird High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #57 of 65
- high schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.2:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 35.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Thunderbird High School has class sizes larger than 82% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thunderbird High School ranks #57 of 65 high schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Glendale Union High School District (4285) · Arizona
NCES ID 040345000282 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
75.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.2:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Thunderbird High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Thunderbird High School
Thunderbird High School is a large high school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 1,592 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,592 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 75 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #44.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (47%) and White (37%) (diversity index 64/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 17 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 398 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Glendale Union High School District (4285) spends $10,022 per pupil, 24% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 342 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,592 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Phoenix's high schools, it stands alongside Madison Highland Prep (510 students): Thunderbird High School is larger than that campus by headcount.
Glendale Union High School District (4285) also operates Sunnyslope High School (2,322 students) and Apollo High School (2,152 students) alongside Thunderbird High 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 Thunderbird High School compares
Thunderbird High 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 | 21.2:1 | ▲ 25% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.0% | ▼ 28% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,592 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.2:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,592
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
21.2:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 82% in Arizona - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
49.0%
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
$10,022
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 398 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
208
in-school suspensions + 134 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 46.8%
White 36.5%
African American 8.0%
Two or More 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.6%
Asian 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.9, Thunderbird High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Glendale Union High School District (4285), which includes Thunderbird High School.
$10,022
Per student
-24%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.6%
State 49.0%
Federal 15.4%
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 Thunderbird High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyslope High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apollo High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Independence High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glendale High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washington High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thunderbird High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,322
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 2,152
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,907
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,734
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,659
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar high schools in Phoenix
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Madison Highland Prep
Standard public school
510 students
Arizona Preparatory Academy
Alternative education program
233 students
Ombudsman - Charter West
Alternative education program
176 students
Skyline Prep High School
Alternative education program
167 students
Intelli-School - Paradise Valley
Alternative education program
63 students
Think Through Academy
Standard public school
61 students
Similar high 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 (~1,592 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Thunderbird High School's federal record.
- Compare Thunderbird High School against another school. Compare schools
- Glendale Union High School District (4285)'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 Thunderbird High School
How many students attend Thunderbird High School?
Thunderbird High School has 1,592 students enrolled. It is a high school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thunderbird High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thunderbird High School is 21.2:1, which is 25% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 35% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thunderbird High School?
35.0% of students at Thunderbird High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thunderbird High School?
The largest demographic group at Thunderbird High School is Hispanic or Latino at 46.8% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thunderbird High School?
Thunderbird High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thunderbird High School rank among high schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Thunderbird High School ranks #57 of 65 high 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 high schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Thunderbird High School a good school?
Thunderbird High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Glendale Union High School District (4285)?
Besides Thunderbird High School, Glendale Union High School District (4285) also operates Sunnyslope High School (2,322 students), Apollo High School (2,152 students), and Independence High School (1,907 students). See the Glendale Union High School District (4285) 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.