- Enrollment
- 923
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tempe, AZ
Ward Traditional Academy
Federal NCES profile for Ward Traditional Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040831003112
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ward Traditional Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Arizona schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #3 of 10
- elementary schools in Tempe · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.9:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 21.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Ward Traditional Academy has class sizes smaller than 73% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ward Traditional Academy ranks #3 of 10 elementary schools in Tempe, AZ.
School address
District: Tempe School District (4258) · Arizona
NCES ID 040831003112 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Ward Traditional Academy held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 040831003112 · Tempe, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
404 enr · 13.9:1 · 21.0% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Connolly Middle School (923 students)
Ward Traditional Academy held near 371 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Ward Traditional Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Connolly Middl
Connolly Middle School
923 students
- Nevitt Element
Nevitt Elementary School
712 students
- Geneva Epps Mo
Geneva Epps Mosley Middle School
694 students
- Fees College P
Fees College Preparatory Middle School
645 students
- Broadmor Eleme
Broadmor Elementary School
575 students
- This school
Ward Traditional Academy
404 students
What this shows Ward Traditional Academy reports 404 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ward Traditional Academy compares
Ward Traditional Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▼ 18% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.0% | ▼ 57% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 404 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
404
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 27% in Arizona - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,504
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 404 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.3%
Hispanic or Latino 29.5%
Asian 9.7%
Two or More 7.4%
African American 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 45.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.8, Ward Traditional Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tempe School District (4258) reports $12,504 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ward Traditional Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connolly Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nevitt Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Geneva Epps Mosley Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fees College Preparatory Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Broadmor Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ward Traditional Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 712
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 694
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 645
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~404 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ward Traditional Academy
How many students attend Ward Traditional Academy?
Ward Traditional Academy has 404 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tempe, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 377 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward Traditional Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Ward Traditional Academy is 13.9:1, which is 18% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 11% 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 Ward Traditional Academy?
21.0% of students at Ward Traditional Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ward Traditional Academy?
The largest demographic group at Ward Traditional Academy is White at 45.3% of enrollment, in Tempe, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ward Traditional Academy?
Ward Traditional Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Ward Traditional Academy rank among elementary schools in Tempe?
By Resource Investment Index, Ward Traditional Academy ranks #3 of 10 elementary schools in Tempe, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Tempe on the city page.
What other schools are in Tempe School District (4258)?
Besides Ward Traditional Academy, Tempe School District (4258) also operates Connolly Middle School (923 students), Nevitt Elementary School (712 students), and Geneva Epps Mosley Middle School (694 students). See the Tempe School District (4258) district page for the complete list.