Enrollment
763
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Surprise, AZ
Western Peaks Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Western Peaks Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040269002679
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Peaks Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Arizona schools.
- #13 of 14
- schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.2:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 33.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Peaks Elementary has class sizes larger than 82% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Peaks Elementary ranks #13 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269002679 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.2:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
33.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-32% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Western Peaks Elementary compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Western Peaks Elementary
Western Peaks Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Surprise, Arizona, enrolling 763 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 33.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 763 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 252 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #134.
Its student body is led by White (44%) and Hispanic or Latino (35%) (diversity index 66/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dysart Unified District (4243) spends $9,891 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Surprise's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy West Foothills K-12 (2,276 students): Western Peaks Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students) and Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students) alongside Western Peaks Elementary.
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 Western Peaks Elementary compares
Western Peaks Elementary 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 | 33.0% | ▼ 32% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 763 | top 17% | - | - |
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.
763
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
33.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
43.3%
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
$9,891
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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
White 44.4%
Hispanic or Latino 35.4%
Two or More 9.7%
African American 7.2%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 44.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.2, Western Peaks Elementary is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dysart Unified District (4243), which includes Western Peaks Elementary.
$9,891
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.2%
State 44.3%
Federal 17.5%
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 Western Peaks Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Willow Canyon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Peaks Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,212
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,901
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,471
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Surprise
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~763 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Western Peaks Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Western Peaks Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Dysart Unified District (4243)'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 Western Peaks Elementary
How many students attend Western Peaks Elementary?
Western Peaks Elementary has 763 students enrolled. It is a public school in Surprise, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Peaks Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Peaks Elementary 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 Western Peaks Elementary?
33.0% of students at Western Peaks Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Peaks Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Western Peaks Elementary is White at 44.4% of enrollment, in Surprise, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Peaks Elementary?
Western Peaks Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Western Peaks Elementary rank among schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Peaks Elementary ranks #13 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Surprise on the city page.
Is Western Peaks Elementary a good school?
Western Peaks Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% 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 Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Western Peaks Elementary, Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students), Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students), and Willow Canyon High School (1,901 students). See the Dysart Unified District (4243) 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.