Enrollment
532
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Phoenix, AZ
Western Valley Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Western Valley Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 11/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040306003084
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Valley Elementary School earns 11/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools.
- #174 of 179
- schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 11
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.3:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 57.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Valley Elementary School has class sizes larger than 83% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Valley Elementary School ranks #174 of 179 schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Fowler Elementary District (4273) · Arizona
NCES ID 040306003084 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.3:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Western Valley Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Western Valley Elementary School
Western Valley Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 532 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 57.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 532 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 354 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #347, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (85% of enrollment) (diversity index 27/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 532 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 57.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Fowler Elementary District (4273) spends $10,395 per pupil, 21% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Phoenix's public schools, it stands alongside Pan-American Charter School (1,221 students): Western Valley Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Fowler Elementary District (4273) also operates Santa Maria Middle School (591 students) and Sun Canyon School (563 students) alongside Western Valley Elementary 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 Western Valley Elementary School compares
Western Valley Elementary 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 | 21.3:1 | ▲ 25% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.8% | ▲ 20% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 532 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.3:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
532
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
57.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% 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
21.3:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 83% in Arizona - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
57.1%
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
$10,395
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 532 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 84.8%
African American 8.5%
White 3.6%
Two or More 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 84.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.2, Western Valley Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fowler Elementary District (4273), which includes Western Valley Elementary School.
$10,395
Per student
-21%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-37%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 40.9%
State 45.2%
Federal 13.9%
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 Valley Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sun Canyon School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Valley Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tuscano Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sunridge Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Valley Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 591
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 553
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 504
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 9/100
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
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 (~532 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Western Valley Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Western Valley Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Fowler Elementary District (4273)'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 Valley Elementary School
How many students attend Western Valley Elementary School?
Western Valley Elementary School has 532 students enrolled. It is a public school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Valley Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Valley Elementary School is 21.3:1, which is 25% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western Valley Elementary School?
57.8% of students at Western Valley Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Valley Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Western Valley Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 84.8% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Valley Elementary School?
Western Valley Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 11/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Western Valley Elementary School rank among schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Valley Elementary School ranks #174 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.
Is Western Valley Elementary School a good school?
Western Valley Elementary School earns 11/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% 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 Fowler Elementary District (4273)?
Besides Western Valley Elementary School, Fowler Elementary District (4273) also operates Santa Maria Middle School (591 students), Sun Canyon School (563 students), and Western Valley Middle School (553 students). See the Fowler Elementary District (4273) 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.