Enrollment
553
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Phoenix, AZ
Western Valley Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Western Valley Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040306003085
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Valley Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Arizona schools.
- #3 of 24
- middle schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.1:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 54.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Valley Middle School has class sizes larger than 87% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Valley Middle School ranks #3 of 24 middle schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Fowler Elementary District (4273) · Arizona
NCES ID 040306003085 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
54.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Western Valley Middle School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Western Valley Middle School
Western Valley Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 553 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.1:1 is larger than about 87% of Arizona schools and 30% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 54.0% lands close to the Arizona typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 553 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 353 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #36, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (80%) and African American (11%) (diversity index 35/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 277 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.2% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights 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 middle schools, it stands alongside Sonoran Trails Middle School (615 students): Western Valley Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (22.1:1 vs 17.6:1).
Fowler Elementary District (4273) also operates Santa Maria Middle School (591 students) and Sun Canyon School (563 students) alongside Western Valley Middle 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 Middle School compares
Western Valley Middle 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 | 22.1:1 | ▲ 30% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.0% | ▲ 12% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 553 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.1:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
553
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
54.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
22.1:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 87% in Arizona - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
22.2%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 277 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 55 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.9 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 79.6%
African American 10.8%
White 3.4%
Two or More 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Asian 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 79.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.2, Western Valley Middle School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fowler Elementary District (4273), which includes Western Valley Middle 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 Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sun Canyon School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tuscano Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Western Valley Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunridge Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Valley Middle 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
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 532
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 504
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 9/100
Similar middle schools in Phoenix
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~553 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Western Valley Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Western Valley Middle 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 Middle School
How many students attend Western Valley Middle School?
Western Valley Middle School has 553 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Valley Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Valley Middle School is 22.1:1, which is 30% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western Valley Middle School?
54.0% of students at Western Valley Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Valley Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Western Valley Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 79.6% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Valley Middle School?
Western Valley Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical 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 Middle School rank among middle schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Valley Middle School ranks #3 of 24 middle 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 middle schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Western Valley Middle School a good school?
Western Valley Middle School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% 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 Middle School, Fowler Elementary District (4273) also operates Santa Maria Middle School (591 students), Sun Canyon School (563 students), and Tuscano Elementary School (532 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.