- Enrollment
- 2,938
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Tucson, AZ
Wheeler Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Wheeler Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040880000903
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wheeler Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Arizona schools.
- #53 of 131
- schools in Tucson · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 65.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Wheeler Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 72% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wheeler Elementary School ranks #53 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ.
School address
District: Tucson Unified District (4403) · Arizona
NCES ID 040880000903 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-35 students YoY
Wheeler Elementary School shrank from 416 students in 2022-23 to 381 in 2023-24 (-8.4%).
Teacher FTE added 28.9 → 30.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-35 students YoY 040880000903 · Tucson, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
391 enr · 14:1 · 65.9% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Tucson Magnet High School (2,938 students)
Wheeler Elementary School shrank from 416 students in 2022-23 to 381 in 2023-24 (-8.4%). Teacher FTE added 28.9 → 30.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Wheeler Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tucson Magnet
Tucson Magnet High School
2,938 students
- Pueblo High Sc
Pueblo High School
1,821 students
- Cholla High Sc
Cholla High School
1,575 students
- Sahuaro High S
Sahuaro High School
1,250 students
- Catalina Onlin
Catalina Online Learning Experience
1,184 students
- This school 391
Wheeler Elementary School
391 students
What this shows Wheeler Elementary School reports 391 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wheeler Elementary School compares
Wheeler Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▼ 18% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.9% | ▲ 36% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 391 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
391
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
14:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 28% in Arizona - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.7%
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
$13,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 47.3%
White 30.2%
African American 10.0%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, Wheeler Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tucson Unified District (4403) reports $13,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wheeler Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Magnet High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pueblo High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cholla High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sahuaro High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Catalina Online Learning Experience | Larger | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Wheeler Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,821
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,250
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,184
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Tucson
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~391 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wheeler Elementary School
How many students attend Wheeler Elementary School?
Wheeler Elementary School has 391 students enrolled. It is a public school in Tucson, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 416 (2022-23) → 381 (2023-24), down 35.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wheeler Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wheeler Elementary School is 14:1, 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 Wheeler Elementary School?
65.9% of students at Wheeler Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wheeler Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Wheeler Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 47.3% of enrollment, in Tucson, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wheeler Elementary School?
Wheeler Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Wheeler Elementary School rank among schools in Tucson?
By Resource Investment Index, Wheeler Elementary School ranks #53 of 131 schools in Tucson, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Tucson on the city page.
What other schools are in Tucson Unified District (4403)?
Besides Wheeler Elementary School, Tucson Unified District (4403) also operates Tucson Magnet High School (2,938 students), Pueblo High School (1,821 students), and Cholla High School (1,575 students). See the Tucson Unified District (4403) district page for the complete list.