Enrollment
376
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Phoenix, AZ
Whispering Wind Academy
Federal NCES profile for Whispering Wind Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 68/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040593000610
👥 S:T ratio 66
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whispering Wind Academy earns 68/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Arizona schools.
- #1 of 116
- elementary schools in Phoenix · Resource Index
- 68
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.4:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 37.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Whispering Wind Academy has class sizes smaller than 95% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whispering Wind Academy ranks #1 of 116 elementary schools in Phoenix, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593000610 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
8.4:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-51% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
37.8%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Whispering Wind Academy compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Whispering Wind Academy
Whispering Wind Academy is a mid-sized elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, enrolling 376 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 8.4:1, Whispering Wind Academy is leaner than roughly 95% of Arizona schools and 51% under the state's 17:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 37.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 376 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 97% of the 2,064 Arizona schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 240 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (45%) and White (40%) (diversity index 63/100).
Among Phoenix's elementary schools, it stands alongside Academy of Math and Science Avondale (1,175 students): Whispering Wind Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students) and Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students) alongside Whispering Wind Academy.
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 Whispering Wind Academy compares
Whispering Wind Academy on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.4:1 | ▼ 51% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.8% | ▼ 22% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 376 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.4:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
376
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
37.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
8.4:1
students per teacher
- 51% below state mean
Top 5% in Arizona - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$11,154
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
6
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.7 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 45.2%
White 40.2%
Two or More 7.7%
Asian 3.7%
African American 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.6, Whispering Wind Academy is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241), which includes Whispering Wind Academy.
$11,154
Per student
-15%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.8%
State 27.3%
Federal 14.9%
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 Whispering Wind Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whispering Wind Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Phoenix
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Academy of Math and Science Avondale
Standard public school
1,175 students
Kyrene Altadena Middle School
Standard public school
857 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Catalina Ventura School
Standard public school
842 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Inspiration Mountain School
Standard public school
789 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Alhambra Traditional School
Standard public school
733 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Legacy Traditional School - North Phoenix
Standard public school
567 students
Similar elementary 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 (~376 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~8.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Whispering Wind Academy's federal record.
- Compare Whispering Wind Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)'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 Whispering Wind Academy
How many students attend Whispering Wind Academy?
Whispering Wind Academy has 376 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Phoenix, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whispering Wind Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Whispering Wind Academy is 8.4:1, which is 51% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 46% 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 Whispering Wind Academy?
37.8% of students at Whispering Wind Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whispering Wind Academy?
The largest demographic group at Whispering Wind Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 45.2% of enrollment, in Phoenix, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whispering Wind Academy?
Whispering Wind Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 68/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Whispering Wind Academy rank among elementary schools in Phoenix?
By Resource Investment Index, Whispering Wind Academy ranks #1 of 116 elementary 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 elementary schools in Phoenix on the city page.
Is Whispering Wind Academy a good school?
Whispering Wind Academy earns 68/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% 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 Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Whispering Wind Academy, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) 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.