- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-70 students YoY
Whispering Wind Academy shrank from 518 students in 2022-23 to 448 in 2023-24 (-13.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 45.4 → 43.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-70 students YoY 040593000610 · Phoenix, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
376 enr · 8.4:1 · 37.8% lunch · RII 68
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Whispering Wind Academy shrank from 518 students in 2022-23 to 448 in 2023-24 (-13.5%). Teacher FTE lost 45.4 → 43.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Whispering Wind Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinnacle High
Pinnacle High School
2,430 students
- Paradise Valle
Paradise Valley High School
1,900 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,767 students
- North Canyon H
North Canyon High School
1,560 students
- Shadow Mountai
Shadow Mountain High School
1,080 students
- This school 376
Whispering Wind Academy
376 students
What this shows Whispering Wind Academy reports 376 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whispering Wind Academy compares
Whispering Wind Academy 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 | 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 methodology
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
$11,848
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
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.
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
District finance for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) reports $11,848 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
Nationwide elementary 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 (~376 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 518 (2022-23) → 448 (2023-24), down 70.
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, gifted-program reporting. 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.
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.