- Enrollment
- 3,421
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mesa, AZ
Whittier Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Whittier Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040497000421
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whittier Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Arizona schools.
- #5 of 70
- schools in Mesa · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.4:1
- small classes for Arizona
- 56.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Whittier Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary School ranks #5 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ.
School address
District: Mesa Unified District (4235) · Arizona
NCES ID 040497000421 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Whittier Elementary School held near 470 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 39.5 → 41.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 040497000421 · Mesa, AZ Other · SMALL · TRAD
443 enr · 11.4:1 · 56.0% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Mountain View High School (3,421 students)
Whittier Elementary School held near 470 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE added 39.5 → 41.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Whittier Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mountain View
Mountain View High School
3,421 students
- Red Mountain H
Red Mountain High School
3,379 students
- Mesa High Scho
Mesa High School
3,233 students
- Westwood High
Westwood High School
3,135 students
- Dobson High Sc
Dobson High School
2,284 students
- This school 443
Whittier Elementary School
443 students
What this shows Whittier Elementary School reports 443 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whittier Elementary School compares
Whittier Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.4:1 | ▼ 33% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.0% | ▲ 16% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 443 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.4:1
Leaner classes than 80% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
443
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
11.4:1
students per teacher
- 33% below state mean
Top 12% in Arizona - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
62.8%
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
$12,121
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 148 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 57.3%
White 18.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 11.5%
Two or More 6.1%
African American 3.4%
Asian 2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 57.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.9, Whittier Elementary School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mesa Unified District (4235) reports $12,121 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whittier Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Mountain High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dobson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whittier Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,379
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 3,233
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 3,135
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,284
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Mesa
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eastmark High School
Standard public school
1,889 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Sequoia Choice School Arizona Distance Learning School
Standard public school
1,711 students
Silver Valley Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Astravo Online Academy
Standard public school
849 students
Eagleridge Enrichment Program
Standard public school
694 students 63.1:1 students per teacher
American Leadership Academy Virtual
Standard public school
660 students
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 (~443 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whittier Elementary School
How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has 443 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mesa, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 486 (2022-23) → 470 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elementary School is 11.4:1, which is 33% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 27% 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 Whittier Elementary School?
56.0% of students at Whittier Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whittier Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Whittier Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 57.3% of enrollment, in Mesa, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Whittier Elementary School rank among schools in Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Whittier Elementary School ranks #5 of 70 schools in Mesa, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in Mesa Unified District (4235)?
Besides Whittier Elementary School, Mesa Unified District (4235) also operates Mountain View High School (3,421 students), Red Mountain High School (3,379 students), and Mesa High School (3,233 students). See the Mesa Unified District (4235) district page for the complete list.