Enrollment
1,901
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Surprise, AZ
Willow Canyon High School
Federal NCES profile for Willow Canyon High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 040269003126
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Willow Canyon High School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona.
- #14 of 14
- schools in Surprise · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 24.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Willow Canyon High School has class sizes larger than 94% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Willow Canyon High School ranks #14 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ.
School address
District: Dysart Unified District (4243) · Arizona
NCES ID 040269003126 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
76.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+47% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Willow Canyon High School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Willow Canyon High School
Willow Canyon High School is a large combined-grade school in Surprise, Arizona, enrolling 1,901 students.
Class loads run heavy: 25:1 is larger than about 94% of Arizona schools and 47% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Arizona, bigger than 97% of state schools at 1,901 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 66 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #48, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%) (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 380 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Dysart Unified District (4243) spends $9,891 per pupil, 25% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Surprise's public schools, it stands alongside American Leadership Academy West Foothills K-12 (2,276 students): Willow Canyon High School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students) and Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students) alongside Willow Canyon High 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 Willow Canyon High School compares
Willow Canyon High 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 | 25:1 | ▲ 47% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.0% | ▼ 50% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,901 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,901
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
24.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
25:1
students per teacher
- 47% above state mean
Top 94% in Arizona - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
43.8%
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
$9,891
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 380 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 138 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.4 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
White 46.6%
Hispanic or Latino 34.2%
African American 8.2%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Largest group: White at 46.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.4, Willow Canyon High School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dysart Unified District (4243), which includes Willow Canyon High School.
$9,891
Per student
-25%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-40%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.2%
State 44.3%
Federal 17.5%
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 Willow Canyon High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Vista High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shadow Ridge High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dysart High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain View | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Canyon Ridge School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Willow Canyon High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,212
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,471
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,042
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Surprise
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other 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 (~1,901 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Willow Canyon High School's federal record.
- Compare Willow Canyon High School against another school. Compare schools
- Dysart Unified District (4243)'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 Willow Canyon High School
How many students attend Willow Canyon High School?
Willow Canyon High School has 1,901 students enrolled. It is a public school in Surprise, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Willow Canyon High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Willow Canyon High School is 25:1, which is 47% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 59% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Willow Canyon High School?
24.0% of students at Willow Canyon High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Willow Canyon High School?
The largest demographic group at Willow Canyon High School is White at 46.6% of enrollment, in Surprise, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Willow Canyon High School?
Willow Canyon High School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Willow Canyon High School rank among schools in Surprise?
By Resource Investment Index, Willow Canyon High School ranks #14 of 14 schools in Surprise, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Surprise on the city page.
Is Willow Canyon High School a good school?
Willow Canyon High School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Arizona schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Arizona. 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 Dysart Unified District (4243)?
Besides Willow Canyon High School, Dysart Unified District (4243) also operates Valley Vista High School (2,334 students), Shadow Ridge High School (2,212 students), and Dysart High School (1,471 students). See the Dysart Unified District (4243) 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.