- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+32 students YoY
Willow Canyon High School held near 1,819 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+32 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 76.2 → 78.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+32 students YoY 040269003126 · Surprise, AZ Other · MID · TRAD
1,901 enr · 25:1 · 24.0% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley Vista High School (2,334 students)
Willow Canyon High School held near 1,819 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+32 headcount). Teacher FTE added 76.2 → 78.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Willow Canyon High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valley Vista H
Valley Vista High School
2,334 students
- Shadow Ridge H
Shadow Ridge High School
2,212 students
- This school
Willow Canyon High School
1,901 students
- Dysart High Sc
Dysart High School
1,471 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View
1,045 students
- Canyon Ridge S
Canyon Ridge School
1,042 students
What this shows Willow Canyon High School reports 1,901 students on the CCD universe file.
How Willow Canyon High School compares
Willow Canyon High 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 | 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 methodology
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
$10,550
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
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.
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
District finance for Dysart Unified District (4243) reports $10,550 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 2,212
- 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.
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 (~1,901 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 1,787 (2022-23) → 1,819 (2023-24), nearly flat (+32).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.