At a glance
Reported students
784
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
34
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
23.1:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
06–08
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Arizona middle enrollment
83rd percentile
Compared with 211 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
381
Desert Shadows Middle School: 784 reported students.
State peer staffing position
95th percentile
23.1:1 reported; state peer median 18.2:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 722
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Student–teacher ratio
- 19.5:1
What the reported data says about Desert Shadows Middle School
Desert Shadows Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 06–08 in Nogales. It is one of 11 current school records connected to Nogales Unified District (4457). NCES reports 784 students for 2024–25.
Among 211 middle schools in Arizona with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 498 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 83rd percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 23.1:1, above the Arizona median of 18.2:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Hispanic or Latino (99.4%) and White (0.3%). English learners represent 28.5% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 11.4%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Desert Shadows Middle School
- 1How do the reported 23.1:1 student–teacher ratio and 34 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 2 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 28.5%
- Students with disabilities
- 11.4%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 2
- Nurses (FTE)
- 1
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 1
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White0.3%
- Hispanic99.4%
- Black0.1%
- Asian0.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial0%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Nogales Unified District (4457)
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Wade Carpenter Middle School
Middle · Grades 06–08
547 reported students
Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School
Elementary · Grades KG–05
508 reported students
Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–05
421 reported students
Mary L Welty Elementary School
Elementary · Grades KG–05
381 reported students
Challenger Elementary School
Elementary · Grades KG–05
380 reported students
A J Mitchell Elementary School
Elementary · Grades KG–05
301 reported students