Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 45 schools in district

Shea Middle School

2728 E SHEA BLVD, PHOENIX, AZ 85028Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 05–08Non-Charter
511
Students
Total enrolled
$14,378
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
14.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 8% vs nat'l
53/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 511 students in grades 05–08 in PHOENIX, Arizona.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,378 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 53th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Shea Middle School is a large middle in PHOENIX, Arizona, serving grades 05–08 with 511 students. The district invests $14,378 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 37% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Shea Middle School

511
Total Students
14.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
37%
Free Lunch
36
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (05–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution280 male · 231 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility37%
National avg 52% · 188 students
Student Composition
48%
38%
Asian1%
White48%
Hispanic / Latino38%
Black6%
Multiracial6%
Native American2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 040593000492

Academic Outcomes at Shea Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
53
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 53th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 89th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 85028

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,378Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,378
State avg
$16,564
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,326
Student Support$2,732
Administration$1,725
Operations$2,157
Other$1,438
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,378 spent per student, an estimated $6,370 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
27%
58%
State government
27.3%
Local (property tax)
57.8%
Federal programs
14.9%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Fireside Elementary SchoolCampo Bello Elementary SchoolDesert Trails Elementary SchoolBoulder Creek Elementary School
+15 more
↓
Middle
Desert Shadows Middle SchoolMountain Trail Middle SchoolExplorer Middle SchoolVista Verde Middle School
+2 more
↓
High School
Pinnacle High SchoolHorizon High SchoolParadise Valley High SchoolNorth Canyon High School
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location—
CountyMaricopa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictParadise Valley Unified District (4241) →
Phone: (602)449-3500
NCES ID: 040593000492
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in PHOENIX seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)
High
Pinnacle High School
2,479 students · 07–12
● 52 opp8% FRL
High
Horizon High School
1,905 students · 07–12
● 50 opp7% FRL
High
Paradise Valley High School
1,874 students · 07–12
● 42 opp30% FRL
High
North Canyon High School
1,842 students · 08–12
55% FRL
High
Shadow Mountain High School
1,109 students · 08–12
● 53 opp28% FRL
Mid
Desert Shadows Middle School
780 students · 06–08
● 50 opp7% FRL
Elem
Fireside Elementary School
730 students · PK–06
● 52 opp5% FRL
Mid
Mountain Trail Middle School
680 students · 07–08
24% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
2728 E SHEA BLVD, PHOENIX, AZ 85028
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.