Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 32 schools in district

Palo Verde Middle School

7502 N 39TH AVE, PHOENIX, AZ 85051Washington Elementary School District (4260)
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0708Non-Charter
870
Students
Total enrolled
$12,508
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
13% vs nat'l
16.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
7% vs nat'l
40/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
20% vs nat'l
Large public school
Serves 870 students in grades 07–08 in PHOENIX, Arizona.
13% below average funding
District spends $12,508 per pupil, 13% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 40th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Palo Verde Middle School is a large middle in PHOENIX, Arizona, serving grades 07–08 with 870 students. The district invests $12,508 per student — 13% below the national average of $14,347, with a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Palo Verde Middle School

870
Total Students
16.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
80%
Free Lunch
53
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0708) are served by this school
Gender Distribution467 male · 403 female
54%
46%
Male 54%Female 46%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility80%
National avg 52% · 696 students
Student Composition
11%
65%
13%
Asian6%
White11%
Hispanic / Latino65%
Black13%
Multiracial3%
Native American2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 040906000935

Academic Outcomes at Palo Verde Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
40
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 40th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 28th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 85051

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,508Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$12,508
State avg
$16,564
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,504
Student Support$2,377
Administration$1,501
Operations$1,876
Other$1,251
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $12,508 spent per student, an estimated $5,541 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
46%
30%
State government
45.6%
Local (property tax)
29.6%
Federal programs
24.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 80% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades07 – 08
Location
CountyMaricopa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (602)347-2500
NCES ID: 040906000935
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in PHOENIX seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
7502 N 39TH AVE, PHOENIX, AZ 85051
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.