Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 19 schools in district

Gila Vista Jr High School

2245 S ARIZONA AVE, YUMA, AZ 85364Yuma Elementary District (4499) →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
553
Students
Total enrolled
$10,653
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 26% vs nat'l
27.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 80% vs nat'l
42/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 553 students in grades 06–08 in YUMA, Arizona.
26% below average funding
District spends $10,653 per pupil, 26% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 42th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Gila Vista Jr High School is a large middle in YUMA, Arizona, serving grades 06–08 with 553 students. The district invests $10,653 per student — 26% below the national average of $14,347, with a 27.6:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 77% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Gila Vista Jr High School

553
Total Students
27.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
77%
Free Lunch
20
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution282 male · 271 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility77%
National avg 52% · 424 students
Student Composition
14%
82%
White14%
Hispanic / Latino82%
Black2%
Multiracial1%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 040960000986

Academic Outcomes at Gila Vista Jr High School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
42
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 42th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 38th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 85364

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$10,653Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$10,653
State avg
$16,564
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,687
Student Support$2,024
Administration$1,278
Operations$1,598
Other$1,065
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $10,653 spent per student, an estimated $4,719 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
45%
23%
State government
45.2%
Local (property tax)
22.6%
Federal programs
32.3%
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
  • Below-average funding — $10,653/student, 26% less than the national average
  • 27.6:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
  • 77% 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.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Desert Mesa Elementary SchoolMary A Otondo Elementary SchoolSunrise Elementary SchoolC W Mcgraw Elementary School
+10 more
↓
Middle
Castle Dome Middle SchoolR Pete Woodard Jr High SchoolRon Watson Middle SchoolFourth Avenue Junior High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyYuma County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictYuma Elementary District (4499) →
Phone: (928)502-7100
NCES ID: 040960000986
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in YUMA 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.

More in Yuma Elementary District (4499)
Mid
Castle Dome Middle School
974 students · 06–08
● 40 opp56% FRL
Elem
Desert Mesa Elementary School
841 students · PK–05
● 40 opp59% FRL
Elem
Mary A Otondo Elementary School
814 students · PK–05
● 40 opp66% FRL
Mid
R Pete Woodard Jr High School
628 students · 06–08
● 42 opp64% FRL
Elem
Sunrise Elementary School
627 students · PK–05
● 40 opp59% FRL
Elem
C W Mcgraw Elementary School
584 students · PK–06
● 42 opp88% FRL
Elem
Dorothy Hall Elementary
549 students · PK–05
● 40 opp44% FRL
Elem
James B Rolle School
512 students · PK–06
● 40 opp65% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
2245 S ARIZONA AVE, YUMA, AZ 85364
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.