Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 23 schools in district

Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy

4315 N MARYVALE PKWY, PHOENIX, AZ 85031Cartwright Elementary District (4282) →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
184
Students
Total enrolled
$16,285
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 14% vs nat'l
16.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 27% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 184 students in grades 06–08 in PHOENIX, Arizona.
14% above average funding
District spends $16,285 per pupil, 14% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy is a small middle in PHOENIX, Arizona, serving grades 06–08 with 184 students. The district invests $16,285 per student — 14% above the national average of $14,347, with a 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 76% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy

184
Total Students
16.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
76%
Free Lunch
12
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 Distribution102 male · 82 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility76%
National avg 52% · 140 students
Student Composition
90%
Asian1%
White4%
Hispanic / Latino90%
Black4%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 040168002005

Academic Outcomes at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School & Gifted Academy

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 14th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 85031

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,285Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,285
State avg
$16,564
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,165
Student Support$3,094
Administration$1,954
Operations$2,443
Other$1,628
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,285 spent per student, an estimated $7,214 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
42%
17%
State government
42.2%
Local (property tax)
16.7%
Federal programs
41.1%
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-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — national median is 50
  • 76% 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
Frank Borman SchoolCharles W. Harris SchoolPeralta SchoolTomahawk School
+13 more
↓
Middle
Estrella Middle SchoolRaul H. Castro Middle School: Academy of Fine ArtsDesert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyMaricopa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictCartwright Elementary District (4282) →
Phone: (623)691-1700
NCES ID: 040168002005
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.

More in Cartwright Elementary District (4282)
Elem
Frank Borman School
1,040 students · PK–08
● 36 opp56% FRL
Elem
Charles W. Harris School
931 students · PK–08
84% FRL
Elem
Peralta School
871 students · PK–06
78% FRL
Elem
Tomahawk School
868 students · PK–06
● 38 opp73% FRL
Mid
Estrella Middle School
810 students · 06–08
● 38 opp62% FRL
Elem
Cartwright School
754 students · PK–08
61% FRL
Elem
Manuel Pena Jr. School
749 students · PK–06
68% FRL
Elem
G. Frank Davidson
740 students · PK–06
● 38 opp83% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
4315 N MARYVALE PKWY, PHOENIX, AZ 85031
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.