Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 23 schools in district

Raul H. Castro Middle School: Academy of Fine Arts

2730 N 79TH AVE, PHOENIX, AZ 85035Cartwright Elementary District (4282)
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
598
Students
Total enrolled
$16,285
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
14% vs nat'l
25.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
67% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 598 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.
25.7 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is above the national average — larger classes of 15.4:1.
About This School

Raul H. Castro Middle School: Academy of Fine Arts is a large middle in PHOENIX, Arizona, serving grades 06–08 with 598 students. The district invests $16,285 per student — 14% above the national average of $14,347, with a 25.7:1 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 Raul H. Castro Middle School: Academy of Fine Arts

598
Total Students
25.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
77%
Free Lunch
23
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution316 male · 282 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility77%
National avg 52% · 459 students
Student Composition
86%
8%
White3%
Hispanic / Latino86%
Black8%
Multiracial1%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 040168002904

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
  • 25.7:1 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.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyMaricopa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (623)691-5300
NCES ID: 040168002904
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
2730 N 79TH AVE, PHOENIX, AZ 85035
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.