Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism

www.csd83.org/Sands

510 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Desert Sands Middle School is a public school located in Phoenix, Arizona, serving students within the Cartwright School District. The school focuses on providing a comprehensive educational experience that prepares students for the transition to high school. By fostering a learning environment that emphasizes core academic subjects—such as mathematics, science, and literacy—the institution aims to equip its student body with the necessary tools for both academic success and personal growth.

Beyond traditional classroom instruction, Desert Sands Middle School emphasizes community engagement and the importance of a supportive school culture. The school’s digital presence highlights its dedication to keeping families informed and involved, utilizing its website to communicate important updates, district resources, and educational expectations. By maintaining a structured and collaborative atmosphere, the school seeks to address the diverse needs of its neighborhood, helping students develop the critical thinking skills required to succeed in their future endeavors.

510

Total Students

27.5

Full-Time Teachers

18.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Desert Sands Academy of Mass Communication & Journalism
Demographic	Student Count
White	14
Hispanic	437
Black	43
Asian	3
Two or More	3
American Indian	10

Hispanic
437 (85.7%)
Black
43 (8.4%)
White
14 (2.7%)
American Indian
10 (2.0%)
Asian
3 (0.6%)
Two or More
3 (0.6%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Cartwright Elementary District (4282)
Phone:	(623)691-4900
Website:	http://www.csd83.org/Sands
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	510
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	27.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 9

Grade 7 262

Grade 8 239