Rio Vista Elementary

Set in AVONDALE, Arizona, Rio Vista Elementary is a middle-of-the-pack elementary campus, operated by Pendergast Elementary District (4283). It hosts 662 students across grades pre-K through 8. By comparison, Arizona's public schools average about 451 students each, so Rio Vista Elementary sits 47% larger than that benchmark.

Pendergast Elementary District (4283) runs 12 schools in total, collectively educating 8,098 students. Rio Vista Elementary is one of those campuses.

In terms of who attends, Rio Vista Elementary logs that Hispanic students make up the majority at 73%. Other groups include 13% Black, 7% White, 4% multiracial, 2% Native American. That is meaningfully more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 31%.

In terms of school funding signals, Rio Vista Elementary logs 39 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 17.0:1. The state averages about 17.0:1, putting this campus right in line with peers.

Around the school, census data for Maricopa County shows median household earnings sit near $89,300, about 37% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 8%. Rio Vista Elementary is one of 1352 public schools in Maricopa County (combined enrollment of about 725,139 students).

The closest other public school is Sheely Farms Elementary School, roughly 1.0 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The school occupies a commuter-belt site.

Looking at the recent track record. Rio Vista Elementary's enrollment has decreased 14% since 2018, when it stood at 767 (now 662). Hispanic enrollment moved from 63% to 73% across the same window. Class-load math has narrowed: from 20.2:1 in 2018 to 17.0:1 in 2025.

On this page, members of the Rio Vista Elementary community share and discuss enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. The community welcomes input from current and former families.