- Enrollment
- 2,776
- Students per teacher
- 26.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tustin, CA
Barbara Benson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Barbara Benson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064015000774
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Barbara Benson Elementary earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #3 of 10
- elementary schools in Tustin · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.9:1
- students per teacher
- 48.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Barbara Benson Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Barbara Benson Elementary ranks #3 of 10 elementary schools in Tustin, CA.
School address
District: Tustin Unified · California
NCES ID 064015000774 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Barbara Benson Elementary held near 324 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 064015000774 · Tustin, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
313 enr · 20.9:1 · 48.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students)
Barbara Benson Elementary held near 324 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Barbara Benson Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arnold O. Beck
Arnold O. Beckman High
2,776 students
- Foothill High
Foothill High
2,126 students
- Tustin High
Tustin High
1,627 students
- Orchard Hills
Orchard Hills
1,373 students
- Sycamore Magne 1,085
Sycamore Magnet Academy
1,085 students
- This school 313
Barbara Benson Elementary
313 students
What this shows Barbara Benson Elementary reports 313 students on the CCD universe file.
How Barbara Benson Elementary compares
Barbara Benson Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.6% | ▼ 12% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 313 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.9:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
313
Bigger than 34% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 42% in California - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,381
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 313 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 70.9%
White 13.7%
Asian 8.3%
Two or More 4.8%
African American 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 70.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.9, Barbara Benson Elementary is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tustin Unified reports $15,381 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Barbara Benson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold O. Beckman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Foothill High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tustin High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Orchard Hills | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sycamore Magnet Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Barbara Benson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,126
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,627
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 29.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,085
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar elementary schools in Tustin
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sycamore Magnet Academy
Standard public school
1,085 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Heritage Elementary
Standard public school
567 students 28.4:1 students per teacher
Tustin Ranch Elementary
Standard public school
520 students 26:1 students per teacher
Robert Heideman Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 27.9:1 students per teacher
W. R. Nelson Elementary
Standard public school
460 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Helen Estock Elementary
Standard public school
456 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~313 students)
Frequently asked questions about Barbara Benson Elementary
How many students attend Barbara Benson Elementary?
Barbara Benson Elementary has 313 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tustin, CA. CCD year-over-year: 327 (2022-23) → 324 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Barbara Benson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Barbara Benson Elementary is 20.9:1, which is 3% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 33% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Barbara Benson Elementary?
48.6% of students at Barbara Benson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Barbara Benson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Barbara Benson Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 70.9% of enrollment, in Tustin, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Barbara Benson Elementary?
Barbara Benson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Barbara Benson Elementary rank among elementary schools in Tustin?
By Resource Investment Index, Barbara Benson Elementary ranks #3 of 10 elementary schools in Tustin, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Tustin on the city page.
What other schools are in Tustin Unified?
Besides Barbara Benson Elementary, Tustin Unified also operates Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students), Foothill High (2,126 students), and Tustin High (1,627 students). See the Tustin Unified district page for the complete list.