Enrollment
492
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fairfield, CA
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning
Federal NCES profile for E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 10/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 061336001527
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools.
- #16 of 18
- elementary schools in Fairfield · Resource Index
- 10
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28.9:1
- large classes for California
- 70.4%
- free-lunch eligible
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning has class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning ranks #16 of 18 elementary schools in Fairfield, CA.
School address
District: Fairfield-Suisun Unified · California
NCES ID 061336001527 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
28.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+34% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
+27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Fairfield, California, enrolling 492 students.
Class loads run heavy: 28.9:1 is larger than about 94% of California schools and 34% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 70.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 492 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 2,136 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #2,000, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (74%) and African American (8%) (diversity index 44/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 53.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Fairfield-Suisun Unified spends $13,113 per pupil, 21% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Fairfield's elementary schools, it stands alongside K. I. Jones Elementary (760 students): E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (28.9:1 vs 25.3:1).
Fairfield-Suisun Unified also operates Angelo Rodriguez High (2,111 students) and Armijo High (1,844 students) alongside E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning compares
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28.9:1 | ▲ 34% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.4% | ▲ 27% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 492 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.9:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
492
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
28.9:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 94% in California - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
53.0%
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
$13,113
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 73.8%
African American 8.1%
Asian 7.1%
Two or More 6.1%
White 4.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 73.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.8, E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fairfield-Suisun Unified, which includes E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning.
$13,113
Per student
-21%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.6%
State 60.2%
Federal 10.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angelo Rodriguez High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Armijo High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Fairfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grange Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Green Valley Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,111
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 1,844
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,605
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 944
- Students per teacher
- 29.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 903
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar elementary schools in Fairfield
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
K. I. Jones Elementary
Standard public school
760 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Nelda Mundy Elementary
Standard public school
756 students 25.2:1 students per teacher
Cordelia Hills Elementary
Standard public school
754 students 26:1 students per teacher
Weir Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
699 students 25.9:1 students per teacher
Laurel Creek Elementary
Standard public school
648 students 25.9:1 students per teacher
Center Elementary
Standard public school
640 students 30.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~492 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~28.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning's federal record.
- Compare E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning against another school. Compare schools
- Fairfield-Suisun Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning
How many students attend E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning?
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning has 492 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fairfield, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning?
The student-teacher ratio at E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning is 28.9:1, which is 34% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 84% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning?
70.4% of students at E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning?
The largest demographic group at E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning is Hispanic or Latino at 73.8% of enrollment, in Fairfield, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning?
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning has a Resource Investment Index of 10/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning rank among elementary schools in Fairfield?
By Resource Investment Index, E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning ranks #16 of 18 elementary schools in Fairfield, 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 Fairfield on the city page.
Is E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning a good school?
E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Fairfield-Suisun Unified?
Besides E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning, Fairfield-Suisun Unified also operates Angelo Rodriguez High (2,111 students), Armijo High (1,844 students), and Fairfield High (1,605 students). See the Fairfield-Suisun Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.