- Enrollment
- 2,194
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sacramento, CA
Heron
Federal NCES profile for Heron, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060003611734
👥 S:T ratio 7
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Heron earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #13 of 124
- elementary schools in Sacramento · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.3:1
- students per teacher
- 28.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Heron has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Heron ranks #13 of 124 elementary schools in Sacramento, CA.
School address
District: Natomas Unified · California
NCES ID 060003611734 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+32 students YoY
Heron held near 1,045 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+32 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 44.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+32 students YoY 060003611734 · Sacramento, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
977 enr · 23.3:1 · 28.9% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Inderkum High (2,194 students)
Heron held near 1,045 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+32 headcount). Teacher FTE added 42.0 → 44.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Heron in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Inderkum High
Inderkum High
2,194 students
- Westlake Chart
Westlake Charter
1,493 students
- Natomas High
Natomas High
1,157 students
- This school
Heron
977 students
- Paso Verde
Paso Verde
897 students
- H. Allen Hight 760
H. Allen Hight Elementary
760 students
What this shows Heron reports 977 students on the CCD universe file.
How Heron compares
Heron 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 | 23.3:1 | ▲ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.9% | ▼ 48% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 977 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.3:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
977
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23.3:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 65% in California - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
22.4%
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
$14,943
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 28.2%
White 22.1%
Asian 19.5%
Two or More 14.8%
African American 13.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 28.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 79.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 79.2, Heron is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Natomas Unified reports $14,943 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Heron Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inderkum High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westlake Charter | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Natomas High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Paso Verde | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| H. Allen Hight Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Heron's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,493
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,157
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 760
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Sacramento
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Smythe Academy of Arts and Sciences
Standard public school
1,091 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Las Palmas Elementary
Standard public school
1,001 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Mary Tsukamoto Elementary
Standard public school
989 students 26:1 students per teacher
Arnold Adreani Elementary
Standard public school
944 students 27:1 students per teacher
Paso Verde
Standard public school
897 students 23.6:1 students per teacher
Maeola E. Beitzel Elementary
Standard public school
888 students 25.4:1 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 (~977 students)
Frequently asked questions about Heron
How many students attend Heron?
Heron has 977 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sacramento, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,013 (2022-23) → 1,045 (2023-24), nearly flat (+32).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Heron?
The student-teacher ratio at Heron is 23.3:1, which is 8% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 48% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Heron?
28.9% of students at Heron are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Heron?
The largest demographic group at Heron is Hispanic or Latino at 28.2% of enrollment, in Sacramento, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 79.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Heron?
Heron has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Heron rank among elementary schools in Sacramento?
By Resource Investment Index, Heron ranks #13 of 124 elementary schools in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento on the city page.
What other schools are in Natomas Unified?
Besides Heron, Natomas Unified also operates Inderkum High (2,194 students), Westlake Charter (1,493 students), and Natomas High (1,157 students). See the Natomas Unified district page for the complete list.