- Enrollment
- 1,123
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Litchfield Park, AZ
L. Thomas Heck Middle School
Federal NCES profile for L. Thomas Heck Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040438003036
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
L. Thomas Heck Middle School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Litchfield Park · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 37.0%
- free-lunch eligible
L. Thomas Heck Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, L. Thomas Heck Middle School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Litchfield Park, AZ.
School address
District: Litchfield Elementary District (4281) · Arizona
NCES ID 040438003036 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-86 students YoY
L. Thomas Heck Middle School shrank from 630 students in 2022-23 to 544 in 2023-24 (-13.7%).
Teacher FTE added 32.5 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-86 students YoY 040438003036 · Litchfield Park, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
471 enr · 14.7:1 · 37.0% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Belen Soto Elementary School (1,123 students)
L. Thomas Heck Middle School shrank from 630 students in 2022-23 to 544 in 2023-24 (-13.7%). Teacher FTE added 32.5 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
L. Thomas Heck Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Belen Soto Ele
Belen Soto Elementary School
1,123 students
- Verrado Herita
Verrado Heritage Elementary School
1,014 students
- Western Sky Mi
Western Sky Middle School
952 students
- Verrado Elemen
Verrado Elementary School
847 students
- Wigwam Creek M
Wigwam Creek Middle School
782 students
- This school
L. Thomas Heck Middle School
471 students
What this shows L. Thomas Heck Middle School reports 471 students on the CCD universe file.
How L. Thomas Heck Middle School compares
L. Thomas Heck Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▼ 14% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.0% | ▼ 23% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 471 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
471
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 33% in Arizona - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
81.5%
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
$9,992
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
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
141
in-school suspensions + 51 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 29.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 40.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 48.8%
White 27.0%
African American 11.3%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 48.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.0, L. Thomas Heck Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
District finance for Litchfield Elementary District (4281) reports $9,992 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How L. Thomas Heck Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belen Soto Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Verrado Heritage Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Sky Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Verrado Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wigwam Creek Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to L. Thomas Heck Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 847
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 782
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar elementary schools in Litchfield Park
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~471 students)
Frequently asked questions about L. Thomas Heck Middle School
How many students attend L. Thomas Heck Middle School?
L. Thomas Heck Middle School has 471 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Litchfield Park, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 630 (2022-23) → 544 (2023-24), down 86.
What is the student-teacher ratio at L. Thomas Heck Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at L. Thomas Heck Middle School is 14.7:1, which is 14% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 6% lower 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 L. Thomas Heck Middle School?
37.0% of students at L. Thomas Heck Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of L. Thomas Heck Middle School?
The largest demographic group at L. Thomas Heck Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 48.8% of enrollment, in Litchfield Park, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for L. Thomas Heck Middle School?
L. Thomas Heck Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 L. Thomas Heck Middle School rank among elementary schools in Litchfield Park?
By Resource Investment Index, L. Thomas Heck Middle School ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Litchfield Park, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Litchfield Park on the city page.
What other schools are in Litchfield Elementary District (4281)?
Besides L. Thomas Heck Middle School, Litchfield Elementary District (4281) also operates Belen Soto Elementary School (1,123 students), Verrado Heritage Elementary School (1,014 students), and Western Sky Middle School (952 students). See the Litchfield Elementary District (4281) district page for the complete list.