Enrollment
471
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.7:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
37.0%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
-23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How L. Thomas Heck Middle School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at L. Thomas Heck Middle School
L. Thomas Heck Middle School is a mid-sized elementary school in Litchfield Park, Arizona, enrolling 471 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Arizona schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 37.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 471 students, its enrollment sits close to the Arizona median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Against 288 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #198.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (49%) and White (27%) (diversity index 67/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 81.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Litchfield Elementary District (4281) spends $8,750 per pupil, 33% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 192 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 471 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Litchfield Park's elementary schools, it stands alongside Wigwam Creek Middle School (782 students): L. Thomas Heck Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.7:1 vs 18.2:1).
Litchfield Elementary District (4281) also operates Belen Soto Elementary School (1,123 students) and Verrado Heritage Elementary School (1,014 students) alongside L. Thomas Heck Middle School.
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 L. Thomas Heck Middle School compares
L. Thomas Heck Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$8,750
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Litchfield Elementary District (4281), which includes L. Thomas Heck Middle School.
$8,750
Per student
-33%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-47%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.8%
State 50.0%
Federal 13.2%
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 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
- 1,123
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- 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.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~471 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on L. Thomas Heck Middle School's federal record.
- Compare L. Thomas Heck Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Litchfield Elementary District (4281)'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 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.
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, attendance rates. 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.
Is L. Thomas Heck Middle School a good school?
L. Thomas Heck Middle School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. 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 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.
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.