Enrollment
502
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tustin, CA
Robert Heideman Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Robert Heideman Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064015006639
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Robert Heideman Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #10 of 10
- elementary schools in Tustin · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.9:1
- large classes for California
- 81.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Robert Heideman Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Robert Heideman Elementary ranks #10 of 10 elementary schools in Tustin, CA.
School address
District: Tustin Unified · California
NCES ID 064015006639 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
27.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+30% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
81.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Robert Heideman Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Robert Heideman Elementary
Robert Heideman Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Tustin, California, enrolling 502 students.
Class loads run heavy: 27.9:1 is larger than about 92% of California schools and 30% 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 81.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 502 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 2,044 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #1,401.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (93% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 13/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 502 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 35.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Tustin's elementary schools, it stands alongside Sycamore Magnet Academy (1,085 students): Robert Heideman Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (27.9:1 vs 22.6:1).
Tustin Unified also operates Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students) and Foothill High (2,126 students) alongside Robert Heideman Elementary.
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 Robert Heideman Elementary compares
Robert Heideman Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 27.9:1 | ▲ 30% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.5% | ▲ 47% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.9:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
81.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% 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
27.9:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 92% in California - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
35.9%
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
$13,372
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 502 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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 93.4%
Two or More 2.8%
White 1.8%
Asian 1.6%
African American 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 93.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.6, Robert Heideman Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tustin Unified, which includes Robert Heideman Elementary.
$13,372
Per student
-19%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 53.9%
State 38.0%
Federal 8.1%
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 Robert Heideman Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold O. Beckman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Foothill High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tustin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Orchard Hills | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sycamore Magnet Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Robert Heideman Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,776
- Students per teacher
- 26.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- 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
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
Benjamin F. Beswick Elementary
Standard public school
426 students 28.4:1 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 (~502 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~27.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Robert Heideman Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Robert Heideman Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Tustin 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 Robert Heideman Elementary
How many students attend Robert Heideman Elementary?
Robert Heideman Elementary has 502 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tustin, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert Heideman Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Robert Heideman Elementary is 27.9:1, which is 30% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 78% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Robert Heideman Elementary?
81.5% of students at Robert Heideman Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Robert Heideman Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Robert Heideman Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 93.4% of enrollment, in Tustin, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Robert Heideman Elementary?
Robert Heideman Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Robert Heideman Elementary rank among elementary schools in Tustin?
By Resource Investment Index, Robert Heideman Elementary ranks #10 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.
Is Robert Heideman Elementary a good school?
Robert Heideman Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Tustin Unified?
Besides Robert Heideman 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.
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.