Enrollment
1,085
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tustin, CA
Sycamore Magnet Academy
Federal NCES profile for Sycamore Magnet Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064015006636
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 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
Sycamore Magnet Academy earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #7 of 10
- elementary schools in Tustin · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.6:1
- students per teacher
- 70.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Sycamore Magnet Academy has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sycamore Magnet Academy ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Tustin, CA.
School address
District: Tustin Unified · California
NCES ID 064015006636 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.6:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+5% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.9%
vs 55.5% California avg
+28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sycamore Magnet Academy compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sycamore Magnet Academy
Sycamore Magnet Academy is a higher-need, large elementary school in Tustin, California, enrolling 1,085 students.
At 22.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 70.9% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 90% of state schools at 1,085 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 795 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #495.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (92% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 15/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 543 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).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Tustin's elementary schools, it stands alongside Heritage Elementary (567 students): Sycamore Magnet Academy is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.6:1 vs 28.4:1).
Tustin Unified also operates Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students) and Foothill High (2,126 students) alongside Sycamore Magnet Academy.
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 Sycamore Magnet Academy compares
Sycamore Magnet Academy on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.9% | ▲ 28% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,085 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.6:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,085
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
22.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 59% in California - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 543 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 101 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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 92.3%
White 3.4%
Asian 1.7%
Two or More 1.7%
African American 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 92.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.6, Sycamore Magnet Academy 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 Sycamore Magnet Academy.
$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 Sycamore Magnet Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold O. Beckman High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Foothill High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tustin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Orchard Hills | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pioneer Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sycamore Magnet Academy'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
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 30.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Tustin
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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
Robert Heideman Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 27.9:1 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 (~1,085 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sycamore Magnet Academy's federal record.
- Compare Sycamore Magnet Academy 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 Sycamore Magnet Academy
How many students attend Sycamore Magnet Academy?
Sycamore Magnet Academy has 1,085 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tustin, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sycamore Magnet Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Sycamore Magnet Academy is 22.6:1, which is 5% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 44% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sycamore Magnet Academy?
70.9% of students at Sycamore Magnet Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sycamore Magnet Academy?
The largest demographic group at Sycamore Magnet Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 92.3% of enrollment, in Tustin, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sycamore Magnet Academy?
Sycamore Magnet Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (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 Sycamore Magnet Academy rank among elementary schools in Tustin?
By Resource Investment Index, Sycamore Magnet Academy ranks #7 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 Sycamore Magnet Academy a good school?
Sycamore Magnet Academy earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Sycamore Magnet Academy, 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.