- Enrollment
- 2,776
- Students per teacher
- 26.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tustin, CA
W. R. Nelson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for W. R. Nelson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064015006644
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W. R. Nelson Elementary earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of California schools.
- #7 of 10
- elementary schools in Tustin · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.2:1
- large classes for California
- 64.3%
- free-lunch eligible
W. R. Nelson Elementary has class sizes larger than 73% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W. R. Nelson Elementary ranks #7 of 10 elementary schools in Tustin, CA.
School address
District: Tustin Unified · California
NCES ID 064015006644 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
W. R. Nelson Elementary held near 463 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 064015006644 · Tustin, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
460 enr · 24.2:1 · 64.3% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students)
W. R. Nelson Elementary held near 463 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
W. R. Nelson Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arnold O. Beck
Arnold O. Beckman High
2,776 students
- Foothill High
Foothill High
2,126 students
- Tustin High
Tustin High
1,627 students
- Orchard Hills
Orchard Hills
1,373 students
- Sycamore Magne 1,085
Sycamore Magnet Academy
1,085 students
- This school 460
W. R. Nelson Elementary
460 students
What this shows W. R. Nelson Elementary reports 460 students on the CCD universe file.
How W. R. Nelson Elementary compares
W. R. Nelson Elementary 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 | 24.2:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.3% | ▲ 16% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 460 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.2:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
460
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
24.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 73% in California - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
37.0%
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
$15,381
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 460 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 78.9%
Asian 8.0%
White 6.7%
Two or More 5.4%
African American 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 78.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.4, W. R. Nelson Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tustin Unified reports $15,381 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How W. R. Nelson Elementary 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tustin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Orchard Hills | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sycamore Magnet Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W. R. Nelson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
Robert Heideman Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 27.9:1 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
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 (~460 students)
Frequently asked questions about W. R. Nelson Elementary
How many students attend W. R. Nelson Elementary?
W. R. Nelson Elementary has 460 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tustin, CA. CCD year-over-year: 471 (2022-23) → 463 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W. R. Nelson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at W. R. Nelson Elementary is 24.2:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 54% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W. R. Nelson Elementary?
64.3% of students at W. R. Nelson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W. R. Nelson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at W. R. Nelson Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 78.9% of enrollment, in Tustin, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W. R. Nelson Elementary?
W. R. Nelson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does W. R. Nelson Elementary rank among elementary schools in Tustin?
By Resource Investment Index, W. R. Nelson Elementary 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.
What other schools are in Tustin Unified?
Besides W. R. Nelson 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.