Tustin Unified School District
School District · Tustin, California
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
28
18 elem, 4 mid, 5 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,477
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.3:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
28
18 elem, 4 mid, 5 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,477
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.3:1
Evaluating Tustin Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Tustin Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Heritage Elementary
Tustin · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Tustin Connect
Tustin · Other. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Arnold O. Beckman High
Tustin · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#426 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,477
$2,170 vs California median
District size
21,600 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Tustin Unified ranks #426 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Tustin Unified's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 28 schools. Its top-rated schools are Heritage Elementary (8.5/10), Tustin Connect (8.1/10), and Arnold O. Beckman High (8.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.7/10 despite 94% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Tustin Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Tustin Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Tustin Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (28 of 28). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heritage Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Tustin Connect | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Arnold O. Beckman High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Foothill High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Tustin Memorial Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Hicks Canyon Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Myford Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Pioneer Middle | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Orchard Hills | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Tustin High | 6.7 / 10 |
See all 28 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Tustin Unified
Tustin Unified is a Tustin, California school district serving 28 schools. The district educates 21,600 students with a student-teacher ratio of 26.3:1. The district invests $15,477 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Tustin Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Heritage Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.5/10.
In standardized testing, Tustin Unified students show an average math proficiency of 55.4% and ELA proficiency of 60.6%.
The district includes 18 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Tustin Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Tustin Unified with test data.
Schools in Tustin Unified
28 schools Elementary Schools 18
Middle Schools 4
High Schools 5
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Tustin
- Total Enrollment
- 21,600
- Teachers (FTE)
- 822
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Tustin Unified?
Tustin Unified has 28 schools in total — 18 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Tustin Unified?
The average composite rating for Tustin Unified is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Tustin Unified?
Tustin Unified spends $15,477 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Tustin Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Tustin Unified is 26.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Tustin Unified?
Heritage Elementary is the highest-rated school in Tustin Unified with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What are the test scores in Tustin Unified?
Across schools in Tustin Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 55.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 60.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Tustin Unified compare to other districts in California?
Tustin Unified has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 28 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 55.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 60.6%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Tustin Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.