Skip to main content

Average

#4616 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 48% in state

Heron

Elementary School · Natomas Unified · Sacramento, CA

A Natomas Unified elementary school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.

5151 Banfield Dr., Sacramento, CA 95835

  • Math 44% vs CA 37% (2024)
  • Reading 57% vs CA 46% (2024)
  • 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.28 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-1.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+14.4 pts
Overall Proficiency51% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)58% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-7.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
Resources & Environment5.0Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio23.8:1
District spending per student$14,964
Chronic Absenteeism19.3%

Students at Heron score 51% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency44%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
37%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency57%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
46%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 31 points since 2020, reaching 51% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
57%
ELA
55%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
63%
2011
Math
61%
ELA
64%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
63%
2013
Math
50%
ELA
70%
2014
Math
44%
ELA
46%
2015
Math
46%
ELA
48%
2016
Math
43%
ELA
44%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
60%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
60%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
60%
2020*
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2022
Math
44%
ELA
57%
2024
Math
44%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 42 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

28.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Heron sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Sacramento map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 38Car-Dependent
  • Transit 25Some Transit
  • Bike 61Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,332/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Sacramento), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$114,413

Median home value

$588,300

Median rent

$2,177/mo

College educated

50.6%

Homeownership

68.8%

Poverty rate

5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95835; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Natomas Park ElementaryEnrollment path unverified4.0K–50.7 mi742Compare →
Westlake CharterCharter · enrollment unverified4.4K–121.0 mi1,382Compare →
H. Allen Hight ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.7K–51.1 mi804Compare →
Regency Park ElementaryEnrollment path unverified7.1K–61.1 mi771Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Natomas Unified

Schools in district
20
Rank in district
#9 of 19
District spending per student
$14,964NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
13.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Heron is listed in Natomas Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Heron

Heron is a public elementary school in Sacramento, CA, part of Natomas Unified, serving approximately 1,045 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #4,616 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Heron

What grades does Heron serve?

Heron serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Heron?

Heron has an enrollment of approximately 1,045 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Heron?

The student-teacher ratio at Heron is 23.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Heron rank in CA?

Heron ranks #4,616 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Heron's MySchoolScout rating?

Heron has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Heron?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Heron has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Heron a charter school?

No, Heron is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Heron a Title I school?

No, Heron is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Heron?

28.9% of students at Heron qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
1,045
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Sacramento County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.3%
Area population (ZIP 95835)
41,678
Area average commute
27.9 min
Area median age
38.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 95835; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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.