Tustin Unified
Tustin Unified has 26 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 57.4/100 — 13.6 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Tustin Memorial Elementary at 86/100, where 60.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,042 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 4 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 13.4%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 58.9 | 18 | 34.4% | 11.1% |
| Middle | 49.5 | 4 | 23.8% | 13.1% |
| High | 58.4 | 4 | 25.4% | 24.5% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Tustin Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Tustin Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 58.9.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.9pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.
Consistency: Score range of 57.8 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 13.4%, 4.7pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.7%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Tustin Memorial Elementary leads the district at 86 with 60.7% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Tustin Unified
Hidden gems: 8 schools in Tustin Unified are classified as Growth Engine (4) or On the Rise (4) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Tustin Unified spends $12,042 per student in current expenditures — $2,773 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (18)
Tustin Unified has 18 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 58.9 — 15.2 points above the state average of 43.8. 8 of 18 elementary schools score above 70.
District-wide growth averages +0.9pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Tustin Memorial Elementary with a Scope Score of 86 and 60.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Growth | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tustin Memorial Elementary Tustin Unified High Ceiling | 86 | 60.7% | 88.3% | -0.1pp | 1.9% | 0.7% |
| 2 | Orchard Hills Tustin Unified High Ceiling | 86 | 65.2% | 86.0% | +7.0pp | 5.2% | 1.4% |
| 3 | Red Hill Elementary Tustin Unified Growth Engine | 77 | 44.8% | 76.9% | +13.9pp | 6.5% | 1.0% |
| 4 | Peters Canyon Elementary Tustin Unified High Ceiling | 76 | 53.1% | 73.9% | +6.9pp | 10.0% | 0.1% |
| 5 | Hicks Canyon Elementary Tustin Unified High Ceiling | 76 | 51.9% | 75.4% | -0.8pp | 3.9% | 0.5% |
| 6 | Arroyo Elementary Tustin Unified High Ceiling | 75 | 53.0% | 79.5% | -4.9pp | 4.5% | 0.1% |
| 7 | Ladera Elementary Tustin Unified Strong All-Around | 74 | 47.0% | 70.9% | +1.3pp | 6.7% | 0.1% |
| 8 | Heritage Elementary Tustin Unified Strong All-Around | 70 | 47.1% | 72.0% | -0.3pp | 8.1% | 1.8% |
| 9 | Myford Elementary Tustin Unified Strong All-Around | 68 | 44.5% | 70.3% | +3.0pp | 9.3% | 0.4% |
| 10 | Tustin Ranch Elementary Tustin Unified Growth Engine | 53 | 25.2% | 53.0% | +9.4pp | 10.7% | 0.3% |
| 11 | Guin Foss Elementary Tustin Unified Culture First | 53 | 35.1% | 59.7% | -30.6pp | 11.9% | 0.6% |
| 12 | Loma Vista Elementary Tustin Unified Growth Engine | 52 | 25.0% | 45.8% | +6.1pp | 11.2% | 0.7% |
| 13 | Barbara Benson Elementary Tustin Unified On the Rise | 42 | 18.3% | 41.1% | +20.2pp | 19.3% | 0.5% |
| 14 | Benjamin F. Beswick Elementary Tustin Unified On the Rise | 41 | 12.1% | 33.0% | +14.8pp | 18.3% | 1.0% |
| 15 | Robert Heideman Elementary Tustin Unified Building Momentum | 36 | 11.1% | 29.1% | -15.1pp | 17.4% | 0.1% |
| 16 | W. R. Nelson Elementary Tustin Unified Culture First | 36 | 12.1% | 28.9% | -7.9pp | 13.9% | 0.9% |
| 17 | Sycamore Magnet Academy Tustin Unified Building Momentum | 30 | 5.7% | 20.4% | -4.5pp | 17.0% | 3.2% |
| 18 | Helen Estock Elementary Tustin Unified Building Momentum | 28 | 6.4% | 18.0% | -1.8pp | 23.2% | 2.8% |
Middle Schools (4)
Tustin Unified has 4 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 49.5 — 9.0 points above the state average of 40.5.
District-wide growth averages +3.3pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Pioneer Middle with a Scope Score of 67 and 39.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Growth | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pioneer Middle Tustin Unified Growth Engine | 67 | 39.6% | 66.2% | +10.9pp | 8.1% | 1.2% |
| 2 | Hewes Middle Tustin Unified Culture First | 53 | 27.0% | 56.7% | -14.0pp | 6.4% | 1.2% |
| 3 | C. E. Utt Middle Tustin Unified On the Rise | 39 | 12.1% | 35.0% | +6.6pp | 14.9% | 3.7% |
| 4 | Columbus Tustin Middle Tustin Unified On the Rise | 39 | 16.4% | 35.2% | +9.5pp | 22.9% | 11.2% |
High Schools (4)
Tustin Unified has 4 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 58.4 — 11.0 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 4 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Arnold O. Beckman High with a Scope Score of 79 and 49.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arnold O. Beckman High Tustin Unified Strong All-Around | 79 | 49.1% | 72.0% | 11.7% | 1.8% |
| 2 | Foothill High Tustin Unified Strong All-Around | 68 | 29.9% | 55.8% | 10.9% | 1.6% |
| 3 | Tustin High Tustin Unified Building Momentum | 57 | 19.8% | 42.2% | 15.1% | 3.1% |
| 4 | Hillview High (Continuation) Tustin Unified Building Momentum | 29 | 2.8% | 5.5% | 60.3% | 3.8% |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Tustin Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology