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Heron

Public Grades K-8
1456th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 5,857 California Elementary Schools
Better than 75% of California elementary schools
Summary

Heron is a well-regarded K-8 elementary school serving 977 students in Sacramento's Natomas Unified district, consistently performing above state and district averages.

The school stands out for its strong academic results, with students scoring significantly higher in English, math, and science compared to both the district and California overall. It also excels in supporting specific student groups and maintains a low chronic absenteeism rate of 12.1%, indicating a positive and engaging school environment. While Heron is a high performer within its district, it's interesting to note that Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Elementary, located just over two miles away, achieves even higher test scores and has an exceptionally low absentee rate, showing a range of quality in the local area.

Heron has demonstrated stable, above-average performance for over a decade, which is notable compared to some neighboring schools with more fluctuating results. Its per-student funding is similar to other local schools, suggesting its success is driven by effective school-level practices rather than budget alone. Parents can be confident in Heron's consistent track record, though the school may have room to grow, particularly in strengthening its 8th-grade math outcomes.

977
Students ?
22.6
Student/teacher ratio ?
$15,249
Per pupil spending ?
35.1%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 5151 Banfield Dr.
       Sacramento, CA  95835-1421

(916) 567-5680

District: Natomas Unified


Students who attend Heron usually attend:

High:    Inderkum High
Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
28.2%
White:
22.1%
Asian:
19.5%
more
 See top rated California elementary schools

 Compare Heron to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Improving — 65th percentile in 2013 → 75th in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the California average (51% vs 41% meeting standards)
Ranks in the top 25% of California elementary schools
Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2013
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Large classes — about 23 students per teacher
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school51%
District avg33%
California avg41%
Elementary school
1,456th of 5,857
California public elementary schools ?
Top 25%▲ up 4 pts since 2015
From top 29% (2015) to top 25% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
737th of 2,761
California public middle schools ?
Top 27%▲ up 7 pts since 2015
From top 33% (2015) to top 27% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
2nd of 11Elementary Schools in the Natomas Unified
927th of 1,543Natomas Unified among California districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202573.41456 of 585775.1%★★★★☆
202475.11362 of 586976.8%★★★★☆
202365.71773 of 585969.7%★★★☆☆
202274.51427 of 588375.7%★★★★☆
201974.61397 of 578975.9%★★★★☆
201878.71194 of 566278.9%★★★★☆
201758.52093 of 569263.2%★★★☆☆
201665.21753 of 561468.8%★★★☆☆
201567.11606 of 561171.4%★★★★☆
201363.41922 of 553065.2%★★★☆☆
201258.12155 of 539060.0%★★★☆☆
201171.01455 of 537772.9%★★★★☆
201059.52012 of 531462.1%★★★☆☆
200956.22111 of 519359.3%★★★☆☆
200853.92169 of 511357.6%★★★☆☆
200758.91880 of 511363.2%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202566.4142 of 56975.0%★★★★☆
202480.178 of 59386.8%★★★★☆
202372.5125 of 66181.1%★★★★☆
202259.8187 of 66371.8%★★★★☆
201969.5164 of 74778.0%★★★★☆
201873.7120 of 70082.9%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202538.0854 of 120329.0%★☆☆☆☆
202440.3850 of 120529.5%★☆☆☆☆
202331.7905 of 119023.9%★☆☆☆☆
202234.5854 of 115426.0%★☆☆☆☆
201936.9843 of 114926.6%★☆☆☆☆
201840.5766 of 107128.5%★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202281.0287 of 222787.1%★★★★☆
201985.9250 of 258590.3%★★★★★
201878.5302 of 212885.8%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202569.81511 of 559773.0%★★★★☆
202471.41430 of 561274.5%★★★★☆
202363.81774 of 560968.4%★★★☆☆
202274.61333 of 563576.3%★★★★☆
201977.21205 of 549278.1%★★★★☆
201879.11082 of 541380.0%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202581.2699 of 510786.3%★★★★☆
202477.8815 of 510784.0%★★★★☆
202371.51104 of 508778.3%★★★★☆
202283.3621 of 508487.8%★★★★☆
201976.3865 of 496382.6%★★★★☆
201872.71003 of 483079.2%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202561.21789 of 546067.2%★★★☆☆
202459.91797 of 551767.4%★★★☆☆
202353.32144 of 536360.0%★★★☆☆
202258.11796 of 526465.9%★★★☆☆
201967.41324 of 517374.4%★★★★☆
201866.11389 of 508472.7%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202574.01331 of 562876.4%★★★★☆
202475.91239 of 564378.0%★★★★☆
202365.41705 of 563869.8%★★★☆☆
202272.31415 of 566375.0%★★★★☆
201968.11591 of 551071.1%★★★★☆
201875.01272 of 543176.6%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202535.7513 of 71828.6%★☆☆☆☆
202448.4409 of 67039.0%★★☆☆☆
202338.6468 of 66930.0%★★☆☆☆
202250.0352 of 61042.3%★★☆☆☆
201932.9341 of 44523.4%★☆☆☆☆
201846.5222 of 33934.5%★★☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202569.4548 of 284780.8%★★★★☆
202484.4275 of 263589.6%★★★★☆
202366.5530 of 242078.1%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202568.8829 of 259868.1%★★★☆☆
202450.41396 of 265147.3%★★☆☆☆
202340.81697 of 266136.2%★★☆☆☆
202256.81265 of 272653.6%★★★☆☆
201959.51232 of 283456.5%★★★☆☆
201868.8870 of 273768.2%★★★☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202567.3737 of 276173.3%★★★★☆
202468.6707 of 278374.6%★★★★☆
202366.0761 of 278172.6%★★★★☆
202274.1598 of 274078.2%★★★★☆
201973.3630 of 271576.8%★★★★☆
201875.2537 of 248078.3%★★★★☆
201753.01031 of 250858.9%★★★☆☆
201665.2749 of 249770.0%★★★★☆
201561.9827 of 247766.6%★★★☆☆
201358.1937 of 237960.6%★★★☆☆
201250.81079 of 225952.2%★★★☆☆
201155.4950 of 223657.5%★★★☆☆
201041.11278 of 217941.3%★★☆☆☆
200944.61090 of 206347.2%★★☆☆☆
200836.91247 of 200537.8%★★☆☆☆
200741.61079 of 199946.0%★★☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202544.3304 of 60950.1%★★★☆☆
202453.4244 of 62761.1%★★★☆☆
202370.1136 of 61377.8%★★★★☆
202285.062 of 63790.3%★★★★★
201965.1188 of 64370.8%★★★★☆
201864.8174 of 60071.0%★★★★☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202548.7433 of 73941.4%★★☆☆☆
202440.4490 of 74334.1%★★☆☆☆
202332.0525 of 71526.6%★☆☆☆☆
202233.0526 of 73328.2%★☆☆☆☆
201944.0470 of 74536.9%★★☆☆☆
201844.5462 of 70034.0%★★☆☆☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202251.7533 of 153165.2%★★★☆☆
201960.0397 of 149173.4%★★★★☆
201862.9329 of 136976.0%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202568.3668 of 253373.6%★★★★☆
202466.8686 of 255173.1%★★★★☆
202360.2816 of 253167.8%★★★☆☆
202271.0590 of 250976.5%★★★★☆
201970.8602 of 238074.7%★★★★☆
201872.4557 of 226275.4%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202575.9410 of 239582.9%★★★★☆
202475.9402 of 238883.2%★★★★☆
202360.0719 of 237469.7%★★★☆☆
202272.5439 of 235981.4%★★★★☆
201973.1436 of 221380.3%★★★★☆
201866.8518 of 207275.0%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202550.51065 of 254258.1%★★★☆☆
202442.11297 of 257949.7%★★☆☆☆
202338.31392 of 253145.0%★★☆☆☆
202263.1668 of 245872.8%★★★★☆
201975.1396 of 236983.3%★★★★☆
201869.9480 of 223078.5%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202564.4744 of 253470.6%★★★★☆
202467.8674 of 255273.6%★★★★☆
202368.6639 of 253874.8%★★★★☆
202274.0555 of 252778.0%★★★★☆
201972.0579 of 240775.9%★★★★☆
201875.7488 of 227378.5%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202545.8402 of 72644.6%★★☆☆☆
202442.4411 of 70141.4%★★☆☆☆
202350.3351 of 67748.2%★★☆☆☆
202242.6388 of 66541.7%★★☆☆☆
201948.1322 of 55441.9%★★☆☆☆
201858.1225 of 46251.3%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202562.0392 of 156675.0%★★★★☆
202460.6394 of 155274.6%★★★★☆
202338.5809 of 153147.2%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202555.6670 of 152055.9%★★★☆☆
202460.6577 of 153762.5%★★★☆☆
202353.0692 of 154355.2%★★★☆☆
202259.2602 of 155561.3%★★★☆☆
201952.1752 of 160253.1%★★★☆☆
201856.9645 of 149656.9%★★★☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Disabled (2022)87th percentile+11 vs school
Hispanic (2025)86th percentile+11 vs school
Special Education (2025)81st percentile+6 vs school
Male (2025)76th percentile~ school
African American (2025)75th percentile~ school
Female (2025)73rd percentile~ school
White (2025)68th percentile-7 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)67th percentile-8 vs school
Asian (2025)29th percentile-46 vs school
Multi-racial (2025)29th percentile-47 vs school
Middle school
Hispanic (2025)83rd percentile+10 vs school
Special Education (2025)75th percentile~ school
Female (2025)74th percentile~ school
Male (2025)71st percentile-3 vs school
Disabled (2022)65th percentile-13 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)58th percentile-15 vs school
White (2025)56th percentile-17 vs school
African American (2025)50th percentile-23 vs school
Multi-racial (2025)45th percentile-29 vs school
Asian (2025)41st percentile-32 vs school
By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?
English Language Arts/Literacy56%+8 vs state
Mathematics48%+11 vs state
Science43%+11 vs state

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Frequently Asked Questions about Heron

Students who attend Heron usually go on to attend:

High : Inderkum High

Students at Heron are 28% Hispanic, 22% White, 20% Asian, 15% Two or more races, 14% African American, 1% Pacific Islander.

Heron ranks 1456th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2024-25 school year, 977 students attended Heron.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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