- Enrollment
- 2,485
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · San Diego, CA
Bell Middle
Federal NCES profile for Bell Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063432005419
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bell Middle earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #18 of 37
- middle schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.2:1
- students per teacher
- 65.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Bell Middle has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Middle ranks #18 of 37 middle schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: San Diego Unified · California
NCES ID 063432005419 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-63 students YoY
Bell Middle shrank from 776 students in 2022-23 to 713 in 2023-24 (-8.1%).
Teacher FTE added 33.6 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-63 students YoY 063432005419 · San Diego, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
700 enr · 21.2:1 · 65.9% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Henry High (2,485 students)
Bell Middle shrank from 776 students in 2022-23 to 713 in 2023-24 (-8.1%). Teacher FTE added 33.6 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Bell Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Henry High
Henry High
2,485 students
- Mira Mesa High
Mira Mesa High
2,187 students
- Hoover High
Hoover High
2,011 students
- Scripps Ranch
Scripps Ranch High
1,890 students
- Point Loma Hig
Point Loma High
1,724 students
- This school 700
Bell Middle
700 students
What this shows Bell Middle reports 700 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bell Middle compares
Bell Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.9% | ▲ 19% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 700 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.2:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
700
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
21.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 45% in California - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
47.3%
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
$20,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 350 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 67 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 53.9%
Asian 20.4%
African American 13.1%
Two or More 7.6%
White 3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 53.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.3, Bell Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for San Diego Unified reports $20,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bell Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mira Mesa High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Scripps Ranch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Point Loma High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bell Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,187
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,011
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar middle schools in San Diego
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Oak Valley Middle
Standard public school
1,503 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Bernardo Heights Middle
Standard public school
1,487 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Marshall Middle
Standard public school
1,390 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Mesa Verde Middle
Standard public school
1,178 students 28.7:1 students per teacher
Black Mountain Middle
Standard public school
1,077 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Lewis Middle
Standard public school
1,013 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~700 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bell Middle
How many students attend Bell Middle?
Bell Middle has 700 students enrolled. It is a middle school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 776 (2022-23) → 713 (2023-24), down 63.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Bell Middle is 21.2:1, which is 1% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 35% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bell Middle?
65.9% of students at Bell Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bell Middle?
The largest demographic group at Bell Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 53.9% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bell Middle?
Bell Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 Bell Middle rank among middle schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Middle ranks #18 of 37 middle schools in San Diego, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in San Diego on the city page.
What other schools are in San Diego Unified?
Besides Bell Middle, San Diego Unified also operates Henry High (2,485 students), Mira Mesa High (2,187 students), and Hoover High (2,011 students). See the San Diego Unified district page for the complete list.