- Enrollment
- 529
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Salinas, CA
Buena Vista Middle
Federal NCES profile for Buena Vista Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063771007565
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buena Vista Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools.
- #1 of 8
- middle schools in Salinas · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- small classes for California
- 14.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Buena Vista Middle has class sizes smaller than 84% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Vista Middle ranks #1 of 8 middle schools in Salinas, CA.
School address
District: Spreckels Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 063771007565 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Buena Vista Middle held near 333 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 17.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 063771007565 · Salinas, CA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
321 enr · 16.9:1 · 14.6% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Spreckels Elementary (529 students)
Buena Vista Middle held near 333 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 19.0 → 17.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How Buena Vista Middle compares
Buena Vista Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▼ 21% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.6% | ▼ 74% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 321 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
321
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 74% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 16% in California - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,385
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 50.8%
White 37.7%
Two or More 6.5%
Asian 5.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.3, Buena Vista Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Spreckels Union Elementary reports $12,385 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buena Vista Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spreckels Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buena Vista Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar middle schools in Salinas
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Harden Middle
Standard public school
1,101 students 22:1 students per teacher
La Paz Middle
Standard public school
1,099 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
Washington Middle
Standard public school
1,082 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
El Sausal Middle
Standard public school
1,067 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
John Gutierrez Middle
Standard public school
568 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Gavilan View Middle
Standard public school
556 students 19.9:1 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 (~321 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista Middle
How many students attend Buena Vista Middle?
Buena Vista Middle has 321 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Salinas, CA. CCD year-over-year: 335 (2022-23) → 333 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Middle is 16.9:1, which is 21% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 8% 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 Buena Vista Middle?
14.6% of students at Buena Vista Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buena Vista Middle?
The largest demographic group at Buena Vista Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 50.8% of enrollment, in Salinas, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buena Vista Middle?
Buena Vista Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Buena Vista Middle rank among middle schools in Salinas?
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Vista Middle ranks #1 of 8 middle schools in Salinas, 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 Salinas on the city page.
What other schools are in Spreckels Union Elementary?
Besides Buena Vista Middle, Spreckels Union Elementary also operates Spreckels Elementary (529 students). See the Spreckels Union Elementary district page for the complete list.