- Enrollment
- 2,742
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Salinas, CA
El Puente
Federal NCES profile for El Puente, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 063398012977
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 78
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
El Puente earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 7
- schools in Salinas · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- small classes for California
- 72.4%
- free-lunch eligible
El Puente has class sizes smaller than 78% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, El Puente ranks #3 of 7 schools in Salinas, CA.
School address
District: Salinas Union High · California
NCES ID 063398012977 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+70 students YoY
El Puente grew from 279 students in 2022-23 to 349 in 2023-24 (+25.1%).
Teacher FTE added 18.4 → 19.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+70 students YoY 063398012977 · Salinas, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
326 enr · 18.1:1 · 72.4% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Alisal High (2,742 students)
El Puente grew from 279 students in 2022-23 to 349 in 2023-24 (+25.1%). Teacher FTE added 18.4 → 19.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
El Puente in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Alisal High
Alisal High
2,742 students
- Salinas High
Salinas High
2,380 students
- North Salinas
North Salinas High
2,106 students
- Everett Alvare
Everett Alvarez High
1,978 students
- Rancho San Jua
Rancho San Juan High
1,600 students
- This school 326
El Puente
326 students
What this shows El Puente reports 326 students on the CCD universe file.
How El Puente compares
El Puente is a growing 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 | 18.1:1 | ▼ 16% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.4% | ▲ 30% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 326 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
326
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 22% in California - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
69.3%
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
$18,321
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 109 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 93.3%
White 4.0%
Two or More 1.8%
Asian 0.6%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 93.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.8, El Puente is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Salinas Union High reports $18,321 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How El Puente Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alisal High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salinas High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Salinas High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Everett Alvarez High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rancho San Juan High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to El Puente's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,380
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 2,106
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,978
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,600
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar other schools in Salinas
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Monterey County Special Education
Special-education school
274 students 7:1 students per teacher
Monterey County Home Charter
Standard public school
255 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Salinas Community
Alternative education program
101 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study
Alternative education program
96 students 16:1 students per teacher
Wellington M. Smith Jr.
Alternative education program
50 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative education program
18 students 18:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~326 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about El Puente
How many students attend El Puente?
El Puente has 326 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Salinas, CA. CCD year-over-year: 279 (2022-23) → 349 (2023-24), up 70.
What is the student-teacher ratio at El Puente?
The student-teacher ratio at El Puente is 18.1:1, which is 16% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 15% 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 El Puente?
72.4% of students at El Puente are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of El Puente?
The largest demographic group at El Puente is Hispanic or Latino at 93.3% of enrollment, in Salinas, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for El Puente?
El Puente has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical 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 El Puente rank among schools in Salinas?
By Resource Investment Index, El Puente ranks #3 of 7 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 schools in Salinas on the city page.
What other schools are in Salinas Union High?
Besides El Puente, Salinas Union High also operates Alisal High (2,742 students), Salinas High (2,380 students), and North Salinas High (2,106 students). See the Salinas Union High district page for the complete list.