Enrollment
1,016
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Modesto, CA
Elizabeth Ustach Middle
Federal NCES profile for Elizabeth Ustach Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063867001828
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Elizabeth Ustach Middle earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #3 of 9
- middle schools in Modesto · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.2:1
- students per teacher
- 39.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Elizabeth Ustach Middle has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Elizabeth Ustach Middle ranks #3 of 9 middle schools in Modesto, CA.
School address
District: Sylvan Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 063867001828 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
39.8%
vs 55.5% California avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Elizabeth Ustach Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Elizabeth Ustach Middle
Elizabeth Ustach Middle is a large middle school in Modesto, California, enrolling 1,016 students.
At 21.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 39.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,016 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 788 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #544.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (50%) and White (25%) (diversity index 66/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Modesto's middle schools, it stands alongside Somerset Middle (947 students): Elizabeth Ustach Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.2:1 vs 20.1:1).
Sylvan Union Elementary also operates Somerset Middle (947 students) and Daniel J. Savage Middle (906 students) alongside Elizabeth Ustach Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Elizabeth Ustach Middle compares
Elizabeth Ustach Middle on the metrics families compare, against 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 | 39.8% | ▼ 28% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,016 | top 11% | - | - |
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.
1,016
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
39.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
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
29.8%
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
$14,126
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
77
in-school suspensions + 80 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 50.2%
White 25.1%
Asian 14.3%
Two or More 6.8%
African American 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.9, Elizabeth Ustach Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sylvan Union Elementary, which includes Elizabeth Ustach Middle.
$14,126
Per student
-14%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.7%
State 63.6%
Federal 14.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Elizabeth Ustach Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Daniel J. Savage Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crossroads Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freedom Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orchard Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Elizabeth Ustach Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 947
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 906
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 713
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 579
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar middle schools in Modesto
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Somerset Middle
Standard public school
947 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Daniel J. Savage Middle
Standard public school
906 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Junior High
Standard public school
818 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Prescott Junior High
Standard public school
746 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
La Loma Junior High
Standard public school
705 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Mark Twain Junior High
Standard public school
658 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,016 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Elizabeth Ustach Middle's federal record.
- Compare Elizabeth Ustach Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Sylvan Union Elementary's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Ustach Middle
How many students attend Elizabeth Ustach Middle?
Elizabeth Ustach Middle has 1,016 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Modesto, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Elizabeth Ustach Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Elizabeth Ustach 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 Elizabeth Ustach Middle?
39.8% of students at Elizabeth Ustach Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Elizabeth Ustach Middle?
The largest demographic group at Elizabeth Ustach Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 50.2% of enrollment, in Modesto, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Elizabeth Ustach Middle?
Elizabeth Ustach Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Elizabeth Ustach Middle rank among middle schools in Modesto?
By Resource Investment Index, Elizabeth Ustach Middle ranks #3 of 9 middle schools in Modesto, 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 Modesto on the city page.
Is Elizabeth Ustach Middle a good school?
Elizabeth Ustach Middle earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Sylvan Union Elementary?
Besides Elizabeth Ustach Middle, Sylvan Union Elementary also operates Somerset Middle (947 students), Daniel J. Savage Middle (906 students), and Crossroads Elementary (752 students). See the Sylvan Union Elementary district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.