- Enrollment
- 1,494
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Santa Paula, CA
Isbell Middle
Federal NCES profile for Isbell Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 060142106109
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 75
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Isbell Middle earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 13
- public schools in Santa Paula · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- small classes for California
- 72.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Isbell Middle has class sizes smaller than 92% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Isbell Middle ranks #1 of 13 public schools in Santa Paula, CA.
School address
District: Santa Paula Unified · California
NCES ID 060142106109 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-339 students YoY
Isbell Middle shrank from 1,010 students in 2022-23 to 671 in 2023-24 (-33.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 47.7 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-339 students YoY 060142106109 · Santa Paula, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
634 enr · 13.5:1 · 72.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Paula High (1,494 students)
Isbell Middle shrank from 1,010 students in 2022-23 to 671 in 2023-24 (-33.6%). Teacher FTE lost 47.7 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Isbell Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Paula Hi
Santa Paula High
1,494 students
- Glen City Elem
Glen City Elementary
675 students
- This school
Isbell Middle
634 students
- Grace Thille E 358
Grace Thille Elementary
358 students
- Barbara Webste 325
Barbara Webster Elementary
325 students
- Blanchard Elem 317
Blanchard Elementary
317 students
What this shows Isbell Middle reports 634 students on the CCD universe file.
How Isbell Middle compares
Isbell 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 37% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.0% | ▲ 30% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 634 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
634
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.0%
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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 37% below state mean
Top 8% in California - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
51.6%
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
$20,615
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 127 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 134 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 95.1%
White 3.9%
African American 0.3%
Two or More 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 95.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.4, Isbell Middle is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Santa Paula Unified reports $20,615 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Isbell Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Paula High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Glen City Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grace Thille Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Barbara Webster Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blanchard Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Isbell Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 675
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 358
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 325
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 317
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
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 (~634 students)
Frequently asked questions about Isbell Middle
How many students attend Isbell Middle?
Isbell Middle has 634 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Santa Paula, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,010 (2022-23) → 671 (2023-24), down 339.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Isbell Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Isbell Middle is 13.5:1, which is 37% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 14% lower 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 Isbell Middle?
72.0% of students at Isbell Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Isbell Middle?
The largest demographic group at Isbell Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 95.1% of enrollment, in Santa Paula, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Isbell Middle?
Isbell Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Isbell Middle rank among public schools in Santa Paula?
By Resource Investment Index, Isbell Middle ranks #1 of 13 public schools in Santa Paula, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Santa Paula on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Paula Unified?
Besides Isbell Middle, Santa Paula Unified also operates Santa Paula High (1,494 students), Glen City Elementary (675 students), and Grace Thille Elementary (358 students). See the Santa Paula Unified district page for the complete list.