- Enrollment
- 2,121
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Montebello, CA
La Merced Academy
Federal NCES profile for La Merced Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062547003799
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Merced Academy earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #4 of 5
- elementary schools in Montebello · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.8:1
- students per teacher
- 56.7%
- free-lunch eligible
La Merced Academy has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Merced Academy ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Montebello, CA.
School address
District: Montebello Unified · California
NCES ID 062547003799 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
La Merced Academy held near 649 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+25 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.6 → 34.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+25 students YoY 062547003799 · Montebello, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
665 enr · 20.8:1 · 56.7% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Schurr High (2,121 students)
La Merced Academy held near 649 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+25 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.6 → 34.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Merced Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Schurr High
Schurr High
2,121 students
- Bell Gardens H
Bell Gardens High
2,046 students
- Montebello Hig
Montebello High
1,907 students
- Bell Gardens I 790
Bell Gardens Intermediate
790 students
- Greenwood Elem 746
Greenwood Elementary
746 students
- This school 665
La Merced Academy
665 students
What this shows La Merced Academy reports 665 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Merced Academy compares
La Merced Academy 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 | 20.8:1 | ▼ 3% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.7% | ▲ 2% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 665 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.8:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
665
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% 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
20.8:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 42% in California - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
37.4%
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
$22,855
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 443 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.0%
Asian 1.7%
White 0.6%
Two or More 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 5.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 5.9, La Merced Academy is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montebello Unified reports $22,855 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Merced Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schurr High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bell Gardens High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Montebello High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bell Gardens Intermediate | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greenwood Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Merced Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,907
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 746
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Montebello
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
746 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Washington Elementary
Standard public school
685 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Wilcox Elementary
Standard public school
479 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Fremont Elementary
Standard public school
366 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~665 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Merced Academy
How many students attend La Merced Academy?
La Merced Academy has 665 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Montebello, CA. CCD year-over-year: 624 (2022-23) → 649 (2023-24), nearly flat (+25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Merced Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at La Merced Academy is 20.8:1, which is 3% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 32% 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 La Merced Academy?
56.7% of students at La Merced Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Merced Academy?
The largest demographic group at La Merced Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 97.0% of enrollment, in Montebello, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Merced Academy?
La Merced Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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 La Merced Academy rank among elementary schools in Montebello?
By Resource Investment Index, La Merced Academy ranks #4 of 5 elementary schools in Montebello, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Montebello on the city page.
What other schools are in Montebello Unified?
Besides La Merced Academy, Montebello Unified also operates Schurr High (2,121 students), Bell Gardens High (2,046 students), and Montebello High (1,907 students). See the Montebello Unified district page for the complete list.