- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 30.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · La Mesa, CA
La Mesa Arts Academy
Federal NCES profile for La Mesa Arts Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062025002432
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Mesa Arts Academy earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #8 of 12
- elementary schools in La Mesa · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.6:1
- large classes for California
- 27.9%
- free-lunch eligible
La Mesa Arts Academy has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa Arts Academy ranks #8 of 12 elementary schools in La Mesa, CA.
School address
District: La Mesa-Spring Valley · California
NCES ID 062025002432 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
La Mesa Arts Academy held near 1,057 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 43.8 → 47.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 062025002432 · La Mesa, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
1,059 enr · 24.6:1 · 27.9% lunch · RII 20
Nearest enrollment peer: Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy (897 students)
La Mesa Arts Academy held near 1,057 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 43.8 → 47.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Mesa Arts Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
La Mesa Arts Academy
1,059 students
- Parkway Sports
Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy
897 students
- Sci Tech Engr
Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa
800 students
- Murdock Elemen
Murdock Elementary
608 students
- Spring Valley
Spring Valley Academy
597 students
- Fletcher Hills
Fletcher Hills Elementary
540 students
What this shows La Mesa Arts Academy reports 1,059 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Mesa Arts Academy compares
La Mesa Arts 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 | 24.6:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.9% | ▼ 50% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,059 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.6:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,059
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
24.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
19.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$16,770
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 1059 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 38.8%
Hispanic or Latino 38.5%
Two or More 10.6%
Asian 6.2%
African American 5.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 38.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.3, La Mesa Arts Academy is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for La Mesa-Spring Valley reports $16,770 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Mesa Arts Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murdock Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spring Valley Academy | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fletcher Hills Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Mesa Arts Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 800
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 608
- Students per teacher
- 27.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 540
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar elementary schools in La Mesa
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Murdock Elementary
Standard public school
608 students 27.6:1 students per teacher
Avocado Elementary
Standard public school
573 students 24.9:1 students per teacher
Murray Manor Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Vista La Mesa Academy
Standard public school
518 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Lemon Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
La Mesa Dale Elementary
Standard public school
460 students 24.2:1 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 (~1,059 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Mesa Arts Academy
How many students attend La Mesa Arts Academy?
La Mesa Arts Academy has 1,059 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in La Mesa, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,052 (2022-23) → 1,057 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Mesa Arts Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at La Mesa Arts Academy is 24.6:1, which is 14% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 57% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at La Mesa Arts Academy?
27.9% of students at La Mesa Arts Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Mesa Arts Academy?
The largest demographic group at La Mesa Arts Academy is White at 38.8% of enrollment, in La Mesa, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Mesa Arts Academy?
La Mesa Arts Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (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 Mesa Arts Academy rank among elementary schools in La Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa Arts Academy ranks #8 of 12 elementary schools in La Mesa, 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 La Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in La Mesa-Spring Valley?
Besides La Mesa Arts Academy, La Mesa-Spring Valley also operates Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy (897 students), Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa (800 students), and Murdock Elementary (608 students). See the La Mesa-Spring Valley district page for the complete list.