- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Monterey, CA
La Mesa
Federal NCES profile for La Mesa, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062553003830
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Mesa earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Monterey · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 26.5:1
- large classes for California
- 25.2%
- free-lunch eligible
La Mesa has class sizes larger than 87% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Monterey, CA.
School address
District: Monterey Peninsula Unified · California
NCES ID 062553003830 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+90 students YoY
La Mesa grew from 564 students in 2022-23 to 654 in 2023-24 (+16.0%).
Teacher FTE added 26.8 → 29.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+90 students YoY 062553003830 · Monterey, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
689 enr · 26.5:1 · 25.2% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Monterey High (1,401 students)
La Mesa grew from 564 students in 2022-23 to 654 in 2023-24 (+16.0%). Teacher FTE added 26.8 → 29.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Mesa in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Monterey High
Monterey High
1,401 students
- Seaside High
Seaside High
1,073 students
- Marina High
Marina High
721 students
- This school
La Mesa
689 students
- Monte Vista
Monte Vista
688 students
- J. C. Crumpton
J. C. Crumpton Elementary
562 students
What this shows La Mesa reports 689 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Mesa compares
La Mesa 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 | 26.5:1 | ▲ 23% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.2% | ▼ 55% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 689 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.5:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
689
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
26.5:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 87% in California - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
13.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$17,464
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
White 44.5%
Hispanic or Latino 29.1%
Asian 10.8%
Two or More 10.5%
African American 3.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 44.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.3, La Mesa is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Monterey Peninsula Unified reports $17,464 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Mesa Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Seaside High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marina High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Monte Vista | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| J. C. Crumpton Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Mesa's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,073
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 721
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 688
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 562
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Similar elementary schools in Monterey
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~689 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Mesa
How many students attend La Mesa?
La Mesa has 689 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Monterey, CA. CCD year-over-year: 564 (2022-23) → 654 (2023-24), up 90.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Mesa?
The student-teacher ratio at La Mesa is 26.5:1, which is 23% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 69% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at La Mesa?
25.2% of students at La Mesa are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Mesa?
The largest demographic group at La Mesa is White at 44.5% of enrollment, in Monterey, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Mesa?
La Mesa has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does La Mesa rank among elementary schools in Monterey?
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Monterey, 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 Monterey on the city page.
What other schools are in Monterey Peninsula Unified?
Besides La Mesa, Monterey Peninsula Unified also operates Monterey High (1,401 students), Seaside High (1,073 students), and Marina High (721 students). See the Monterey Peninsula Unified district page for the complete list.