- Enrollment
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · La Mesa, CA
La Mesa Dale Elementary
Federal NCES profile for La Mesa Dale Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 14/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062025002431
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Mesa Dale Elementary earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #11 of 12
- elementary schools in La Mesa · Resource Index
- 14
- Resource Index · Lower
- 24.2:1
- large classes for California
- 54.2%
- free-lunch eligible
La Mesa Dale Elementary has class sizes larger than 73% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa Dale Elementary ranks #11 of 12 elementary schools in La Mesa, CA.
School address
District: La Mesa-Spring Valley · California
NCES ID 062025002431 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
La Mesa Dale Elementary held near 520 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 062025002431 · La Mesa, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
460 enr · 24.2:1 · 54.2% lunch · RII 14
Nearest enrollment peer: La Mesa Arts Academy (1,059 students)
La Mesa Dale Elementary held near 520 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Mesa Dale Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- La Mesa Arts A
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
- This school
La Mesa Dale Elementary
460 students
What this shows La Mesa Dale Elementary reports 460 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Mesa Dale Elementary compares
La Mesa Dale Elementary 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 | 24.2:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.2% | ▼ 2% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 460 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.2:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
460
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
24.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 73% in California - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
36.7%
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
$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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 50.2%
White 22.2%
African American 11.1%
Two or More 10.9%
Asian 5.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.2, La Mesa Dale Elementary 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 Dale Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa Arts Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murdock Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spring Valley Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Mesa Dale Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 30.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools in La Mesa
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
La Mesa Arts Academy
Standard public school
1,059 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
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
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 (~460 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Mesa Dale Elementary
How many students attend La Mesa Dale Elementary?
La Mesa Dale Elementary has 460 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in La Mesa, CA. CCD year-over-year: 524 (2022-23) → 520 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Mesa Dale Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at La Mesa Dale Elementary is 24.2:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 54% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at La Mesa Dale Elementary?
54.2% of students at La Mesa Dale Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Mesa Dale Elementary?
The largest demographic group at La Mesa Dale Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 50.2% of enrollment, in La Mesa, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Mesa Dale Elementary?
La Mesa Dale Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 14/100 (lower 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 Dale Elementary rank among elementary schools in La Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa Dale Elementary ranks #11 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 Dale Elementary, La Mesa-Spring Valley also operates La Mesa Arts Academy (1,059 students), Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy (897 students), and Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa (800 students). See the La Mesa-Spring Valley district page for the complete list.