- Enrollment
- 2,317
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Santa Clarita, CA
La Mesa Junior High
Federal NCES profile for La Mesa Junior High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 064251003268
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Mesa Junior High earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of California schools.
- #3 of 10
- public schools in Santa Clarita · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.8:1
- small classes for California
- 38.3%
- free-lunch eligible
La Mesa Junior High has class sizes smaller than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa Junior High ranks #3 of 10 public schools in Santa Clarita, CA.
School address
District: William S. Hart Union High · California
NCES ID 064251003268 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
La Mesa Junior High held near 1,023 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 54.1 → 54.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 064251003268 · Santa Clarita, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
1,017 enr · 18.8:1 · 38.3% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Saugus High (2,317 students)
La Mesa Junior High held near 1,023 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 54.1 → 54.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
La Mesa Junior High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Saugus High
Saugus High
2,317 students
- Valencia High
Valencia High
2,286 students
- Golden Valley
Golden Valley High
1,980 students
- Canyon High
Canyon High
1,952 students
- William S. Har
William S. Hart High
1,941 students
- This school
La Mesa Junior High
1,017 students
What this shows La Mesa Junior High reports 1,017 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Mesa Junior High compares
La Mesa Junior High 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 | 18.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.3% | ▼ 31% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,017 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.8:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,017
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
18.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 26% in California - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.2%
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
$15,249
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 254 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 67 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 56.8%
White 17.7%
Asian 13.1%
African American 7.8%
Two or More 4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 56.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, La Mesa Junior High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for William S. Hart Union High reports $15,249 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Mesa Junior High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saugus High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valencia High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Golden Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Canyon High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William S. Hart High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Mesa Junior High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,286
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,980
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,952
- Students per teacher
- 23.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,941
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Santa Clarita
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~1,017 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Mesa Junior High
How many students attend La Mesa Junior High?
La Mesa Junior High has 1,017 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Santa Clarita, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,014 (2022-23) → 1,023 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Mesa Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at La Mesa Junior High is 18.8:1, which is 13% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 20% 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 Mesa Junior High?
38.3% of students at La Mesa Junior High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Mesa Junior High?
The largest demographic group at La Mesa Junior High is Hispanic or Latino at 56.8% of enrollment, in Santa Clarita, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Mesa Junior High?
La Mesa Junior High has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 La Mesa Junior High rank among public schools in Santa Clarita?
By Resource Investment Index, La Mesa Junior High ranks #3 of 10 public schools in Santa Clarita, 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 Clarita on the city page.
What other schools are in William S. Hart Union High?
Besides La Mesa Junior High, William S. Hart Union High also operates Saugus High (2,317 students), Valencia High (2,286 students), and Golden Valley High (1,980 students). See the William S. Hart Union High district page for the complete list.