- Enrollment
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · La Mesa, CA
Lemon Avenue Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Lemon Avenue Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062025002435
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lemon Avenue Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of California schools.
- #3 of 12
- elementary schools in La Mesa · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.4:1
- large classes for California
- 33.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Lemon Avenue Elementary has class sizes larger than 87% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lemon Avenue Elementary ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in La Mesa, CA.
School address
District: La Mesa-Spring Valley · California
NCES ID 062025002435 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Lemon Avenue Elementary held near 513 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 19.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 062025002435 · La Mesa, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
502 enr · 26.4:1 · 33.2% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: La Mesa Arts Academy (1,059 students)
Lemon Avenue Elementary held near 513 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE held 19.0 → 19.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Lemon Avenue 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
Lemon Avenue Elementary
502 students
What this shows Lemon Avenue Elementary reports 502 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lemon Avenue Elementary compares
Lemon Avenue 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 | 26.4:1 | ▲ 23% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.2% | ▼ 40% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.4:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
26.4:1
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
18.3%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 48.2%
Hispanic or Latino 29.9%
Two or More 14.1%
African American 4.0%
Asian 3.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 48.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.5, Lemon Avenue 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 Lemon Avenue Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa Arts Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sci Tech Engr Arts and Math Acad at La Presa | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murdock Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spring Valley Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lemon Avenue 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
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 (~502 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lemon Avenue Elementary
How many students attend Lemon Avenue Elementary?
Lemon Avenue Elementary has 502 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in La Mesa, CA. CCD year-over-year: 527 (2022-23) → 513 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lemon Avenue Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lemon Avenue Elementary is 26.4:1, which is 23% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 68% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lemon Avenue Elementary?
33.2% of students at Lemon Avenue Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lemon Avenue Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Lemon Avenue Elementary is White at 48.2% of enrollment, in La Mesa, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lemon Avenue Elementary?
Lemon Avenue Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Lemon Avenue Elementary rank among elementary schools in La Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Lemon Avenue Elementary ranks #3 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 Lemon Avenue 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.