- Enrollment
- 1,481
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · El Cajon, CA
Meridian Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Meridian Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060681000621
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meridian Elementary earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #12 of 24
- elementary schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.9:1
- students per teacher
- 77.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Meridian Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian Elementary ranks #12 of 24 elementary schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
District: Cajon Valley Union · California
NCES ID 060681000621 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Meridian Elementary held near 572 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.0 → 22.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 060681000621 · El Cajon, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
570 enr · 21.9:1 · 77.6% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students)
Meridian Elementary held near 572 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.0 → 22.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Meridian Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hillsdale Midd
Hillsdale Middle
1,481 students
- Naranca Elemen
Naranca Elementary
985 students
- Cajon Valley M
Cajon Valley Middle
942 students
- Montgomery Mid
Montgomery Middle
929 students
- Lexington Elem
Lexington Elementary
878 students
- This school 570
Meridian Elementary
570 students
What this shows Meridian Elementary reports 570 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meridian Elementary compares
Meridian 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 | 21.9:1 | ▲ 2% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.6% | ▲ 40% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 570 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.9:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
570
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.9:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 52% in California - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
33.7%
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
$17,631
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 570 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.5%
Hispanic or Latino 20.4%
Asian 15.8%
Two or More 10.2%
African American 4.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 47.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Meridian Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cajon Valley Union reports $17,631 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meridian Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Naranca Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cajon Valley Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Montgomery Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lexington Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meridian Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 985
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 942
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 929
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Similar elementary schools in El Cajon
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Naranca Elementary
Standard public school
985 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
Lexington Elementary
Standard public school
878 students 27.4:1 students per teacher
Johnson Elementary
Standard public school
766 students 28.4:1 students per teacher
Chase Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
757 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Flying Hills School of Arts
Standard public school
742 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Magnolia Elementary
Standard public school
703 students 29.3:1 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 (~570 students)
Frequently asked questions about Meridian Elementary
How many students attend Meridian Elementary?
Meridian Elementary has 570 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in El Cajon, CA. CCD year-over-year: 563 (2022-23) → 572 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meridian Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Meridian Elementary is 21.9:1, which is 2% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Meridian Elementary?
77.6% of students at Meridian Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meridian Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Meridian Elementary is White at 47.5% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meridian Elementary?
Meridian Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (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 Meridian Elementary rank among elementary schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian Elementary ranks #12 of 24 elementary schools in El Cajon, 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 El Cajon on the city page.
What other schools are in Cajon Valley Union?
Besides Meridian Elementary, Cajon Valley Union also operates Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students), Naranca Elementary (985 students), and Cajon Valley Middle (942 students). See the Cajon Valley Union district page for the complete list.