- Enrollment
- 2,331
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
High school (grades 9-12) · El Cajon, CA
Merit Academy
Federal NCES profile for Merit Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061623013711
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merit Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of California schools.
- #5 of 9
- high schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for California
- 54.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Merit Academy has class sizes smaller than 94% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merit Academy ranks #5 of 9 high schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
District: Grossmont Union High · California
NCES ID 061623013711 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Merit Academy shrank from 79 students in 2022-23 to 64 in 2023-24 (-19.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 6.1 → 1.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-15 students YoY 061623013711 · El Cajon, CA High · SMALL · TRAD
68 enr · 11.3:1 · 54.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Granite Hills High (2,331 students)
Merit Academy shrank from 79 students in 2022-23 to 64 in 2023-24 (-19.0%). Teacher FTE lost 6.1 → 1.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Merit Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Granite Hills
Granite Hills High
2,331 students
- Grossmont High
Grossmont High
2,172 students
- El Capitan Hig
El Capitan High
1,810 students
- Valhalla High
Valhalla High
1,728 students
- El Cajon Valle
El Cajon Valley High
1,701 students
- This school 68
Merit Academy
68 students
What this shows Merit Academy reports 68 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merit Academy compares
Merit Academy is a shrinking 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 47% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.4% | ▼ 2% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 68 | top 92% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
68
Bigger than 7% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.4%
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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 47% below state mean
Top 6% in California - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$18,330
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 + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 41.8%
Hispanic or Latino 41.8%
African American 10.4%
Asian 3.0%
Two or More 3.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 41.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.8, Merit Academy is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Grossmont Union High reports $18,330 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merit Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite Hills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grossmont High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| El Capitan High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valhalla High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| El Cajon Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merit Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,172
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,810
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,728
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,701
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Similar high schools in El Cajon
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Granite Hills High
Standard public school
2,331 students 24:1 students per teacher
Valhalla High
Standard public school
1,728 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
El Cajon Valley High
Standard public school
1,701 students 22.4:1 students per teacher
Idea Center
Alternative education program
127 students 7.9:1 students per teacher
Chaparral High
Alternative education program
45 students 6.4:1 students per teacher
Grossmont Middle College High
Alternative education program
37 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~68 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merit Academy
How many students attend Merit Academy?
Merit Academy has 68 students enrolled. It is a high school in El Cajon, CA. CCD year-over-year: 79 (2022-23) → 64 (2023-24), down 15.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merit Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Merit Academy is 11.3:1, which is 47% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 28% lower 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 Merit Academy?
54.4% of students at Merit Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merit Academy?
The largest demographic group at Merit Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 41.8% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merit Academy?
Merit Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Merit Academy rank among high schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, Merit Academy ranks #5 of 9 high 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 high schools in El Cajon on the city page.
What other schools are in Grossmont Union High?
Besides Merit Academy, Grossmont Union High also operates Granite Hills High (2,331 students), Grossmont High (2,172 students), and El Capitan High (1,810 students). See the Grossmont Union High district page for the complete list.