Enrollment
882
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Hesperia, CA
Mesquite Trails Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Mesquite Trails Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 8/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060001407295
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mesquite Trails Elementary earns 8/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of California schools.
- #14 of 16
- elementary schools in Hesperia · Resource Index
- 8
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.7:1
- large classes for California
- 44.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Mesquite Trails Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite Trails Elementary ranks #14 of 16 elementary schools in Hesperia, CA.
School address
District: Hesperia Unified · California
NCES ID 060001407295 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26.7:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
44.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mesquite Trails Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mesquite Trails Elementary
Mesquite Trails Elementary is a large elementary school in Hesperia, California, enrolling 882 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26.7:1 is larger than about 88% of California schools and 24% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 44.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 882 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 100% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 986 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #976, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (75%) and White (19%) (diversity index 41/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 882 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Hesperia's elementary schools, it stands alongside Mission Crest Elementary (989 students): Mesquite Trails Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (26.7:1 vs 28.3:1).
Hesperia Unified also operates Hesperia High (2,405 students) and Oak Hills High (2,370 students) alongside Mesquite Trails Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mesquite Trails Elementary compares
Mesquite Trails Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26.7:1 | ▲ 24% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.1% | ▼ 21% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 882 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.7:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
882
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
44.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
26.7:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 88% in California - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
49.8%
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
$13,688
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 882 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 74.7%
White 18.6%
African American 3.7%
Two or More 2.2%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 74.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.5, Mesquite Trails Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hesperia Unified, which includes Mesquite Trails Elementary.
$13,688
Per student
-17%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 11.0%
State 73.1%
Federal 15.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mesquite Trails Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hesperia High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Oak Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sultana High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hesperia Junior High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ranchero Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mesquite Trails Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,405
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 2,370
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,098
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,228
- Students per teacher
- 25.1:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 1,140
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Similar elementary schools in Hesperia
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mission Crest Elementary
Standard public school
989 students 28.3:1 students per teacher
Maple Elementary
Standard public school
988 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Krystal School of Science Math & Technology
Standard public school
912 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Lime Street Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Cottonwood Elementary
Standard public school
868 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Kingston Elementary
Standard public school
808 students 26.1:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~882 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mesquite Trails Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Mesquite Trails Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Hesperia Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mesquite Trails Elementary
How many students attend Mesquite Trails Elementary?
Mesquite Trails Elementary has 882 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Hesperia, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesquite Trails Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Mesquite Trails Elementary is 26.7:1, which is 24% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 70% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mesquite Trails Elementary?
44.1% of students at Mesquite Trails Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mesquite Trails Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Mesquite Trails Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 74.7% of enrollment, in Hesperia, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mesquite Trails Elementary?
Mesquite Trails Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 8/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mesquite Trails Elementary rank among elementary schools in Hesperia?
By Resource Investment Index, Mesquite Trails Elementary ranks #14 of 16 elementary schools in Hesperia, 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 Hesperia on the city page.
Is Mesquite Trails Elementary a good school?
Mesquite Trails Elementary earns 8/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Hesperia Unified?
Besides Mesquite Trails Elementary, Hesperia Unified also operates Hesperia High (2,405 students), Oak Hills High (2,370 students), and Sultana High (2,098 students). See the Hesperia Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.