Enrollment
812
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Salinas, CA
Monte Bella Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Monte Bella Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 10/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060195013182
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Monte Bella Elementary earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #32 of 39
- elementary schools in Salinas · Resource Index
- 10
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25.4:1
- large classes for California
- 72.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Monte Bella Elementary has class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Monte Bella Elementary ranks #32 of 39 elementary schools in Salinas, CA.
School address
District: Alisal Union · California
NCES ID 060195013182 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
+30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Monte Bella Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Monte Bella Elementary
Monte Bella Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Salinas, California, enrolling 812 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 25.4:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 72.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 812 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 1,538 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #1,392, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (97% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 7/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 812 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 36.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Salinas's elementary schools, it stands alongside Sherwood Elementary (859 students): Monte Bella Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (25.4:1 vs 22:1).
Alisal Union also operates Fremont Elementary (711 students) and Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary (646 students) alongside Monte Bella 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 Monte Bella Elementary compares
Monte Bella 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 | 25.4:1 | ▲ 18% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.4% | ▲ 30% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 812 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.4:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
812
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
25.4:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 82% in California - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
36.7%
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
$15,875
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 812 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 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 96.7%
Asian 1.7%
Two or More 0.9%
White 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 96.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.5, Monte Bella Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alisal Union, which includes Monte Bella Elementary.
$15,875
Per student
-4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 17.0%
State 69.9%
Federal 13.1%
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 Monte Bella Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Frank Paul Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cesar E. Chavez Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Alisal Community | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Monte Bella Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 646
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 638
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 628
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 591
- Students per teacher
- 28.1:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar elementary schools in Salinas
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sherwood Elementary
Standard public school
859 students 22:1 students per teacher
Henry F. Kammann Elementary
Standard public school
743 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Fremont Elementary
Standard public school
711 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Natividad Elementary
Standard public school
705 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Mission Park Elementary
Standard public school
657 students 27.4:1 students per teacher
Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary
Standard public school
646 students 21.5:1 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 (~812 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Monte Bella Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Monte Bella Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Alisal Union'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 Monte Bella Elementary
How many students attend Monte Bella Elementary?
Monte Bella Elementary has 812 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Salinas, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Monte Bella Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Monte Bella Elementary is 25.4:1, which is 18% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 62% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Monte Bella Elementary?
72.4% of students at Monte Bella Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Monte Bella Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Monte Bella Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 96.7% of enrollment, in Salinas, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Monte Bella Elementary?
Monte Bella Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 10/100 (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 Monte Bella Elementary rank among elementary schools in Salinas?
By Resource Investment Index, Monte Bella Elementary ranks #32 of 39 elementary schools in Salinas, 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 Salinas on the city page.
Is Monte Bella Elementary a good school?
Monte Bella Elementary earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Alisal Union?
Besides Monte Bella Elementary, Alisal Union also operates Fremont Elementary (711 students), Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary (646 students), and Frank Paul Elementary (638 students). See the Alisal Union 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.