Enrollment
341
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lemon Grove, CA
Monterey Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Monterey Heights Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062133002551
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Monterey Heights Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 83% of California schools.
- #1 of 6
- elementary schools in Lemon Grove · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.1:1
- small classes for California
- 54.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Monterey Heights Elementary has class sizes smaller than 83% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Monterey Heights Elementary ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Lemon Grove, CA.
School address
District: Lemon Grove · California
NCES ID 062133002551 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
54.0%
vs 55.5% California avg
-3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Monterey Heights Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Monterey Heights Elementary
Monterey Heights Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Lemon Grove, California, enrolling 341 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 17.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 54.0% lands close to the California typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 341 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,166 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #843, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (68%) and Two or More (9%) (diversity index 52/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 51.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Lemon Grove's elementary schools, it stands alongside San Miguel Elementary (435 students): Monterey Heights Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.1:1 vs 21.8:1).
Lemon Grove also operates Vista La Mesa Academy (518 students) and Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities (516 students) alongside Monterey Heights 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 Monterey Heights Elementary compares
Monterey Heights 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 | 17.1:1 | ▼ 20% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.0% | ▼ 3% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 341 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
341
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
54.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 17% in California - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
51.0%
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
$17,124
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
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
3
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 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 67.7%
Two or More 9.4%
African American 7.9%
White 7.6%
Asian 5.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.8, Monterey Heights Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lemon Grove, which includes Monterey Heights Elementary.
$17,124
Per student
+4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.1%
State 58.9%
Federal 14.9%
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 Monterey Heights Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista La Mesa Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| San Miguel Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lemon Grove Academy Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mt. Vernon | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Monterey Heights Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 518
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 399
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 6/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
Similar elementary schools in Lemon Grove
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
San Miguel Elementary
Standard public school
435 students 21.8:1 students per teacher
Lemon Grove Academy Elementary
Standard public school
399 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Mt. Vernon
Standard public school
359 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
San Altos Elementary
Standard public school
338 students 18.8:1 students per teacher
Lemon Grove Early Childhood Education Center
Standard public school
142 students 35.5:1 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 (~341 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Monterey Heights Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Monterey Heights Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Lemon Grove'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 Monterey Heights Elementary
How many students attend Monterey Heights Elementary?
Monterey Heights Elementary has 341 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lemon Grove, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Monterey Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Monterey Heights Elementary is 17.1:1, which is 20% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 9% higher 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 Monterey Heights Elementary?
54.0% of students at Monterey Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Monterey Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Monterey Heights Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 67.7% of enrollment, in Lemon Grove, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Monterey Heights Elementary?
Monterey Heights Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Monterey Heights Elementary rank among elementary schools in Lemon Grove?
By Resource Investment Index, Monterey Heights Elementary ranks #1 of 6 elementary schools in Lemon Grove, 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 Lemon Grove on the city page.
Is Monterey Heights Elementary a good school?
Monterey Heights Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 83% 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 Lemon Grove?
Besides Monterey Heights Elementary, Lemon Grove also operates Vista La Mesa Academy (518 students), Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities (516 students), and San Miguel Elementary (435 students). See the Lemon Grove 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.