Enrollment
917
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Monterey Park, CA
Monterey Highlands Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Monterey Highlands Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060015310941
👥 S:T ratio 1
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Monterey Highlands Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of California schools.
- #2 of 8
- elementary schools in Monterey Park · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.8:1
- large classes for California
- 31.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Monterey Highlands Elementary has class sizes larger than 78% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Monterey Highlands Elementary ranks #2 of 8 elementary schools in Monterey Park, CA.
School address
District: Alhambra Unified · California
NCES ID 060015310941 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
-44% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Monterey Highlands Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Monterey Highlands Elementary
Monterey Highlands Elementary is a large elementary school in Monterey Park, California, enrolling 917 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.8:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 917 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 984 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #37, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Asian (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%) (diversity index 55/100).
10.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Monterey Park's elementary schools, it stands alongside Brightwood Elementary (804 students): Monterey Highlands Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (24.8:1 vs 26.8:1).
Alhambra Unified also operates Mark Keppel High (2,201 students) and Alhambra High (2,056 students) alongside Monterey Highlands 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 Highlands Elementary compares
Monterey Highlands 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 | 24.8:1 | ▲ 15% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.3% | ▼ 44% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 917 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.8:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
917
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24.8:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 78% in California - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
10.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$16,930
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
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 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
Asian 57.7%
Hispanic or Latino 33.7%
Two or More 5.8%
White 2.3%
African American 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 57.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.0, Monterey Highlands Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alhambra Unified, which includes Monterey Highlands Elementary.
$16,930
Per student
+3%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+2%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.5%
State 63.4%
Federal 14.1%
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 Monterey Highlands Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Keppel High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Alhambra High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Gabriel High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Martha Baldwin Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William Northrup Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Monterey Highlands Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,201
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 2,056
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,761
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 923
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 814
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Monterey Park
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Brightwood Elementary
Standard public school
804 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
Repetto Elementary
Standard public school
739 students 28.4:1 students per teacher
Ynez Elementary
Standard public school
695 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
Monterey Vista Elementary
Standard public school
542 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Bella Vista Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Hillcrest Elementary
Standard public school
439 students 23.1:1 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 (~917 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Monterey Highlands Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Monterey Highlands Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Alhambra 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 Monterey Highlands Elementary
How many students attend Monterey Highlands Elementary?
Monterey Highlands Elementary has 917 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Monterey Park, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Monterey Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Monterey Highlands Elementary is 24.8:1, which is 15% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 58% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Monterey Highlands Elementary?
31.3% of students at Monterey Highlands Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Monterey Highlands Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Monterey Highlands Elementary is Asian at 57.7% of enrollment, in Monterey Park, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Monterey Highlands Elementary?
Monterey Highlands Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 Highlands Elementary rank among elementary schools in Monterey Park?
By Resource Investment Index, Monterey Highlands Elementary ranks #2 of 8 elementary schools in Monterey Park, 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 Monterey Park on the city page.
Is Monterey Highlands Elementary a good school?
Monterey Highlands Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% 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 Alhambra Unified?
Besides Monterey Highlands Elementary, Alhambra Unified also operates Mark Keppel High (2,201 students), Alhambra High (2,056 students), and San Gabriel High (1,761 students). See the Alhambra 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.