Enrollment
929
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · El Cajon, CA
Montgomery Middle
Federal NCES profile for Montgomery Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 060681000622
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Montgomery Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 6
- middle schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.4:1
- large classes for California
- 78.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Montgomery Middle has class sizes larger than 75% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Montgomery Middle ranks #6 of 6 middle schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
District: Cajon Valley Union · California
NCES ID 060681000622 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
24.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
78.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
+41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Montgomery Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Montgomery Middle
Montgomery Middle is a high-poverty, large middle school in El Cajon, California, enrolling 929 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 24.4:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 78.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 929 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,143 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #245.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 310 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among El Cajon's middle schools, it stands alongside Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students): Montgomery Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (24.4:1 vs 23.5:1).
Cajon Valley Union also operates Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students) and Naranca Elementary (985 students) alongside Montgomery Middle.
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 Montgomery Middle compares
Montgomery Middle on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.4:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.1% | ▲ 41% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 929 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.4:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
929
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
78.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
24.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 75% in California - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
33.3%
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
$17,179
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 310 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
105
in-school suspensions + 80 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.9 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
White 47.0%
Hispanic or Latino 31.1%
Asian 9.4%
Two or More 5.8%
African American 5.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 47.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.7, Montgomery Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cajon Valley Union, which includes Montgomery Middle.
$17,179
Per student
+4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.3%
State 58.5%
Federal 13.2%
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 Montgomery Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Naranca Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cajon Valley Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lexington Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Johnson Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Montgomery Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,481
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 985
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 942
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 28.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Similar middle schools in El Cajon
5 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Hillsdale Middle
Standard public school
1,481 students 23.5:1 students per teacher
Cajon Valley Middle
Standard public school
942 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Greenfield Middle
Standard public school
730 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Los Coches Creek Middle
Standard public school
518 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Eje Middle Academy
Standard public school
254 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~929 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Montgomery Middle's federal record.
- Compare Montgomery Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Cajon Valley 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 Montgomery Middle
How many students attend Montgomery Middle?
Montgomery Middle has 929 students enrolled. It is a middle school in El Cajon, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Montgomery Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Montgomery Middle is 24.4:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Montgomery Middle?
78.1% of students at Montgomery Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Montgomery Middle?
The largest demographic group at Montgomery Middle is White at 47.0% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Montgomery Middle?
Montgomery Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical 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 Montgomery Middle rank among middle schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, Montgomery Middle ranks #6 of 6 middle 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 middle schools in El Cajon on the city page.
Is Montgomery Middle a good school?
Montgomery Middle earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of California schools. It is also more 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 Cajon Valley Union?
Besides Montgomery Middle, Cajon Valley Union also operates Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students), Naranca Elementary (985 students), and Cajon Valley Middle (942 students). See the Cajon Valley 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.