Enrollment
96
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Salinas, CA
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study
Federal NCES profile for North Monterey County Center for Independent Study, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 062759009412
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 87% of California schools.
- #7 of 7
- schools in Salinas · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16:1
- small classes for California
- 67.3%
- free-lunch eligible
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study has class sizes smaller than 87% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Monterey County Center for Independent Study ranks #7 of 7 schools in Salinas, CA.
School address
District: North Monterey County Unified · California
NCES ID 062759009412 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
6.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
+21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Monterey County Center for Independent Study compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Monterey County Center for Independent Study
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study is a higher-need, small combined-grade school in Salinas, California, enrolling 96 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 16:1, North Monterey County Center for Independent Study is leaner than roughly 87% of California schools and 26% under the state's 21.5:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 96 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 263 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #220, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (80%) and White (19%) (diversity index 33/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 85.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Salinas's public schools, it stands alongside El Puente (326 students): North Monterey County Center for Independent Study is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16:1 vs 18.1:1).
North Monterey County Unified also operates North Monterey County High (1,250 students) and Prunedale Elementary (644 students) alongside North Monterey County Center for Independent Study.
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 North Monterey County Center for Independent Study compares
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▼ 26% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.3% | ▲ 21% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 96 | top 90% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
96
Bigger than 10% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
16:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 13% in California - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
85.4%
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
$18,705
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 79.8%
White 19.1%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 79.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.7, North Monterey County Center for Independent Study is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for North Monterey County Unified, which includes North Monterey County Center for Independent Study.
$18,705
Per student
+13%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.2%
State 55.2%
Federal 13.6%
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 North Monterey County Center for Independent Study Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Monterey County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Prunedale Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Monterey County Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Castroville Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Elkhorn Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Monterey County Center for Independent Study's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,250
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 624
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 600
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
Similar other schools in Salinas
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
El Puente
Alternative education program
326 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Monterey County Special Education
Special-education school
274 students 7:1 students per teacher
Monterey County Home Charter
Standard public school
255 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Salinas Community
Alternative education program
101 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Wellington M. Smith Jr.
Alternative education program
50 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative education program
18 students 18:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~96 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Monterey County Center for Independent Study's federal record.
- Compare North Monterey County Center for Independent Study against another school. Compare schools
- North Monterey County 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 North Monterey County Center for Independent Study
How many students attend North Monterey County Center for Independent Study?
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study has 96 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Salinas, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Monterey County Center for Independent Study?
The student-teacher ratio at North Monterey County Center for Independent Study is 16:1, which is 26% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 2% 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 North Monterey County Center for Independent Study?
67.3% of students at North Monterey County Center for Independent Study are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Monterey County Center for Independent Study?
The largest demographic group at North Monterey County Center for Independent Study is Hispanic or Latino at 79.8% of enrollment, in Salinas, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Monterey County Center for Independent Study?
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (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 North Monterey County Center for Independent Study rank among schools in Salinas?
By Resource Investment Index, North Monterey County Center for Independent Study ranks #7 of 7 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 schools in Salinas on the city page.
Is North Monterey County Center for Independent Study a good school?
North Monterey County Center for Independent Study earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 87% 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 North Monterey County Unified?
Besides North Monterey County Center for Independent Study, North Monterey County Unified also operates North Monterey County High (1,250 students), Prunedale Elementary (644 students), and North Monterey County Middle (624 students). See the North Monterey County 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.