Enrollment
384
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · San Fernando, CA
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media
Federal NCES profile for San Fernando Institute of Applied Media, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 062271013108
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in San Fernando · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.2:1
- small classes for California
- 90.0%
- free-lunch eligible
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media has class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, San Fernando Institute of Applied Media ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in San Fernando, CA.
School address
District: Los Angeles Unified · California
NCES ID 062271013108 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
90.0%
vs 55.5% California avg
+62% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How San Fernando Institute of Applied Media compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at San Fernando Institute of Applied Media
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in San Fernando, California, enrolling 384 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 19.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 90.0% of students qualify for free meals, 62% above the California average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 384 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,210 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #65, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (95% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 10/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Los Angeles Unified spends $21,940 per pupil, 33% above the California average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among San Fernando's middle schools, it stands alongside San Fernando Middle (442 students): San Fernando Institute of Applied Media is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.2:1 vs 13.8:1).
Los Angeles Unified also operates Grover Cleveland Charter High (2,719 students) and North Hollywood Senior High (2,444 students) alongside San Fernando Institute of Applied Media.
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 San Fernando Institute of Applied Media compares
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▼ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 90.0% | ▲ 62% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 384 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
384
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
90.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 29% in California - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.5%
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
$21,940
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially 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 + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 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 95.1%
White 1.8%
African American 1.6%
Two or More 1.0%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 95.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.5, San Fernando Institute of Applied Media is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Los Angeles Unified, which includes San Fernando Institute of Applied Media.
$21,940
Per student
+33%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 26.3%
State 54.5%
Federal 19.2%
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 San Fernando Institute of Applied Media Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grover Cleveland Charter High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Hollywood Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Phineas Banning Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Pedro Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Venice Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to San Fernando Institute of Applied Media's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,719
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,444
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,422
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,398
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,293
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar middle schools in San Fernando
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~384 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on San Fernando Institute of Applied Media's federal record.
- Compare San Fernando Institute of Applied Media against another school. Compare schools
- Los Angeles 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 San Fernando Institute of Applied Media
How many students attend San Fernando Institute of Applied Media?
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media has 384 students enrolled. It is a middle school in San Fernando, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Fernando Institute of Applied Media?
The student-teacher ratio at San Fernando Institute of Applied Media is 19.2:1, which is 11% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 22% 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 San Fernando Institute of Applied Media?
90.0% of students at San Fernando Institute of Applied Media are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of San Fernando Institute of Applied Media?
The largest demographic group at San Fernando Institute of Applied Media is Hispanic or Latino at 95.1% of enrollment, in San Fernando, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for San Fernando Institute of Applied Media?
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 San Fernando Institute of Applied Media rank among middle schools in San Fernando?
By Resource Investment Index, San Fernando Institute of Applied Media ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in San Fernando, 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 San Fernando on the city page.
Is San Fernando Institute of Applied Media a good school?
San Fernando Institute of Applied Media earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 71% 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 Los Angeles Unified?
Besides San Fernando Institute of Applied Media, Los Angeles Unified also operates Grover Cleveland Charter High (2,719 students), North Hollywood Senior High (2,444 students), and Phineas Banning Senior High (2,422 students). See the Los Angeles 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.