Enrollment
216
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)
Federal NCES profile for Santa Monica Alternative (K-8), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063570007360
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 88% of California schools.
- #8 of 8
- elementary schools in Santa Monica · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.4:1
- small classes for California
- 15.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) has class sizes smaller than 88% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) ranks #8 of 8 elementary schools in Santa Monica, CA.
School address
District: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified · California
NCES ID 063570007360 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
15.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
-72% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Santa Monica, California, enrolling 216 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 15.4:1, Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) is leaner than roughly 88% of California schools and 28% under the state's 21.5:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 15.4% free-meal eligibility runs 72% below the California average.
Enrollment of 216 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 171 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #131, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and Hispanic or Latino (16%) (diversity index 63/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Santa Monica's elementary schools, it stands alongside Franklin Elementary (597 students): Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.4:1 vs 22.1:1).
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified also operates Santa Monica High (2,588 students) and Lincoln Middle (914 students) alongside Santa Monica Alternative (K-8).
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 Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) compares
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 28% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.4% | ▼ 72% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 216 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
216
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
15.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 12% in California - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.8%
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
$19,713
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 + 1 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
White 56.5%
Hispanic or Latino 15.7%
Two or More 14.8%
Asian 8.8%
African American 4.2%
Largest group: White at 56.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.5, Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, which includes Santa Monica Alternative (K-8).
$19,713
Per student
+19%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 85.5%
State 8.6%
Federal 5.9%
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 Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Adams Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Franklin Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grant Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,588
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 914
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 806
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 562
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Santa Monica
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Franklin Elementary
Standard public school
597 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Grant Elementary
Standard public school
562 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Elementary
Standard public school
552 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Will Rogers Elementary
Standard public school
522 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Edison Elementary
Standard public school
404 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Canyon Charter Elementary
Standard public school
391 students 23:1 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 (~216 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)'s federal record.
- Compare Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) against another school. Compare schools
- Santa Monica-Malibu 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 Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)
How many students attend Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)?
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) has 216 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Santa Monica, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) is 15.4:1, which is 28% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 2% lower 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 Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)?
15.4% of students at Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)?
The largest demographic group at Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) is White at 56.5% of enrollment, in Santa Monica, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)?
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) rank among elementary schools in Santa Monica?
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) ranks #8 of 8 elementary schools in Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica on the city page.
Is Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) a good school?
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 88% 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 Santa Monica-Malibu Unified?
Besides Santa Monica Alternative (K-8), Santa Monica-Malibu Unified also operates Santa Monica High (2,588 students), Lincoln Middle (914 students), and John Adams Middle (806 students). See the Santa Monica-Malibu 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.