- Enrollment
- 1,592
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · La Puente, CA
Sparks Middle
Federal NCES profile for Sparks Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 061632502064
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sparks Middle earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #10 of 27
- public schools in La Puente · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 40:1
- large classes for California
- 70.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Sparks Middle has class sizes larger than 99% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sparks Middle ranks #10 of 27 public schools in La Puente, CA.
School address
District: Hacienda La Puente Unified · California
NCES ID 061632502064 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Sparks Middle shrank from 351 students in 2022-23 to 320 in 2023-24 (-8.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 15.7 → 14.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-31 students YoY 061632502064 · La Puente, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
600 enr · 40:1 · 70.7% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Los Altos High (1,592 students)
Sparks Middle shrank from 351 students in 2022-23 to 320 in 2023-24 (-8.8%). Teacher FTE lost 15.7 → 14.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Sparks Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Los Altos High
Los Altos High
1,592 students
- Glen a. Wilson
Glen a. Wilson High
1,456 students
- Mesa Robles
Mesa Robles
1,246 students
- Cedarlane Acad
Cedarlane Academy
878 students
- La Puente High
La Puente High
813 students
- This school 600
Sparks Middle
600 students
What this shows Sparks Middle reports 600 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sparks Middle compares
Sparks Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 40:1 | ▲ 86% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.7% | ▲ 27% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 600 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
40:1
Leaner classes than 1% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
600
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% 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
40:1
students per teacher
- 86% above state mean
Top 99% in California - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
28.5%
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
$17,407
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
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
5
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 92.2%
Asian 5.0%
Two or More 1.5%
White 1.0%
African American 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 92.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.7, Sparks Middle is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Hacienda La Puente Unified reports $17,407 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sparks Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Altos High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Glen a. Wilson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mesa Robles | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cedarlane Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| La Puente High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sparks Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,456
- Students per teacher
- 24.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,246
- Students per teacher
- 29:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 32.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 813
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in La Puente
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~600 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sparks Middle
How many students attend Sparks Middle?
Sparks Middle has 600 students enrolled. It is a middle school in La Puente, CA. CCD year-over-year: 351 (2022-23) → 320 (2023-24), down 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sparks Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Sparks Middle is 40:1, which is 86% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 155% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sparks Middle?
70.7% of students at Sparks Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sparks Middle?
The largest demographic group at Sparks Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 92.2% of enrollment, in La Puente, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sparks Middle?
Sparks Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sparks Middle rank among public schools in La Puente?
By Resource Investment Index, Sparks Middle ranks #10 of 27 public schools in La Puente, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in La Puente on the city page.
What other schools are in Hacienda La Puente Unified?
Besides Sparks Middle, Hacienda La Puente Unified also operates Los Altos High (1,592 students), Glen a. Wilson High (1,456 students), and Mesa Robles (1,246 students). See the Hacienda La Puente Unified district page for the complete list.