Enrollment
690
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Huntington Beach, CA
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle
Federal NCES profile for Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 061422001634
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #5 of 7
- middle schools in Huntington Beach · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.3:1
- students per teacher
- 18.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle ranks #5 of 7 middle schools in Huntington Beach, CA.
School address
District: Fountain Valley Elementary · California
NCES ID 061422001634 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.3:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
18.7%
vs 55.5% California avg
-66% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle is a lower-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Huntington Beach, California, enrolling 690 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 20.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 18.7% free-meal eligibility runs 66% below the California average.
Enrollment of 690 puts it in the larger third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,235 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #562.
Its student body is led by White (47%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 690 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Fountain Valley Elementary spends $12,548 per pupil, 24% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Huntington Beach's middle schools, it stands alongside Helen Stacey Middle (947 students): Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (20.3:1 vs 23.1:1).
Fountain Valley Elementary also operates Masuda (Kazuo) Middle (768 students) and Fulton (Harry C.) Middle (753 students) alongside Talbert (Samuel E.) 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 Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle compares
Talbert (Samuel E.) 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 | 20.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.7% | ▼ 66% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 690 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.3:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
690
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
18.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% 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
20.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 37% in California - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,548
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 690 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.0 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
White 47.1%
Hispanic or Latino 22.6%
Asian 17.1%
Two or More 12.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
African American 0.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 47.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.2, Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fountain Valley Elementary, which includes Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle.
$12,548
Per student
-24%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 55.4%
State 38.8%
Federal 5.8%
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 Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masuda (Kazuo) Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fulton (Harry C.) Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Courreges (Roch) Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cox (James H.) Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Newland (William T.) Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 607
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar middle schools in Huntington Beach
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Helen Stacey Middle
Standard public school
947 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Ethel Dwyer Middle
Standard public school
884 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Mesa View Middle
Standard public school
817 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Isaac L. Sowers Middle
Standard public school
771 students 22.7:1 students per teacher
Marine View Middle
Standard public school
736 students 32:1 students per teacher
Spring View Middle
Standard public school
487 students 19.5:1 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 (~690 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle's federal record.
- Compare Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Fountain Valley Elementary'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 Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle
How many students attend Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle?
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle has 690 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Huntington Beach, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle is 20.3:1, which is 6% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 29% 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 Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle?
18.7% of students at Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle?
The largest demographic group at Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle is White at 47.1% of enrollment, in Huntington Beach, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle?
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle rank among middle schools in Huntington Beach?
By Resource Investment Index, Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle ranks #5 of 7 middle schools in Huntington Beach, 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 Huntington Beach on the city page.
Is Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle a good school?
Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. 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 Fountain Valley Elementary?
Besides Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle, Fountain Valley Elementary also operates Masuda (Kazuo) Middle (768 students), Fulton (Harry C.) Middle (753 students), and Courreges (Roch) Elementary (631 students). See the Fountain Valley Elementary 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.