- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · La Mesa, CA
Vista La Mesa Academy
Federal NCES profile for Vista La Mesa Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062133002556
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vista La Mesa Academy earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #3 of 12
- elementary schools in La Mesa · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.6:1
- students per teacher
- 55.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Vista La Mesa Academy has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vista La Mesa Academy ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in La Mesa, CA.
School address
District: Lemon Grove · California
NCES ID 062133002556 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-60 students YoY
Vista La Mesa Academy shrank from 591 students in 2022-23 to 531 in 2023-24 (-10.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.1 → 22.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-60 students YoY 062133002556 · La Mesa, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
518 enr · 21.6:1 · 55.5% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities (516 students)
Vista La Mesa Academy shrank from 591 students in 2022-23 to 531 in 2023-24 (-10.2%). Teacher FTE lost 24.1 → 22.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Vista La Mesa Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Vista La Mesa Academy
518 students
- Lemon Grove Ac
Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities
516 students
- San Miguel Ele
San Miguel Elementary
435 students
- Lemon Grove Ac
Lemon Grove Academy Elementary
399 students
- Mt. Vernon
Mt. Vernon
359 students
- Monterey Heigh
Monterey Heights Elementary
341 students
What this shows Vista La Mesa Academy reports 518 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vista La Mesa Academy compares
Vista La Mesa Academy 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 | 21.6:1 | ▲ 0% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 55.5% | ▼ 0% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 518 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.6:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
518
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
55.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 0% 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
21.6:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 49% in California - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
64.1%
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
$19,109
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
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
12
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 62.7%
African American 14.5%
White 9.8%
Asian 7.5%
Two or More 3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 62.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Vista La Mesa Academy is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lemon Grove reports $19,109 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vista La Mesa Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Miguel Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lemon Grove Academy Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mt. Vernon | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Monterey Heights Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vista La Mesa Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 399
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 6/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 10/100
- Enrollment
- 341
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Similar elementary schools in La Mesa
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
La Mesa Arts Academy
Standard public school
1,059 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Murdock Elementary
Standard public school
608 students 27.6:1 students per teacher
Avocado Elementary
Standard public school
573 students 24.9:1 students per teacher
Murray Manor Elementary
Standard public school
530 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Lemon Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
La Mesa Dale Elementary
Standard public school
460 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~518 students)
Frequently asked questions about Vista La Mesa Academy
How many students attend Vista La Mesa Academy?
Vista La Mesa Academy has 518 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in La Mesa, CA. CCD year-over-year: 591 (2022-23) → 531 (2023-24), down 60.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista La Mesa Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Vista La Mesa Academy is 21.6:1, which is 0% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Vista La Mesa Academy?
55.5% of students at Vista La Mesa Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vista La Mesa Academy?
The largest demographic group at Vista La Mesa Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 62.7% of enrollment, in La Mesa, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vista La Mesa Academy?
Vista La Mesa Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Vista La Mesa Academy rank among elementary schools in La Mesa?
By Resource Investment Index, Vista La Mesa Academy ranks #3 of 12 elementary schools in La Mesa, 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 La Mesa on the city page.
What other schools are in Lemon Grove?
Besides Vista La Mesa Academy, Lemon Grove also operates Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities (516 students), San Miguel Elementary (435 students), and Lemon Grove Academy Elementary (399 students). See the Lemon Grove district page for the complete list.