Very Good
#3126 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 33% in state
La Mesa
Elementary School · Monterey Peninsula Unified · Monterey, CA
A Monterey Peninsula Unified elementary school where students score 3 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1 La Mesa Way, Monterey, CA 93940
- Math 50% vs CA 37% (2024)
- Reading 58% vs CA 46% (2024)
- 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at La Mesa score 55% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 13 points since 2018, to 54% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 36 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
40.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where La Mesa sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 7Car-Dependent
- Transit 22Minimal Transit
- Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,185/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Monterey), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$110,669
Median home value
$1,039,700
Median rent
$2,305/mo
College educated
54.3%
Homeownership
43%
Poverty rate
9.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93940; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Catalina SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.5private | PK–12 | 0.9 mi | 456 | Compare → |
| San Carlos ElementaryPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 1.3 mi | 269 | Compare → |
| San Carlos SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | K–8 | 1.3 mi | 274 | Compare → |
| Bay View AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.2 | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 497 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Monterey Peninsula Unified
- Schools in district
- 20
- Rank in district
- #5 of 16
- District spending per student
- $17,521NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
La Mesa is listed in Monterey Peninsula Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About La Mesa
La Mesa is a public elementary school in Monterey, CA, part of Monterey Peninsula Unified, serving approximately 654 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #3,126 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about La Mesa
What grades does La Mesa serve?
La Mesa serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend La Mesa?
La Mesa has an enrollment of approximately 654 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Mesa?
The student-teacher ratio at La Mesa is 22.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does La Mesa rank in CA?
La Mesa ranks #3,126 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is La Mesa's MySchoolScout rating?
La Mesa has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at La Mesa?
Based on loaded state assessment records, La Mesa has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is La Mesa a charter school?
No, La Mesa is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is La Mesa a Title I school?
No, La Mesa is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for La Mesa?
40.2% of students at La Mesa qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 654
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Monterey County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.8%
- Phone
- (831) 649-1872
- Area population (ZIP 93940)
- 30,951
- Area average commute
- 19.6 min
- Area median age
- 42.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 93940; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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