Public schools in La Mesa, CA
16 open public schools with an address in La Mesa, operated by 8 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
11,963
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
24.3:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of La Mesa public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in La Mesa, CA: 10 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 11,963 students, an average of 748 per school. The largest campus is Helix High (2,554 students), and the largest elementary school is Murdock Elementary (608).
La Mesa-Spring Valley operates the most schools here (9), and 4 regular districts have at least one La Mesa campus, plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 24.3:1, higher than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 59% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving La Mesa
La Mesa-Spring Valley
Public school district
9 schools in La Mesa · 21 total
Cajon Valley Union
Public school district
1 school in La Mesa · 26 total
Grossmont Union High
Public school district
1 school in La Mesa · 14 total
Helix High District
Independent charter agency
1 school in La Mesa
JCS - Manzanita District
Independent charter agency
1 school in La Mesa
Lemon Grove
Public school district
1 school in La Mesa · 8 total
Sparrow Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in La Mesa
The Learning Choice Academy - East County District
Independent charter agency
1 school in La Mesa
Elementary schools in La Mesa
10| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado Elementary Cajon Valley Union | KG–05 | 573 | 25.1:1 | |
| La Mesa Dale Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 460 | 26.3:1 | |
| Lemon Avenue Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 502 | 27.9:1 | |
| Maryland Avenue Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 451 | 23.7:1 | |
| Murdock Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 608 | 24.3:1 | |
| Murray Manor Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 530 | 25.2:1 | |
| Northmont Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 422 | 24.8:1 | |
| Rolando Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley | KG–05 | 371 | 28.5:1 | |
| Sparrow Academy Sparrow Academy District · Charter | KG–05 | 156 | 22.3:1 | |
| Vista La Mesa Academy Lemon Grove | KG–08 | 518 | 24.3:1 |
Middle schools in La Mesa
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa Arts Academy La Mesa-Spring Valley | 06–08 | 1,059 | 20.7:1 | |
| Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy La Mesa-Spring Valley | 06–08 | 897 | 18.1:1 |
High schools in La Mesa
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grossmont High Grossmont Union High | 09–12 | 2,172 | 24.3:1 | |
| Helix High Helix High District · Charter | 09–12 | 2,554 | 23.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in La Mesa
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JCS - Manzanita JCS - Manzanita District · Charter | KG–12 | 224 | 14.8:1 | |
| The Learning Choice Academy - East County The Learning Choice Academy - East County District · Charter | KG–12 | 466 | 21.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White31.1%
- Hispanic44.7%
- Black7.9%
- Asian5.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial9.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 La Mesa schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (11,963 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in La Mesa
How many public schools are in La Mesa, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in La Mesa: 10 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 11,963 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve La Mesa?
Schools with an address in La Mesa belong to 8 education agencies, led by La Mesa-Spring Valley (9 schools), Cajon Valley Union (1 school), Grossmont Union High (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in La Mesa?
Helix High reported the largest high-school enrollment in La Mesa, with 2,554 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in La Mesa?
Yes. 4 of the 16 public schools in La Mesa are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Helix High, JCS - Manzanita, Sparrow Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in La Mesa schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across La Mesa public schools is 24.3:1, higher than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in La Mesa guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities