Public schools in Monterey, CA
5 open public schools with an address in Monterey, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,356
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
22.9:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Monterey public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Monterey, CA: 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,356 students, an average of 671 per school. The largest campus is Monterey High (1,401 students), and the largest elementary school is La Mesa (689).
Monterey Peninsula Unified operates the most schools here (3), plus 2 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 22.9:1, 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 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 50% 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 Monterey
Elementary schools in Monterey
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay View Academy Bay View Academy District · Charter | KG–08 | 477 | 22.7:1 | |
| La Mesa Monterey Peninsula Unified | KG–08 | 689 | 23.4:1 | |
| Monte Vista Monterey Peninsula Unified | KG–08 | 688 | 23.7:1 |
High schools in Monterey
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey High Monterey Peninsula Unified | 09–12 | 1,401 | 22.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Monterey
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sur Charter Big Sur Charter District · Charter | KG–12 | 101 | 20.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White34.8%
- Hispanic43.5%
- Black4.3%
- Asian7.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander1.3%
- Multiracial7.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Monterey schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,356 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Monterey
How many public schools are in Monterey, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Monterey: 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,356 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Monterey?
Schools with an address in Monterey belong to 3 education agencies, led by Monterey Peninsula Unified (3 schools), Bay View Academy District (1 school), Big Sur Charter District (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 Monterey?
Monterey High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Monterey, with 1,401 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Monterey?
Yes. 2 of the 5 public schools in Monterey are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Bay View Academy, Big Sur Charter. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Monterey schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Monterey public schools is 22.9:1, 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 Monterey 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