Vista La Mesa Academy (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2026)

3900 Violet St.
La Mesa, CA 91941

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

vlma.lemongrovesd.net

Serving 531 students in grades Kindergarten-8, Vista La Mesa Academy ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 29% (which is lower than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 31% (which is lower than the California state average of 47%).

The student-teacher ratio of 24:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.

Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: Kindergarten-8
Enrollment: 531 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1
Minority Enrollment: 89%
: Bottom 50% in CA
: 29% (Top 50%)
: 31% (Btm 50%)
: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

School Overview

Vista La Mesa Academy's student population of 531 students has declined by 21% over five school years.

The teacher population of 22 teachers has declined by 26% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-8

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Vista La Mesa Academy
Kind	66
1	58
2	56
3	58
4	53
5	52
6	59
7	53
8	76

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Total Students

531 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy
2023	591
2022	612
2021	677
2020	632
2019	632
2018	631
2017	631
2016	630
2015	659
2014	693
2013	685
2012	676
2011	677
2010	528
2009	557
2008	387
2007	476
2006	495
2005	525
2004	548
2003	582
2002	595
2001	602
2000	602
1999	684
1998	612
1997	437
1996	449
1995	446
1994	411
1993	413
1992	418
1991	434
1990	410
1989	385
1988	340
1987	365

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

22 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy
2023	24
2022	25
2021	30
2020	25
2019	25
2018	26
2017	26
2016	25
2015	27
2014	26
2013	28
2012	25
2010	21
2009	24
2008	28
2007	22
2006	23
2005	28
2004	29
2003	34
2002	35
2001	32
2000	34
1999	37
1998	35
1997	27
1996	18
1995	19
1994	19
1993	19
1992	19
1991	19
1990	17

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Year Founded

1949

School Rankings

Vista La Mesa Academy ranks within the bottom 50% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Vista La Mesa Academy is 0.61, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (CA)

#5826 out of 9523 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy
2023	#5826
2022	#6319
2019	#5257
2018	#5400
2017	#5066
2016	#5363
2015	#6451
2014	#1043
2013	#5376
2012	#6390
2011	#7018

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29%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	29%	34%	24%
2022	22%	33%	21%
2019	32%	40%	34%
2018	32%	39%	35%
2017	34%	38%	33%
2016	27%	37%	31%
2015	19%	34%	27%
2014	50%	63%	49%
2013	53%	59%	54%
2012	51%	59%	55%
2011	47%	58%	53%

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31%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2022	31%	47%	33%
2019	45%	51%	46%
2018	41%	50%	35%
2017	39%	48%	40%
2016	41%	48%	41%
2015	26%	44%	35%
2014	50%	58%	80%
2013	49%	57%	49%
2012	49%	58%	51%
2011	44%	56%	48%
2010	38%	54%	47%

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15-19%

29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

24:1

21:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	25:1	22:1	19:1
2022	24:1	21:1	19:1
2021	23:1	22:1	19:1
2020	25:1	23:1	20:1
2019	25:1	23:1	20:1
2018	24:1	23:1	21:1
2017	24:1	23:1	21:1
2016	25:1	24:1	21:1
2015	24:1	24:1	22:1
2014	27:1	24:1	26:1
2013	24:1	24:1	26:1
2012	27:1	23:1	27:1
2010	25:1	21:1	24:1
2009	23:1	20:1	23:1
2008	14:1	18:1	15:1
2007	22:1	21:1	21:1
2006	22:1	20:1	22:1
2005	19:1	21:1	21:1
2004	19:1	21:1	21:1
2003	17:1	20:1	20:1
2002	17:1	20:1	20:1
2001	19:1	20:1	20:1
2000	18:1	21:1	20:1
1999	18:1	21:1	20:1
1998	17:1	21:1	19:1
1997	16:1	23:1	20:1
1996	25:1	25:1	24:1
1995	23:1	25:1	24:1
1994	22:1	25:1	23:1
1993	22:1	25:1	23:1
1992	22:1	24:1	23:1
1991	23:1	24:1	23:1
1990	24:1	24:1	23:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	1%	1%	1%
2022	1%	1%
2020	2%	1%	2%
2019	2%	1%	2%
2012	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2008	2%	1%	1%
2007	3%	2%	2%
2006	1%	1%	2%
2005	2%	2%	1%
2004	1%	2%	2%
2003	1%	2%	2%
2002	3%	2%	2%

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Asian

12%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	9%	12%	6%
2022	10%	12%	7%
2021	10%	12%	6%
2020	9%	12%	6%
2019	9%	12%	6%
2018	8%	11%	5%
2017	8%	11%	5%
2016	8%	11%	6%
2015	10%	11%	6%
2014	9%	11%	5%
2013	9%	11%	6%
2012	9%	11%	7%
2011	7%	11%	6%
2010	7%	11%	6%
2009	8%	11%	6%
2008	11%	12%	8%
2007	14%	12%	10%
2006	11%	12%	9%
2005	10%	12%	9%
2004	9%	12%	10%
2003	14%	11%	10%
2002	13%	11%	9%
2001	12%	11%	9%
2000	11%	11%	9%
1999	8%	11%	9%
1998	7%	11%	8%
1997	6%	11%	7%
1996	5%	11%	7%
1995	3%	11%	7%
1994	4%	11%	7%
1993	6%	11%	7%
1992	8%	11%	7%
1991	10%	11%	6%

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Hispanic

59%

56%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	57%	55%	64%
2022	56%	56%	62%
2021	54%	56%	62%
2020	55%	55%	61%
2019	55%	55%	61%
2018	53%	54%	61%
2017	53%	54%	61%
2016	53%	54%	62%
2015	58%	54%	61%
2014	54%	53%	59%
2013	51%	53%	58%
2012	52%	52%	58%
2011	53%	51%	57%
2010	45%	50%	56%
2009	33%	49%	47%
2008	36%	50%	50%
2007	38%	49%	47%
2006	37%	48%	42%
2005	37%	47%	41%
2004	41%	46%	38%
2003	37%	45%	36%
2002	37%	44%	34%
2001	37%	43%	32%
2000	34%	42%	30%
1999	32%	41%	29%
1998	33%	40%	29%
1997	39%	40%	29%
1996	38%	39%	27%
1995	37%	38%	25%
1994	32%	37%	24%
1993	25%	36%	24%
1992	27%	35%	26%
1991	29%	34%	24%

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Black

16%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	17%	5%	15%
2022	17%	5%	16%
2021	18%	5%	16%
2020	21%	5%	17%
2019	21%	5%	17%
2018	20%	6%	17%
2017	20%	6%	17%
2016	20%	6%	17%
2015	16%	6%	17%
2014	19%	6%	17%
2013	19%	6%	17%
2012	19%	6%	18%
2011	20%	7%	19%
2010	21%	7%	18%
2009	22%	7%	20%
2008	28%	8%	25%
2007	24%	8%	23%
2006	27%	8%	26%
2005	27%	8%	26%
2004	28%	8%	25%
2003	26%	8%	23%
2002	24%	8%	22%
2001	26%	8%	22%
2000	29%	9%	23%
1999	28%	9%	22%
1998	26%	9%	22%
1997	19%	9%	20%
1996	18%	9%	18%
1995	13%	9%	17%
1994	14%	9%	18%
1993	10%	9%	16%
1992	10%	9%	15%
1991	11%	9%	15%

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White

11%

20%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	10%	21%	8%
2022	10%	21%	9%
2021	12%	22%	9%
2020	11%	23%	9%
2019	11%	23%	9%
2018	13%	24%	11%
2017	13%	24%	11%
2016	13%	24%	10%
2015	10%	24%	11%
2014	11%	25%	11%
2013	12%	25%	12%
2012	13%	26%	12%
2011	13%	27%	13%
2010	17%	27%	14%
2009	18%	28%	15%
2008	23%	29%	16%
2007	21%	29%	18%
2006	24%	31%	21%
2005	24%	31%	23%
2004	21%	32%	25%
2003	22%	34%	29%
2002	23%	35%	33%
2001	25%	36%	35%
2000	26%	37%	37%
1999	32%	38%	40%
1998	34%	39%	40%
1997	36%	39%	43%
1996	39%	40%	47%
1995	47%	41%	50%
1994	50%	42%	51%
1993	59%	43%	53%
1992	54%	44%	52%
1991	50%	45%	55%

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Hawaiian

n/a

View Data

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2009-2014)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2014	1%	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%	1%
2010	2%	1%	2%
2009	2%	1%	2%

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Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2009-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	5%	6%	5%
2022	5%	5%	5%
2021	4%	5%	5%
2020	2%	4%	4%
2019	2%	4%	4%
2018	6%	4%	6%
2017	6%	4%	6%
2016	6%	4%	5%
2015	6%	3%	5%
2014	6%	3%	6%
2013	8%	3%	6%
2012	6%	3%	4%
2011	5%	2%	3%
2010	7%	3%	3%
2009	16%	3%	9%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.61

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	0.63	0.64	0.56
2022	0.64	0.63	0.58
2021	0.66	0.62	0.58
2020	0.64	0.63	0.59
2019	0.64	0.63	0.59
2018	0.66	0.64	0.59
2017	0.66	0.64	0.59
2016	0.66	0.64	0.58
2015	0.62	0.64	0.58
2014	0.65	0.65	0.61
2013	0.68	0.65	0.62
2012	0.67	0.65	0.62
2011	0.66	0.67	0.62
2010	0.72	0.67	0.64
2009	0.79	0.71	0.71
2008	0.73	0.65	0.66
2007	0.77	0.67	0.67
2006	0.73	0.66	0.71
2005	0.73	0.67	0.71
2004	0.71	0.67	0.72
2003	0.73	0.67	0.73
2002	0.76	0.67	0.72
2001	0.73	0.67	0.72
2000	0.73	0.67	0.72
1999	0.72	0.67	0.71
1998	0.71	0.67	0.70
1997	0.69	0.67	0.69
1996	0.68	0.67	0.68
1995	0.63	0.67	0.65
1994	0.63	0.67	0.66
1993	0.58	0.67	0.64
1992	0.63	0.67	0.64
1991	0.65	0.67	0.62

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Eligible for

61%

54%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	55%	51%	46%
2022	53%	51%	53%
2021	55%	53%	52%
2020	54%	52%	52%
2019	54%	52%	52%
2018	57%	49%	52%
2017	57%	49%	52%
2016	58%	50%	53%
2015	50%	50%	50%
2014	52%	49%	57%
2013	52%	48%	57%
2011	100%	46%	99%
2010	43%	46%	53%
2009	53%	43%	55%
2008	64%	41%	58%
2007	52%	40%	50%
2006	53%	40%	48%
2005	50%	40%	47%
2004	47%	40%	44%
2003	45%	39%	41%
2002	63%	39%	41%
2001	50%	39%	42%
2000	71%	40%	46%
1999	61%	40%	51%
1998	95%	47%	67%
1997	79%	47%	55%
1996	66%	46%	51%
1995	64%	45%	50%
1994	59%	43%	45%
1993	60%	41%	43%
1992	50%	38%	39%

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Eligible for

11%

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2001-2023)
Year	Vista La Mesa Academy	California	Lemon Grove School District
2023	3%	8%	2%
2022	4%	7%	5%
2021	12%	6%	7%
2020	16%	7%	10%
2019	16%	7%	10%
2018	16%	9%	12%
2017	16%	9%	12%
2016	21%	9%	13%
2015	23%	9%	14%
2014	24%	9%	18%
2013	24%	7%	17%
2010	25%	9%	16%
2009	27%	10%	17%
2008	30%	10%	18%
2007	26%	10%	19%
2006	24%	9%	18%
2005	22%	9%	17%
2004	30%	9%	18%
2003	28%	9%	18%
2002	24%	8%	20%
2001	20%	8%	15%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Lemon Grove School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

School Notes

School Mascot: Cheetah

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Vista La Mesa Academy's ranking?

Vista La Mesa Academy is ranked #5826 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in California.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

29% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 31% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).

How many students attend Vista La Mesa Academy?

531 students attend Vista La Mesa Academy.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

59% of Vista La Mesa Academy students are Hispanic, 16% of students are Black, 11% of students are White, 8% of students are Asian, 4% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Vista La Mesa Academy?

Vista La Mesa Academy has a student ration of 24:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.

What grades does Vista La Mesa Academy offer ?

Vista La Mesa Academy offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-8

What school district is Vista La Mesa Academy part of?

Vista La Mesa Academy is part of Lemon Grove School District.

School Calendar

View the Vista La Mesa Academy yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event

Date

Spring Break (Schools Closed)

March 30, 2026 (Monday)

Spring Break (Schools Closed)

April 01, 2026 (Wednesday)

Spring Break (Schools Closed)

April 02, 2026 (Thursday)

Spring Break (Schools Closed)

April 03, 2026 (Friday)

Spring Break (Schools Closed)

April 04, 2026 (Saturday)

School Reviews

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