Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Montebello Unified

California · Public School District
29
Schools
20,395
Students
$22,972
Per-Pupil Spend
+60% nat'l
73.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+21pp vs nat'l
83.6%
Graduation Rate
-2.9pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Montebello Unified is a public school district in California serving 20,395 students across 29 schools. It includes 17 elementary, 6 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 83.6% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $22,972 is above average for a US public school district. 73% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 42/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (29)
Middle Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bell Gardens Intermediate06–08858
Eastmont Intermediate06–08618
La Merced Intermediate06–08848
Macy Intermediate06–08526
Montebello Intermediate06–08796
Suva Intermediate06–08704
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Applied Technology Center09–12423
Bell Gardens High09–122,217
Montebello Community Day07–1230
Montebello High09–122,054
Schurr High09–122,224
Vail High (Continuation)09–12276
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$22,972+60% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
58%
18%
State
57.9%
Local (property tax)
17.8%
Federal
24.4%

State funding accounts for 58% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
29
Schools
20,395
Students
73%
Free Lunch
$23K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate83.6%
Opportunity Score42/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $22,972 per pupil — 60% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 29 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
73% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
24% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Montebello Unified?
Montebello Unified has 29 public schools, serving a total of 20,395 students.
What is the graduation rate for Montebello Unified?
The graduation rate is 83.6%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Montebello Unified spend per student?
Montebello Unified spends $22,972 per pupil — 60% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Montebello Unified?
73% of students in Montebello Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Montebello Unified?
No, Montebello Unified does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Montebello Unified serve?
Montebello Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Montebello Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in Montebello Unified is 42/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.