Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove has 6 ranked schools across elementary levels with an average Scope Score of 34.1/100 — 9.7 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Monterey Heights Elementary at 45/100, where 23.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,559 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 22.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
District Analysis
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -11.2pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 19.5 points — moderately consistent between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 22.6%, 4.4pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.2%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Monterey Heights Elementary leads the district at 45 with 23.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Lemon Grove
Hidden gems: 2 schools in Lemon Grove are classified as On the Rise (2) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Lemon Grove spends $15,559 per student in current expenditures — $745 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (6)
Lemon Grove has 6 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 34.1 — 9.7 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -11.2pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Monterey Heights Elementary with a Scope Score of 45 and 23.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterey Heights Elementary Lemon Grove Building Momentum | 23.6% | Developing 45/100 |
| 2 | Mt. Vernon Lemon Grove Building Momentum | 20.6% | Developing 44/100 |
| 3 | San Altos Elementary Lemon Grove On the Rise | 13.1% | Developing 33/100 |
| 4 | San Miguel Elementary Lemon Grove Building Momentum | 11.0% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 5 | Lemon Grove Academy Elementary Lemon Grove On the Rise | 12.3% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 6 | Vista La Mesa Academy Lemon Grove Building Momentum | 9.8% | Needs Support 25/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Lemon Grove
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology