Santee
Santee has 9 ranked schools across elementary levels with an average Scope Score of 51.1/100 — 7.3 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Hill Creek Elementary at 59/100, where 28.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,087 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 10.8%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
District Analysis
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -5.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 21.4 points — showing notable variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 10.8%, 7.4pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.4%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Hill Creek Elementary leads the district at 59 with 28.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Santee
Hidden gems: 1 school in Santee is classified as Growth Engine — 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
Santee spends $12,087 per student in current expenditures — $2,727 below 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 (9)
Santee has 9 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.1 — 7.3 points above the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -5.3pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Hill Creek Elementary with a Scope Score of 59 and 28.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hill Creek Elementary Santee Growth Engine | 28.6% | Solid 59/100 |
| 2 | Sycamore Canyon Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 33.8% | Solid 58/100 |
| 3 | Carlton Hills Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 32.8% | Solid 57/100 |
| 4 | Rio Seco Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 33.3% | Solid 56/100 |
| 5 | PRIDE Academy at Prospect Avenue Santee Building Momentum | 26.0% | Solid 51/100 |
| 6 | Carlton Oaks Elementary Santee Culture First | 28.6% | Developing 50/100 |
| 7 | Chet F. Harritt Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 24.6% | Developing 47/100 |
| 8 | Pepper Drive Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 22.1% | Developing 45/100 |
| 9 | Cajon Park Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 19.2% | Developing 37/100 |
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 Santee
- 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