Elementary Schools in El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California has 33 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 32.3/100 — 11.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Grossmont Middle College High at 78/100, where 53.3% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. El Cajon schools average 12.9% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 33 schools, 1 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.4% (above the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
How El Cajon schools compare
El Cajon's 33 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 32.3 — 11.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 7.0 to 78.3, a 71.2-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Grossmont Middle College High with a Scope Score of 78 and 53.3% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in El Cajon averages 26.4%, which is below the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
School archetypes in El Cajon
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in El Cajon ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grossmont Middle College High Grossmont Union High High Ceiling | 53.3% | Strong 78/100 |
| 2 | Fletcher Hills Elementary La Mesa-Spring Valley Strong All-Around | 39.6% | Solid 60/100 |
| 3 | Valhalla High Grossmont Union High Building Momentum | 26.8% | Solid 58/100 |
| 4 | Fuerte Elementary Cajon Valley Union Culture First | 31.4% | Solid 55/100 |
| 5 | Granite Hills High Grossmont Union High Building Momentum | 12.4% | Developing 47/100 |
| 6 | Rancho San Diego Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 28.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 7 | Vista Grande Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 23.8% | Developing 46/100 |
| 8 | Pepper Drive Elementary Santee Building Momentum | 22.1% | Developing 45/100 |
| 9 | Hillsdale Middle Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 23.0% | Developing 45/100 |
| 10 | Dehesa Elementary Dehesa Elementary Culture First | 5.8% | Developing 39/100 |
| 11 | Rios Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 16.2% | Developing 38/100 |
| 12 | El Cajon Valley High Grossmont Union High Building Momentum | 5.8% | Developing 35/100 |
| 13 | Blossom Valley Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 15.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 14 | Jamacha Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 16.6% | Developing 33/100 |
| 15 | Los Coches Creek Middle Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 14.1% | Developing 31/100 |
| 16 | Cajon Valley Home Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 16.5% | Developing 30/100 |
| 17 | Johnson Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 6.8% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 18 | Crest Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 7.2% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 19 | Madison Avenue Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 6.5% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 20 | Meridian Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 5.0% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 21 | Flying Hills School of Arts Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 7.3% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 22 | IDEA Center Grossmont Union High Building Momentum | 4.3% | Needs Support 23/100 |
| 23 | Greenfield Middle Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 5.7% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 24 | Chase Avenue Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 3.2% | Needs Support 21/100 |
| 25 | W. D. Hall Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 4.9% | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 26 | Cajon Valley Middle Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 3.3% | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 27 | Anza Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 4.6% | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 28 | Montgomery Middle Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 3.4% | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 29 | Naranca Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 2.3% | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 30 | Magnolia Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 2.4% | Needs Support 17/100 |
| 31 | Lexington Elementary Cajon Valley Union Building Momentum | 4.5% | Needs Support 17/100 |
| 32 | MERIT Academy Grossmont Union High Building Momentum | 4.2% | Needs Support 10/100 |
| 33 | Chaparral High Grossmont Union High Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 7/100 |
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.
Private Schools in El Cajon
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about El Cajon
- 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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology