School district · San Diego County

Santee schools

Santee runs schools through 8th grade. Its 9 public elementary schools run from the 35th to the 80th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). High school is run by another district; confirm the school for your address with the district.

Elementary · 9 schools

from 35th to 80th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Carlton Oaks Elementary: 80th percentile, Strong
  • Sycamore Canyon Elementary: 75th percentile, Strong
  • PRIDE Academy at Prospect Avenue: 74th percentile, Solid
  • Hill Creek Elementary: 71st percentile, Solid
  • Rio Seco Elementary: 70th percentile, Solid
  • Chet F. Harritt Elementary: 67th percentile, Solid
  • Carlton Hills Elementary: 65th percentile, Solid
  • Pepper Drive Elementary: 51st percentile, Solid
  • Cajon Park Elementary: 35th percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
1Developing
6Solid
2Strong

Middle · 8 schools

from 59th to 86th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Carlton Hills Elementary: 86th percentile, Strong
  • PRIDE Academy at Prospect Avenue: 81st percentile, Strong
  • Carlton Oaks Elementary: 80th percentile, Strong
  • Cajon Park Elementary: 71st percentile, Solid
  • Hill Creek Elementary: 66th percentile, Solid
  • Rio Seco Elementary: 64th percentile, Solid
  • Pepper Drive Elementary: 62nd percentile, Solid
  • Chet F. Harritt Elementary: 59th percentile, Solid
0Needs Support
0Developing
5Solid
3Strong

One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 8 of the 9 ranked schools teach two levels, so they appear in more than one picture.

  • 9 ranked schools
  • 1 school not ranked statewide

Schools around Santee

10 listed public schools with mapped locations.

Open full map →

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in Santee score highest?

Carlton Oaks Elementary is highest, at the 80th percentile.

That’s higher than 80 in 100 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Santee

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean

Show the other 6 elementary schools
Context

The average elementary school in Santee had 10 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.

1 elementary school not ranked statewide
  • Santee Success ProgramCommunity day school: students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral, including after an expulsion, so we don’t rank it

Middle schools

Which middle schools in Santee score highest?

Carlton Hills Elementary is highest, at the 86th percentile.

That’s higher than 86 in 100 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Santee

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Show the other 5 middle schools
Context

The average middle school in Santee had 10 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.

The district

Where does Santee’s money go, and what does it plan?

Santee spent $16,078 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

The typical California district spent $20,491. About 67 cents of every Santee dollar went to classroom instruction.

Spending by function

Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.

Share by function, 2024–25

  • Instruction67%
  • Instruction support9%
  • Student services8%
  • Administration7%
  • Buildings & maintenance9%

Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.

What the district plans

$94.1 million

planned in its 2026–27 plan for 18 funded actions in 3 goals. That’s 91% of its $103.2 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.

The plan in short

Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 97 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 87% of the money. The plan itself puts 84% of it toward staff.

  • Core Program $68.9 million
  • (SWD) Students with Disabilities Support $8.9 million
  • Expanded Learning Program $4.3 million
  • 15 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help

2 of the plan’s 18 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.

Actions whose titles name catch-up help
  • Catch-up help $1.5 million

Largest of these

  • (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: SEB$750,584
  • (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Academic$713,991
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students

It plans $5.8 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $5.3 million and estimates it spent $5.4 million, within 1% of the plan.

What changed

The total is $6.3 million (7%) higher than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Core Program, which went from $63.0 million to $68.9 million.

Largest cuts

  • Technology Infrastructure and Devices−⁠$1.0 million
  • Class Size Reduction−⁠$767,290

Largest increases

  • Core Program+⁠$5.9 million
  • Expanded Learning Program+⁠$710,419
  • (SWD) Students with Disabilities Support+⁠$577,966

Ask: What did Technology Infrastructure and Devices pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $1.0 million less?

What its goals measure

Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.

What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure2024–252025–26Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 159%59%no change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 149%49%no change
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 210 in 10010 in 100no change
Suspended at least onceGoal 22.5%2.4%down 0.1 pts

Goal 3 isn’t shown because it tracks other measures.

Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.

The plan’s own titles and amounts
  • Core Program · $68,878,819
  • (SWD) Students with Disabilities Support · $8,904,469
  • Expanded Learning Program · $4,316,682
The full plan3 goals, 37 measures and where the money goes

We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($94.1 million).

Where does the money go?

96% to Goal 1. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.

G1

Change since the 2025–26 plan, same title

  • fell 25% or more
  • fell 10–25%
  • fell 2–10%
  • within 2%
  • grew 2–10%
  • grew 10–25%
  • grew 25% or more
  • new or renamed title
  • not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1Improve student learning and demonstrate annual growth in academic achievement in all content areas$90.2 million96% of action budgets

11 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $84.3 million (+⁠$5.8 million) · p. 15 ↗

Largest funded actions

  1. Core Program$68.9 millionaction 1.1 · p. 57 ↗
  2. (SWD) Students with Disabilities Support$8.9 millionaction 1.3 · p. 57 ↗
  3. Expanded Learning Program$4.3 millionaction 1.7 · p. 57 ↗
  4. Support for Classroom Teachers$2.5 millionaction 1.9 · p. 57 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.7 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Professional Development: Academic$1.3 millionaction 1.6 · p. 57 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $863,842 is state funding counted toward those services

6 more funded actions in this goal

  • Multilingual Learner Support · action 1.2 · p. 57 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $189,854 is state funding counted toward those services$1.2 million
  • (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Academic · action 1.10 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.7 million
  • Class Size Reduction · action 1.4 · p. 57 ↗$0.7 million
  • Preschool Programs · action 1.8 · p. 57 ↗$0.7 million
  • Supplemental Curriculum and Instruction · action 1.5 · p. 57 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.6 million
  • Technology Infrastructure and Devices · action 1.11 · p. 58 ↗$0.4 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Core Program+⁠$5.9 million$63.0 million → $68.9 million · p. 57 ↗
  2. Technology Infrastructure and Devices−⁠$1.0 million$1.4 million → $0.4 million · p. 58 ↗
  3. Class Size Reduction−⁠$0.8 million$1.5 million → $0.7 million · p. 57 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • (SWD) Students with Disabilities Support · $8.3 million → $8.9 million · p. 57 ↗+⁠$0.6 million
  • Expanded Learning Program · $3.6 million → $4.3 million · p. 57 ↗+⁠$0.7 million
  • Support for Classroom Teachers · $2.8 million → $2.5 million · p. 57 ↗−⁠$0.2 million
  • Professional Development: Academic · $1.4 million → $1.3 million · p. 57 ↗−⁠$0.1 million
  • Multilingual Learner Support · $0.8 million → $1.2 million · p. 57 ↗+⁠$0.4 million
  • (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Academic · $720,840 → $713,991 · p. 58 ↗−⁠$6,849
  • Preschool Programs · $575,606 → $668,647 · p. 57 ↗+⁠$93,041
  • Supplemental Curriculum and Instruction · $272,900 → $563,826 · p. 57 ↗+⁠$290,926

How the plan measures it · 17 measures · 1 quoted

  • Percentage of teachers appropriately credentialed and assigned p. 18 ↗
    Baseline
    100%
    Target for year 3
    100%

16 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 2Support the social and emotional well-being of students and promote positive and inclusive classroom environments$3.6 million4% of action budgets

5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $3.1 million (+⁠$473,747) · p. 33 ↗

Largest funded actions

  1. Student Well-Being and Mental Health Support$1.4 millionaction 2.1 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $516,475 is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Student Behavior Support$0.9 millionaction 2.2 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $223,958 is state funding counted toward those services
  3. (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: SEB$0.8 millionaction 2.5 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $595,096 is state funding counted toward those services
  4. Student Attendance Supports$0.4 millionaction 2.4 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $243,958 is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Professional Development: Well-Being$0.1 millionaction 2.3 · p. 58 ↗

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Student Behavior Support+⁠$263,910$649,755 → $913,665 · p. 58 ↗
  2. Student Well-Being and Mental Health Support+⁠$0.2 million$1.3 million → $1.4 million · p. 58 ↗
  3. Professional Development: Well-Being+⁠$27,548$83,895 → $111,443 · p. 58 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • (MTSS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: SEB · $739,713 → $750,584 · p. 58 ↗+⁠$10,871
  • Student Attendance Supports · $382,209 → $373,090 · p. 58 ↗−⁠$9,119

How the plan measures it · 12 measures · 3 quoted

  • Student Attendance Rates p. 33 ↗
    Baseline
    93.25%
    Target for year 3
    96.0%
  • Expulsion Rate p. 34 ↗
    Baseline
    0%
    Target for year 3
    0%
  • Dropout Rate p. 34 ↗
    Baseline
    0%
    Target for year 3
    0%

9 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 3Develop and sustain campus environments in which parents and community members are welcomed and their…$353,062under 1% of action budgets

“Develop and sustain campus environments in which parents and community members are welcomed and their participation is valued and encouraged” p. 44 ↗

2 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $326,038 (+⁠$27,024)

Largest funded actions

  1. Effective Communication$252,904action 3.1 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $182,400 is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Engagement and Participation$100,158action 3.2 · p. 59 ↗

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Effective Communication+⁠$21,653$231,251 → $252,904 · p. 58 ↗
  2. Engagement and Participation+⁠$5,371$94,787 → $100,158 · p. 59 ↗

How the plan measures it · 8 measures · 2 quoted

  • Percentage of front office staff and volunteers completing training in community engagement and inclusive practices p. 45 ↗
    Baseline
    0%
    Target for year 3
    95%
  • State Preschool Parent Survey Results p. 46 ↗
    Baseline
    100% satisfied or very satisfied
    Target for year 3
    100% satisfied or very satisfied

6 more measures in the plan’s table.

All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.

Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends

Student mix

2024–25 · October enrollment count, 6,076 students
1. White: 50%2. Hispanic or Latino: 31%3. Two or more races: 11%4. Asian: 3%5. Filipino: 2%6. Black or African American: 2%7. Pacific Islander: <1%8. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%9. Not reported: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. White50%
  2. Hispanic or Latino31%
  3. Two or more races11%
  4. Asian3%
  5. Filipino2%
  6. Black or African American2%
  7. Pacific Islander<1%
  8. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
  9. Not reported<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools. Rounded labels may not total 100%; segments use the original shares.

Free or reduced-price meals

47%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 2,848 of 6,066 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.

The district’s state records

Is the state giving the district extra help?

The state is giving Santee extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.

How English learners moved up on the state’s English test

From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 51% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (184 of 363 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (5)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in Santee rank highest?

Elementary: Carlton Oaks Elementary, 80th percentile (Strong). Middle: Carlton Hills Elementary, 86th percentile (Strong). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

Does living in the Santee district decide which school my child attends?

Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)

Are the public schools in Santee good?

Santee’s 9 public elementary schools run from the 35th to the 80th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Strong, 6 Solid and 1 Developing. Santee’s 8 public middle schools run from the 59th to the 86th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 3 Strong and 5 Solid. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.

How does chronic absence in Santee compare with California?

The average elementary school in Santee had 10 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average middle school in Santee had 10 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.

How much does Santee spend per student?

Santee spent $16,078 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 67 cents of every Santee dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.

What is in Santee’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $94.1 million into 18 funded actions in 3 goals, 91% of its $103.2 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $90.2 million, 96% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.

Where do these results come from?

California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2026 and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Santee, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

View CDE data ↗ (opens in a new tab)How Scope Scores work →

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.