Transitional kindergarten · El Cajon

24 of El Cajon’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 1,242 four-year-olds.

Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 24 campuses in El Cajon.

Dehesa Elementary: 108 in TKFuerte Elementary: 80 in TKLexington Elementary: 72 in TKBostonia Global: 70 in TKNaranca Elementary: 69 in TKJohnson Elementary: 66 in TKVista Grande Elementary: 62 in TKEJE Elementary Academy Charter: 59 in TKMeridian Elementary: 58 in TKKidinnu Academy: 57 in TKRancho San Diego Elementary: 55 in TKFletcher Hills Elementary: 54 in TKMagnolia Elementary: 52 in TKBlossom Valley Elementary: 49 in TKW. D. Hall Elementary: 49 in TKFlying Hills School of Arts: 46 in TKMadison Avenue Elementary: 39 in TKPepper Drive Elementary: 35 in TKAnza Elementary: 33 in TKChase Avenue Elementary: 33 in TKRios Elementary: 29 in TKJamacha Elementary: 25 in TKLiteracy First Charter: 23 in TKCrest Elementary: 19 in TK
Each dot is a campus with a TK class. A larger dot has more children in TK. North is up.

Eligibility

Who can start TK in 2027–28?

Children who turn 4 by September 1, 2027 can start, and it’s free.

Age

Is my child old enough?

A birthday from September 2, 2022 through September 1, 2023 (our arithmetic from the rule). A child who turns 5 by September 1 starts kindergarten instead.

Rule: California Education Code § 48000 (opens in a new tab)

Cost

Does TK cost anything?

No. TK is a free public school year before kindergarten, and enrolling is optional. Hours, before- and after-school care and open seats vary by campus, so ask the school.

Starting ages and cutoff dates →

Where to enroll

Through 4 school districts, or a charter

Santee
1 of 24

Campuses

Which El Cajon campuses have a TK class?

24 campuses in El Cajon had a TK class in 2025–26.

Campuses by TK headcount

  • 108in TK

    Dehesa Elementary

    Grades TK–8 · Dehesa Elementary

    Scope Score 72Developing · 31st percentile

  • 80in TK

    Fuerte Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 82Strong · 77th percentile

  • 72in TK

    Lexington Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 65Needs Support · 1st percentile

  • 70in TK

    Bostonia GlobalCharter

    Grades TK–12 · Cajon Valley Union · Check how it admits students.

    Scope Score 71Needs Support · 24th percentile

  • 69in TK

    Naranca Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 65Needs Support · 2nd percentile

  • 66in TK

    Johnson Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 70Needs Support · 21st percentile

  • 62in TK

    Vista Grande Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 74Developing · 45th percentile

  • 59in TK

    EJE Elementary Academy CharterCharter

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union · Check how it admits students.

    Scope Score 71Developing · 26th percentile

  • 58in TK

    Meridian Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 69Needs Support · 12th percentile

  • 57in TK

    Kidinnu AcademyCharter

    Grades TK–8 · Cajon Valley Union · Check how it admits students.

    Scope Score 79Solid · 66th percentile

  • 55in TK

    Rancho San Diego Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 77Solid · 58th percentile

  • 54in TK

    Fletcher Hills Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · La Mesa-Spring Valley

    Scope Score 81Strong · 76th percentile

  • 52in TK

    Magnolia Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 68Needs Support · 7th percentile

  • 49in TK

    Blossom Valley Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 77Solid · 59th percentile

  • 49in TK

    W. D. Hall Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 66Needs Support · 3rd percentile

  • 46in TK

    Flying Hills School of Arts

    Grades TK–8 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile

  • 39in TK

    Madison Avenue Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile

  • 35in TK

    Pepper Drive Elementary

    Grades TK–8 · Santee

    Scope Score 75Solid · 51st percentile

  • 33in TK

    Anza Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 67Needs Support · 5th percentile

  • 33in TK

    Chase Avenue Elementary

    Grades TK–6 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 67Needs Support · 5th percentile

  • 29in TK

    Rios Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 76Solid · 54th percentile

  • 25in TK

    Jamacha Elementary

    Grades TK–5 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 72Developing · 28th percentile

  • 23in TK

    Literacy First CharterCharter

    Grades TK–12 · San Diego County Office of Education · Check how it admits students.

    Scope Score 78Solid · 65th percentile

  • 19in TK

    Crest Elementary

    Grades TK–8 · Cajon Valley Union

    Scope Score 73Developing · 37th percentile

Each campus’s TK headcount is from the state’s 2025–26 October enrollment count. Each Scope Score and percentile compares a school’s elementary grades with California elementary schools. A campus without elementary results shows none.

Each headcount counts the students enrolled on one October day, so it shows who enrolled, not seats open now. A campus missing here may still run TK; confirm with the school or district.

Before TK

Too young for TK? Where can my child go?

El Cajon has 248 licensed child care programs.

54

child care centers

194

family child care homes

A child born after September 1, 2023 isn’t old enough for TK in 2027–28. Until they are, look at El Cajon’s centers and family child care homes, and ask each one about ages and openings.

Preschools in El CajonPre-K vs TK vs preschool in California: a 2026 parent’s guide

Licensed programs from the California Community Care Licensing Division: child care centers as of August 13, 2026, family child care homes as of May 25, 2025. A license is not a quality rating or a current opening.