Elementary Schools in National City, California: 11 schools. Average score 9.7 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
National City, California has 11 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 35.2/100 — 9.7 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is John A. Otis Elementary at 49/100, where 14.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. National City schools average 11.6% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 24.0% (above the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 11 | Developing 35.2/100 | 11.6% | -9.7 |
| High | 2 | Developing 38.5/100 | 6.6% | -5.2 |
How National City schools compare
National City has 11 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 35.2/100 — 9.7 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is John A. Otis Elementary with a Scope Score of 49 and 14.6% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in National City averages 24.0% — above the state average of 17.9%.
How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page
Every school in National City
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John A. Otis Elementary National Elementary Building Momentum | 14.6% | Developing 49/100 |
| 2 | Sweetwater High Sweetwater Union High Building Momentum | 9.0% | Developing 48/100 |
| 3 | Ira Harbison National Elementary Building Momentum | 16.9% | Developing 44/100 |
| 4 | Kimball National Elementary Building Momentum | 13.8% | Developing 40/100 |
| 5 | Palmer Way National Elementary Building Momentum | 19.3% | Developing 38/100 |
| 6 | Olivewood National Elementary Building Momentum | 9.2% | Developing 35/100 |
| 7 | El Toyon Elementary National Elementary Building Momentum | 7.3% | Developing 34/100 |
| 8 | Central Elementary National Elementary Building Momentum | 11.0% | Developing 33/100 |
| 9 | Rancho de la Nacion National Elementary Building Momentum | 15.7% | Developing 32/100 |
| 10 | Las Palmas National Elementary Building Momentum | 5.4% | Developing 30/100 |
| 11 | Lincoln Acres National Elementary Building Momentum | 4.0% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 12 | San Diego Workforce Innovation High Borrego Springs Unified Building Momentum | 4.2% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 13 | Integrity Charter National Elementary Building Momentum | 10.0% | Needs Support 23/100 |
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology