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Mount Miguel from the northPhoto: RightCowLeftCoast · CC BY 4.0
C+
Schools in Rancho San Diego · Grossmont Union High School District, Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District

Rancho San Diego’s public schools score below 60% of California districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 25% of Rancho San Diego’s students scored proficient, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Rancho San Diego, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#628of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
41%
▼ 6 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
25%
▼ 8 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
83%
▼ 3 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.9K
▼ 1% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Grossmont Union High
Students per teacher
22.8
CA 21.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
5,061 students on the public path
In brief

Rancho San Diego’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 494 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Rancho San Diego’s, its schools beat 18%, lower than their 40% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Rancho San Diego runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Hillsdale Middle (6–8) is Rancho San Diego’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Grossmont Union High School District with El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee: Valhalla High. The high school’s own results earn an A, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 25% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 93% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

83% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Grossmont Union High spends $20,908 per student and Cajon Valley Union Elementary $19,663, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Rancho San Diego’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 40% of California school districts, #628 of 847 California towns. Both inputs trail the California average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 40%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (494)Better than 18%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 13,639 test results and a graduating class of 3,976 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Rancho San Diego’s students in the tested grades sat them (13,387 in math, 13,891 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Rancho San Diego, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC−
6–8Hillsdale MiddleCajon Valley Union Elementary School DistrictD−
9–12Valhalla HighGrossmont Union High School DistrictA

Rancho San Diego runs its own schools through grade 8 (Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Grossmont Union High School District, shared with El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee. Parts of Rancho San Diego (8% of its land) are served by Dehesa Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Rancho San Diego

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Grossmont Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 15 schools · 16,401 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 21.9 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$20,908CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Cajon Valley Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 25 schools · 15,974 students, up 11% since 2020–21 · 23.7 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$19,663CA $21,206 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Grossmont Union High School District58%
State average 46.7% · 3600 students tested
Math · 9–12, Grossmont Union High School District29%
State average 33.1% · 3502 students tested
Reading · K–8, Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District35%
State average 46.7% · 10291 students tested
Math · K–8, Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District24%
State average 33.1% · 9885 students tested

Rancho San Diego vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Rancho San Diego’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Rancho San DiegoC+Cajon Valley Union Elementary K–8 · Grossmont Union High 9–12
El CajonC+Cajon Valley Union Elementary K–8 · Grossmont Union High 9–12

Every school in Rancho San Diego

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Rancho San Diegoby address
Fuerte Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · El Cajon
686 students26:1Rate it →
Vista Grande Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · El Cajon
633 students25:1Rate it →
Rancho San Diego Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · El Cajon
C−
533 students25:1Rate it →
Hillsdale Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · El Cajon
D−
1,481 students22:1Rate it →
Valhalla High
High · Grades 9–12 · El Cajon
A
1,728 students23:1Rate it →

Questions about Rancho San Diego’s schools

Are Rancho San Diego’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Rancho San Diego children attend score below 60% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #628 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 18%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rancho San Diego in?

Two districts: Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Grossmont Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee.

Where do Rancho San Diego kids go to high school?

Valhalla High in El Cajon, with 1,728 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Rancho San Diego’s graduation rate?

83% of the class of 2023 in Grossmont Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Rancho San Diego spend per student?

$20,908 in Grossmont Union High School District and $19,663 in Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Rancho San Diego families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rancho San Diego → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.