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Spreckels Elementary

Q: Is Spreckels Elementary a good school?

Spreckels Elementary ranks 843 rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

843^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of California elementary schools

Summary

Spreckels Elementary is a K-5 public school serving about 680 students in the University City area of San Diego, part of the San Diego Unified district, and it consistently ranks among the top public elementary schools in the state.

The school stands out for achieving strong academic results—outperforming both district and state averages—while serving a diverse student body and operating with efficient spending. For example, Spreckels spends significantly less per student than nearby schools like Hawthorne Elementary and Alcott Elementary, yet its students show higher proficiency in core subjects. The school has also made exceptional progress in improving student attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate nearly half the district average and much lower than schools such as Sequoia Elementary and Whitman Elementary.

Performance is consistently strong across different student groups, and the school has maintained a stable, high rating for over a decade. While not matching the elite test scores of the highest-performing nearby schools like Curie Elementary and Torrey Pines Elementary, Spreckels effectively serves a more economically diverse community and significantly outperforms other schools with similar student needs, such as Field Elementary and Cadman Elementary, demonstrating that effective practices are a key driver of its success.

680

Students ?

27.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,196

Per pupil spending ?

35.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6033 Stadium St.
San Diego, CA 92122-3399

(858) 453-5377

District: San Diego Unified

Students who attend Spreckels Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Standley Middle
High:	University City High

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.2%

Hispanic:

30.0%

Two or more races:

12.5%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Spreckels Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 75th percentile in 2013 → 86th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (65% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 27 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school65%

District avg49%

California avg41%

843^rd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From top 28% (2015) to top 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

30^th of 120Elementary Schools in the San Diego Unified

577^th of 1,543San Diego Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	86.6	843 of 5857	85.6%	★★★★☆
2024	86.8	873 of 5869	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	88.8	776 of 5859	86.8%	★★★★☆
2022	83.3	1032 of 5883	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	76.8	1311 of 5789	77.4%	★★★★☆
2018	65.5	1790 of 5662	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	73.9	1388 of 5692	75.6%	★★★★☆
2016	68.9	1572 of 5614	72.0%	★★★★☆
2015	68.6	1552 of 5611	72.3%	★★★★☆
2013	73.9	1383 of 5530	75.0%	★★★★☆
2012	73.1	1374 of 5390	74.5%	★★★★☆
2011	71.9	1398 of 5377	74.0%	★★★★☆
2010	71.7	1386 of 5314	73.9%	★★★★☆
2009	69.3	1473 of 5193	71.6%	★★★★☆
2008	67.2	1533 of 5113	70.0%	★★★★☆
2007	72.5	1262 of 5113	75.3%	★★★★☆
2006	74.1	1171 of 4818	75.7%	★★★★☆
2005	67.0	1460 of 4822	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.7	1417 of 4809	70.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	66.4	483 of 2227	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	55.7	821 of 2585	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.8	807 of 2128	62.1%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	56.1	924 of 3311	72.1%	★★★★☆
2019	55.4	985 of 3275	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.8	1725 of 3246	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	92.9	387 of 5597	93.1%	★★★★★
2024	90.3	599 of 5612	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	90.1	618 of 5609	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	82.6	985 of 5635	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	70.8	1462 of 5492	73.4%	★★★★☆
2018	52.1	2365 of 5413	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	71.0	1160 of 5107	77.3%	★★★★☆
2024	85.5	528 of 5107	89.7%	★★★★☆
2023	85.4	531 of 5087	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	63.9	1437 of 5084	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	56.8	1865 of 4963	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.4	2450 of 4830	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.1	907 of 5460	83.4%	★★★★☆
2024	89.2	474 of 5517	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	76.3	929 of 5363	82.7%	★★★★☆
2022	65.9	1367 of 5264	74.0%	★★★★☆
2019	57.1	1944 of 5173	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.7	2772 of 5084	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	76.4	1222 of 5628	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	80.2	1073 of 5643	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	83.6	939 of 5638	83.3%	★★★★☆
2022	81.6	1034 of 5663	81.7%	★★★★☆
2019	79.0	1133 of 5510	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	73.4	1348 of 5431	75.2%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	53.1	380 of 670	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	64.2	259 of 669	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.7	190 of 610	68.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.0	565 of 2847	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	326 of 2635	87.6%	★★★★☆
2023	70.6	465 of 2420	80.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.9	491 of 2598	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	75.0	633 of 2651	76.1%	★★★★☆
2023	79.2	458 of 2661	82.8%	★★★★☆
2022	77.4	545 of 2726	80.0%	★★★★☆
2019	85.5	254 of 2834	91.0%	★★★★★
2018	78.8	491 of 2737	82.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2025)93rd percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)83rd percentile~ school

White (2025)81st percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)80th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2022)78th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)78th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)77th percentile-8 vs school

English Language Learner (2022)72nd percentile-10 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)43rd percentile-42 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy69%+21 vs state

Mathematics65%+27 vs state

Science52%+19 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, September 21, 2025

This is my neighborhood school. It has a history of being above average on all markers so it is desirable in comparison to the other schools south. As such, many parents choice in and find loop holes to enroll as neighborhood students. This enrollment causes the classrooms to be over enrolled (more than 35). It takes 7 weeks and citing ed code to get enrollment fixed. There always seems to be lack of communication from the principal where info is given at coffee meetings where no agenda is set and no record given. Most events (performance, school meetings, lunch dates with kids) happen during school hours where working parents cannot go creating inequalities. They group students not by abilities but try to create sameness. A lot of busy work, yet no work at all for students that are ahead. In 5 years, my child has been witness to two physical incidents where a child needed to be restrained. IEP students don't seem to be getting the help that they need. It is located in an affluent area, (one reason people choice in) and the consistent need to fund raise is exhausting and the pta spends so much on junk. The pta spends money on online platforms for the teachers, play dates for the tk/k students and junk items to hand out just for something to hand out. Close Quote

Schools Near Spreckels Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Spreckels Elementary	Public	K-5	6033 Stadium St.	San Diego	92122	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 453-5377	680	25	27.2	35.6%	321 (47.2%)	6 (0.9%)	204 (30.0%)	61 (9.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	85 (12.5%)	86.6	843^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	85.6%		86.8	873^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	85.1%	30	51.8		51.8	67.9	73.1	67.3				69.3	75.7	66.4	51.8				64.6	98.0					$19,196	$2,905	$16,291
Curie Elementary	Public	K-5	4080 Governor Dr.	San Diego	92122	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 221-5500	536	22	24.3	18.8%	307 (57.3%)	9 (1.7%)	92 (17.2%)	67 (12.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (11.2%)	97	152^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	97.4%		97.3	139^th of 5869 public elementary schools	97.6%	13	81.2		81.2	86.4	80.7	79.7				82.5	92.1	77.3	75.0				82.0						$19,094	$2,779	$16,315
Doyle Elementary	Public	K-5	3950 Berino Ct.	San Diego	92122	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-4500	603	24	24.9	41.8%	170 (28.2%)	6 (1.0%)	147 (24.4%)	236 (39.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (7.0%)	86.7	839^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.7%		89.9	703^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	88.0%	136	45.9		45.9	70.8	66.7	62.7				67.0	74.4	70.4	62.3				69.6	90.0	96.2	91.5	95.4	96.9	$19,854	$2,758	$17,096
Whitman Elementary	Public	K-5	4050 Appleton St.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 935-2900	102	4	25.5	72.5%	17 (16.7%)	2 (2.0%)	65 (63.7%)	8 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (9.8%)	47.7	2720^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.6%		49.1	2600^th of 5869 public elementary schools	55.7%	120	25.0		25.0	41.2	66.7	33.3				48.9	26.3	50.0	33.3				36.7						$30,271	$3,496	$26,775
Alcott Elementary	Public	K-5	4680 Hidalgo St.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-1200	234	10	23.4	38.9%	100 (42.7%)	7 (3.0%)	97 (41.5%)	8 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.4%)	57.6	2189^th of 5857 public elementary schools	62.6%		52.9	2403^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	59.1%	214	30.4		30.4	57.1	30.3	60.9				46.8	47.8	48.5	52.2				49.4						$40,786	$5,841	$34,945
Field Elementary	Public	K-5	4375 Bannock Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 800-5900	238	10	23.8	68.5%	43 (18.1%)	4 (1.7%)	166 (69.7%)	11 (4.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.5%)	71.3	1545^th of 5857 public elementary schools	73.6%		62.8	1938^th of 5869 public elementary schools	67.0%	393	48.8		48.8	50.0	50.0	55.8				52.3	63.3	61.8	44.2				55.1						$27,474	$4,809	$22,665
Hawthorne Elementary	Public	K-5	4750 Lehrer Dr.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 634-5701	248	11	22.5	61.7%	78 (31.5%)	6 (2.4%)	99 (39.9%)	28 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	33 (13.3%)	72.5	1498^th of 5857 public elementary schools	74.4%		69.4	1617^th of 5869 public elementary schools	72.4%	119	44.7		44.7	51.2	58.1	68.4				59.1	53.7	51.6	50.0				51.8						$25,942	$4,249	$21,693
Torrey Pines Elementary	Public	K-5	8350 Cliffridge Ave.	La Jolla	92037	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-3700	465	19	24.4	16.8%	217 (46.7%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (17.8%)	102 (21.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (13.5%)	97.2	141^st of 5857 public elementary schools	97.6%		98	80^th of 5869 public elementary schools	98.6%	61	76.1		76.1	86.3	83.3	82.1				84.0	83.6	82.7	74.6				80.5						$18,674	$2,289	$16,385
Cadman Elementary	Public	K-5	4370 Kamloop Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 397-6500	184	8	23.0	54.9%	85 (46.2%)	4 (2.2%)	54 (29.3%)	19 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (12.0%)	67.1	1739^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.3%		70.3	1582^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	73.0%	157	30.0		30.0	57.1	60.0	55.0				57.5	50.0	52.0	50.0				50.7						$24,297	$4,196	$20,101
John Muir	Public	K-8	4431 Mt. Herbert Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 268-1954	336	17	19.7	43.8%	100 (29.8%)	21 (6.3%)	181 (53.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.8%)	86.2	867^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.2%		47.9	2670^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.5%	1803	73.9	23.1	55.6	66.7	57.1	78.3	72.4	56.3	46.2	65.1	66.7	52.4	60.9	56.7	31.3	30.8	53.1						$23,931	$3,140	$20,791

Frequently Asked Questions about Spreckels Elementary

What district is Spreckels Elementary in?

San Diego Unified

Is Spreckels Elementary a good school?

Spreckels Elementary ranks 843^rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Spreckels Elementary attend?

Students who attend Spreckels Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Standley Middle
High : University City High

What is the racial makeup of Spreckels Elementary?

Students at Spreckels Elementary are 47% White, 30% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 9% Asian.

How many students attend Spreckels Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 680 students attended Spreckels Elementary.

Rate Spreckels Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.