Holly Drive Leadership Academy District

The Holly Drive Leadership Academy District in San Diego consists of a single, small K-8 school serving 108 students, which has shown significant academic improvement in recent years despite facing considerable challenges.

Holly Drive Leadership Academy stands out for its remarkable progress, climbing from the 1st percentile of California schools in 2022 to the 15th percentile in 2025. This improvement is notable given that over 84% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need. The school also invests more per student than the state average, with spending over $20,000 per pupil.

Key areas for attention include chronic absenteeism, which at 29.4% is well above the state average, and mathematics proficiency, which lags significantly, especially in 3rd grade. While test scores in English, math, and science remain below state averages, the school's consistent upward trajectory suggests effective strategies are being implemented. For families, this indicates a school that is actively working to support its students and improve outcomes in a small, personalized setting.