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Vista Grande Elementary

Q: Is Vista Grande Elementary a good school?

Vista Grande Elementary ranks 1905 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1905^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of California elementary schools

Summary

Vista Grande Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 633 students in El Cajon, operating within the Cajon Valley Union School District, where it stands out as a consistently higher-performing school despite the district's overall challenges.

Academically, Vista Grande significantly outperforms most of its neighbors, with proficiency rates in English and math that are well above the district average and competitive with the state. It is the second-highest performing school in the district, trailing only nearby Fuerte Elementary. The school also excels in keeping students in class, boasting a chronic absenteeism rate of 15%, which is far better than the district average and lower than many nearby schools like Chase Avenue Elementary (29.7%) and Anza Elementary (31.1%). This strong attendance is closely linked to academic success across the district.

While Vista Grande has shown strength in serving economically disadvantaged students, its statewide ranking has gradually declined over the past decade. This trend coincides with a rapid increase in the number of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school also shows varying results for different student groups and faces a challenge with math scores, which tend to drop in the upper grades. Overall, Vista Grande represents a relative bright spot within its district, effectively using its resources to achieve solid results, but it is navigating significant demographic shifts and working to address performance gaps.

633

Students ?

25.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,019

Per pupil spending ?

61.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1908 Vista Grande Rd.
El Cajon, CA 92019-3823

(619) 588-3170

District: Cajon Valley Union

Students who attend Vista Grande Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Hillsdale Middle
High:	Valhalla High

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.5%

Hispanic:

16.3%

Two or more races:

11.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Vista Grande Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 88th percentile in 2013 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (49% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Cajon Valley Union

✓Above the California median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2013

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

!Large classes — about 25 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg26%

California avg41%

1,905^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 27% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 19Elementary Schools in the Cajon Valley Union

1184^th of 1,543Cajon Valley Union 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	63.4	1905 of 5857	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.9	2033 of 5869	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.5	2030 of 5859	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.4	1877 of 5883	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	1586 of 5789	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	76.9	1266 of 5662	77.6%	★★★★☆
2017	70.5	1536 of 5692	73.0%	★★★★☆
2016	74.6	1320 of 5614	76.5%	★★★★☆
2015	69.9	1507 of 5611	73.1%	★★★★☆
2013	86.7	667 of 5530	87.9%	★★★★☆
2012	83.4	822 of 5390	84.7%	★★★★☆
2011	79.4	1039 of 5377	80.7%	★★★★☆
2010	84.4	763 of 5314	85.6%	★★★★☆
2009	91.3	399 of 5193	92.3%	★★★★★
2008	93.8	261 of 5113	94.9%	★★★★★
2007	94.4	266 of 5113	94.8%	★★★★★
2006	95.2	213 of 4818	95.6%	★★★★★
2005	94.1	266 of 4822	94.5%	★★★★★
2004	93.6	301 of 4809	93.7%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	55.1	701 of 2227	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.5	828 of 2585	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.2	600 of 2128	71.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	36.5	2069 of 3162	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.2	993 of 3311	70.0%	★★★★☆
2019	87.6	201 of 3275	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	49.9	1256 of 3246	61.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	2001 of 5597	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.8	2005 of 5612	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.7	1959 of 5609	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.4	1915 of 5635	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.3	1779 of 5492	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.9	1136 of 5413	79.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.7	1830 of 5107	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.4	1713 of 5107	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.0	692 of 5087	86.4%	★★★★☆
2019	73.7	979 of 4963	80.3%	★★★★☆
2018	87.2	407 of 4830	91.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.3	1310 of 5460	76.0%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	1370 of 5517	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	64.2	1510 of 5363	71.8%	★★★★☆
2022	61.4	1611 of 5264	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.5	1216 of 5173	76.5%	★★★★☆
2018	69.1	1230 of 5084	75.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	65.4	1725 of 5628	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.8	2042 of 5643	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	1985 of 5638	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.2	1766 of 5663	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.5	1362 of 5510	75.3%	★★★★☆
2018	73.7	1340 of 5431	75.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.5	567 of 718	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.2	541 of 670	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.5	587 of 669	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.7	953 of 2847	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.2	1048 of 2635	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.4	1008 of 2420	58.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.0	1805 of 2598	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.1	1874 of 2651	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	1999 of 2661	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.5	1886 of 2726	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.6	1506 of 2834	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.5	1400 of 2737	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)76th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)69th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)69th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)67th percentile~ school

Female (2025)64th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)64th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)35th percentile-31 vs school

White (2025)31st percentile-37 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)21st percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy52%+3 vs state

Mathematics51%+13 vs state

Science33%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Vista Grande 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)	% Hepatitis B (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	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Vista Grande Elementary	Public	K-5	1908 Vista Grande Rd.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3170	633	25	25.2	61.3%	421 (66.5%)	5 (0.8%)	103 (16.3%)	25 (3.9%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (0.9%)	70 (11.1%)	63.4	1905^th of 5857 public elementary schools	67.5%		60.9	2033^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	65.4%	128	32.5		32.5	50.0	48.0	59.8				52.1	56.5	55.0	37.4				50.5	98.3	98.3	98.3		98.3		$20,019	$2,329	$17,690
Rancho San Diego Elementary	Public	K-5	12151 Calle Albara	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3211	533	21	25.2	78.6%	295 (55.3%)	13 (2.4%)	139 (26.1%)	36 (6.8%)	6 (1.1%)	7 (1.3%)	37 (6.9%)	67.7	1706^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.9%		67.2	1721^st of 5869 public elementary schools	70.7%	15	49.5		49.5	45.7	54.8	57.3				52.8	45.8	56.8	46.9				49.4	96.1	97.4		96.1	97.4	96.1	$22,297	$2,246	$20,051
Meridian Elementary	Public	K-5	651 South Third St.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3083	570	24	23.3	93.2%	271 (47.5%)	28 (4.9%)	116 (20.4%)	90 (15.8%)	2 (0.4%)	5 (0.9%)	58 (10.2%)	11.9	5512^th of 5857 public elementary schools	5.9%		16.2	5202^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	11.4%	310	17.0		17.0	16.2	17.4	26.4				19.9	9.8	11.2	13.8				11.6	94.4			96.3	96.3		$20,254	$2,814	$17,440
Cajon Valley Home	Public, Virtual	K-8	2962 Jamul Dr.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(619) 588-3128	117	7	17.2	71.8%	33 (28.2%)	4 (3.4%)	67 (57.3%)	6 (5.1%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.1%)	30	3957^th of 5857 public elementary schools	32.4%		18.2	5011^th of 5869 public elementary schools	14.6%	1054	45.5	51.4	50.0		42.1		23.5	52.0	51.4	44.4		35.0	8.3	0.0	36.0	52.8	32.4							$20,173	$2,862	$17,311
Fuerte Elementary	Public	K-5	11625 Fuerte Dr.	El Cajon	92020	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3134	686	27	25.6	58.6%	444 (64.7%)	15 (2.2%)	120 (17.5%)	36 (5.2%)	2 (0.3%)	6 (0.9%)	63 (9.2%)	77.7	1257^th of 5857 public elementary schools	78.5%		80.9	1121^st of 5869 public elementary schools	80.9%	136	61.4		61.4	60.7	49.1	70.6				59.2	68.6	51.8	48.3				57.1							$20,159	$2,090	$18,069
Jamacha Elementary	Public	K-5	2962 Jamul Dr.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 441-6150	415	18	22.9	74.0%	205 (49.4%)	22 (5.3%)	127 (30.6%)	18 (4.3%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (1.0%)	38 (9.2%)	45	2886^th of 5857 public elementary schools	50.7%		47	2731^st of 5869 public elementary schools	53.5%	155	22.9		22.9	46.9	50.7	29.0				41.9	57.1	47.3	18.8				39.6	96.4		96.4				$22,551	$2,357	$20,194
Anza Elementary	Public	K-6	1005 South Anza St.	El Cajon	92020	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3116	687	28	24.9	91.1%	262 (38.1%)	56 (8.2%)	182 (26.5%)	112 (16.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.3%)	66 (9.6%)	7.6	5757^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.7%		12.1	5552^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	5.4%	205	6.9		6.9	9.2	9.4	18.1	10.1			11.6	15.8	8.1	12.6	5.3			10.7	94.1			96.0	98.0		$20,419	$2,734	$17,685
Lexington Elementary	Public	K-5	1145 Redwood Ave.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3075	878	35	25.2	91.1%	305 (34.7%)	58 (6.6%)	382 (43.5%)	99 (11.3%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.6%)	26 (3.0%)	9.5	5658^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.4%		12.1	5547^th of 5869 public elementary schools	5.5%	111	9.7		9.7	11.7	12.7	19.1				14.6	21.1	9.9	11.0				13.8	92.5		97.7	98.5	95.5	98.5	$20,300	$3,014	$17,286
Madison Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	1615 East Madison Ave.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3077	670	27	24.5	90.9%	313 (46.7%)	26 (3.9%)	232 (34.6%)	34 (5.1%)	2 (0.3%)	7 (1.0%)	56 (8.4%)	15.3	5233^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	10.7%		19.2	4922^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	16.1%	311	12.6		12.6	24.7	20.2	31.4				25.6	11.7	14.7	18.6				15.2	97.0			97.0	97.0	98.0	$21,595	$2,585	$19,010
Avocado Elementary	Public	K-5	3845 Avocado School Rd.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3100	573	23	25.1	73.1%	201 (35.1%)	50 (8.7%)	244 (42.6%)	27 (4.7%)	5 (0.9%)	10 (1.7%)	36 (6.3%)	40.5	3180^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.7%		45.7	2812^th of 5869 public elementary schools	52.1%	368	30.4		30.4	32.1	37.8	48.2				40.5	31.2	32.9	33.9				32.8							$19,869	$2,407	$17,462

Frequently Asked Questions about Vista Grande Elementary

What schools do graduates of Vista Grande Elementary attend?

Students who attend Vista Grande Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hillsdale Middle
High : Valhalla High

What district is Vista Grande Elementary in?

Cajon Valley Union

Is Vista Grande Elementary a good school?

Vista Grande Elementary ranks 1905^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Vista Grande Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 633 students attended Vista Grande Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Vista Grande Elementary?

Students at Vista Grande Elementary are 67% White, 16% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

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Schools in El Cajon, CA

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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.