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Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary

Q: Is Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary a good school?

Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary ranks 647 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

647^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of California elementary schools

Summary

Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary is a high-performing K-8 public school serving 820 students in Oceanside, California, as part of the Fallbrook Union Elementary district, and it stands out for its academic excellence and effective support for a diverse student population.

The school consistently outperforms both its district and state averages in English, math, and science, and it achieves these strong results while serving a significant number of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. What truly differentiates Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary is its exceptional track record with vulnerable student groups and its remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 8.6%, which is less than half the state average. This success is even more notable when compared to other schools in the same district, such as Fallbrook STEM Academy or Live Oak Elementary, which have lower academic rankings and higher absenteeism.

While nearby schools like Bonsall West Elementary show similar strong attendance and performance, Mary Fay Pendleton accomplishes this with a higher proportion of students in need. The school also excels in supporting military-connected families, a key asset for the Oceanside community near Camp Pendleton. Its consistent results across all grade levels and its resilience through challenging times suggest a deeply effective school culture and resource management that other schools could learn from.

820

Students ?

22.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,117

Per pupil spending ?

55.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

110 Marine Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92058-8234

(760) 731-4050

District: Fallbrook Union Elementary

Students who attend Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary usually attend:

High:

Fallbrook High

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.3%

Hispanic:

34.1%

Two or more races:

11.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 78th percentile in 2013 → 89th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (69% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% 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 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school69%

District avg49%

California avg41%

Elementary school

647^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From top 14% (2015) to top 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

177^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 6%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 7Elementary Schools in the Fallbrook Union Elementary

313^th of 1,543Fallbrook Union Elementary 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.2	647 of 5857	89.0%	★★★★☆
2024	91.3	621 of 5869	89.4%	★★★★☆
2023	86.4	896 of 5859	84.7%	★★★★☆
2022	85.7	915 of 5883	84.4%	★★★★☆
2019	94.5	327 of 5789	94.4%	★★★★★
2018	94.9	294 of 5662	94.8%	★★★★★
2017	91.5	544 of 5692	90.4%	★★★★★
2016	89.5	646 of 5614	88.5%	★★★★☆
2015	86.2	813 of 5611	85.5%	★★★★☆
2013	76.4	1242 of 5530	77.5%	★★★★☆
2012	70.2	1521 of 5390	71.8%	★★★★☆
2011	73.5	1327 of 5377	75.3%	★★★★☆
2010	69.9	1462 of 5314	72.5%	★★★★☆
2009	75.5	1188 of 5193	77.1%	★★★★☆
2008	66.6	1558 of 5113	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	59.5	1853 of 5113	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.9	1507 of 4818	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	68.2	1414 of 4822	70.7%	★★★★☆
2004	78.7	951 of 4809	80.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.8	19 of 569	96.7%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	82.5	263 of 2227	88.2%	★★★★☆
2019	92.3	142 of 2585	94.5%	★★★★★
2018	91.5	133 of 2128	93.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	86.9	759 of 5597	86.4%	★★★★☆
2024	90.0	619 of 5612	89.0%	★★★★☆
2023	81.1	1051 of 5609	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	85.9	823 of 5635	85.4%	★★★★☆
2019	92.4	406 of 5492	92.6%	★★★★★
2018	92.4	414 of 5413	92.4%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.9	172 of 5107	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	94.4	190 of 5107	96.3%	★★★★★
2023	79.3	771 of 5087	84.8%	★★★★☆
2022	94.8	192 of 5084	96.2%	★★★★★
2019	95.7	121 of 4963	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	98.1	47 of 4830	99.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.8	150 of 5460	97.3%	★★★★★
2024	96.6	169 of 5517	96.9%	★★★★★
2023	91.2	338 of 5363	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	233 of 5264	95.6%	★★★★★
2019	97.5	63 of 5173	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	98.7	27 of 5084	99.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.4	559 of 5628	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	89.9	620 of 5643	89.0%	★★★★☆
2023	88.9	684 of 5638	87.9%	★★★★☆
2022	82.1	1010 of 5663	82.2%	★★★★☆
2019	94.1	308 of 5510	94.4%	★★★★★
2018	95.4	225 of 5431	95.9%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	86.6	17 of 153	88.9%	★★★★☆
2024	88.7	8 of 118	93.2%	★★★★★
2023	82.8	18 of 140	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	81.3	19 of 130	85.4%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	34.6	435 of 610	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.2	247 of 2847	91.3%	★★★★★
2024	83.9	282 of 2635	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	90.1	172 of 2420	92.9%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.6	427 of 2598	83.6%	★★★★☆
2024	81.6	367 of 2651	86.2%	★★★★☆
2023	76.0	582 of 2661	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	67.3	902 of 2726	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	86.0	220 of 2834	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	86.5	199 of 2737	92.7%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.1	177 of 2761	93.6%	★★★★★
2024	91.7	238 of 2783	91.4%	★★★★★
2023	88.1	321 of 2781	88.5%	★★★★☆
2019	88.9	288 of 2715	89.4%	★★★★☆
2018	91.5	204 of 2480	91.8%	★★★★★
2017	79.5	476 of 2508	81.0%	★★★★☆
2016	92.1	180 of 2497	92.8%	★★★★★
2015	89.9	224 of 2477	91.0%	★★★★★
2013	82.4	254 of 2379	89.3%	★★★★☆
2012	77.2	371 of 2259	83.6%	★★★★☆
2011	82.5	242 of 2236	89.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	92.3	189 of 2533	92.5%	★★★★★
2024	89.3	264 of 2551	89.7%	★★★★☆
2023	85.1	340 of 2531	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	90.1	234 of 2509	90.7%	★★★★★
2019	85.4	313 of 2380	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	88.8	238 of 2262	89.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	89.1	152 of 2388	93.6%	★★★★★
2023	81.6	282 of 2374	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	97.5	40 of 2359	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	86.6	185 of 2213	91.6%	★★★★★
2018	89.5	146 of 2072	93.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.5	32 of 2542	98.7%	★★★★★
2024	94.0	124 of 2579	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	90.7	157 of 2531	93.8%	★★★★★
2022	86.0	202 of 2458	91.8%	★★★★★
2019	92.9	105 of 2369	95.6%	★★★★★
2018	94.0	75 of 2230	96.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	93.0	181 of 2534	92.9%	★★★★★
2024	91.7	214 of 2552	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	88.3	288 of 2538	88.7%	★★★★☆
2022	73.6	564 of 2527	77.7%	★★★★☆
2019	89.3	256 of 2407	89.4%	★★★★☆
2018	90.7	207 of 2273	90.9%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	89.2	13 of 194	93.3%	★★★★★
2024	87.3	15 of 192	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	85.3	21 of 197	89.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.5	37 of 193	80.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	92.3	83 of 1552	94.7%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.5	62 of 1520	95.9%	★★★★★
2024	89.4	83 of 1537	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	84.6	161 of 1543	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	63.9	521 of 1555	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	81.1	240 of 1602	85.0%	★★★★☆
2018	84.5	168 of 1496	88.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)97th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2025)97th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)97th percentile+8 vs school

Special Education (2025)91st percentile~ school

Male (2025)90th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2025)89th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)88th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)86th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)84th percentile-5 vs school

Multi-racial (2022)29th percentile-56 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)96th percentile~ school

Special Education (2024)95th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2024)94th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)93rd percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy73%+24 vs state

Mathematics67%+30 vs state

Science61%+29 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, June 17, 2011

Our daughter attended kindergarten at Mary Fay. We did not transfer her because we lucked out with a wonderful teacher, that has since retired. She had volunteer parents that helped out (1-3 parents every day), otherwise the class size would have been unworkable. The ratio of 22.2 to 1 listed on this site is inaccurate. My daughter's class had between 28 and 31 all year. This school is held together by the exceptional parent support from all the military spouses. The only reason the school has a PE program is because two parent volunteers taught the class for no pay. One of them has since moved. We had several conflicts with the staff at Mary Fay also. I found when I was volunteering that the only office staff members that were not rude and indignant were volunteers like myself. I witnessed children being talked down to and sometimes brought to tears. Remember, I'm talking about kindergarteners not middle schoolers. If you live on Camp Pendleton and Mary Fay is your only choice, I suggest you prepare to spend a lot of time volunteering at the school to ensure your child is getting a good education and not treated poorly. I know they will need someone to teach PE next year. Close Quote

Schools Near Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 (2025)
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
Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary	Public	K-8	110 Marine Dr.	Oceanside	92058	San Diego County	Fallbrook Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 731-4050	820	36	22.5	55.2%	363 (44.3%)	71 (8.7%)	280 (34.1%)	11 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	92 (11.2%)	90.2	647^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.0%		91.3	621^st of 5869 public elementary schools	89.4%	26	62.3	59.5	61.4	76.8	65.2	66.7	81.8	80.0	73.0	72.8	73.2	66.3	61.5	74.6	68.0	52.8	66.9	98.0					98.0	$20,117	$18,978	$1,139
Bonsall West Elementary	Public	K-6	5050 El Mirlo Dr.	Oceanside	92057	San Diego County	Bonsall Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 721-8001	383	17	22.1	38.1%	173 (45.2%)	6 (1.6%)	120 (31.3%)	26 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	57 (14.9%)	76.6	1307^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.7%		78.5	1221^st of 5869 public elementary schools	79.2%	86	44.1		44.1	53.0	62.8	61.0	78.4			62.0	66.7	51.0	42.4	67.6			56.3							$27,845	$27,164	$681
Fallbrook STEM Academy	Public	K-6	405 West Fallbrook St.	Fallbrook	92028	San Diego County	Fallbrook Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 731-4000	600	26	23.0	90.2%	67 (11.2%)	4 (0.7%)	518 (86.3%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.0%)	45.9	2837^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.6%		49.8	2565^th of 5869 public elementary schools	56.3%	272	23.7		23.7	48.2	45.9	53.9	42.3			47.8	43.2	49.4	22.3	19.8			33.5	96.8						$22,613	$21,076	$1,537
Maie Ellis Elementary	Public	K-6	400 West Elder St.	Fallbrook	92028	San Diego County	Fallbrook Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 731-4132	560	25	22.3	75.7%	61 (10.9%)	1 (0.2%)	483 (86.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.3%)	55.3	2288^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.9%		45.1	2857^th of 5869 public elementary schools	51.3%	569	33.3		33.3	49.2	42.7	41.3	57.1			47.1	60.0	50.7	29.3	34.9			43.5	95.7			97.1	95.7		$21,640	$20,498	$1,142
Del Rio Elementary	Public	K-5	5200 North River Rd.	Oceanside	92057	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-7300	353	15	23.5	81.6%	39 (11.0%)	9 (2.5%)	240 (68.0%)	12 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (4.2%)	37 (10.5%)	42.9	3011^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.6%		35.8	3456^th of 5869 public elementary schools	41.1%	445	34.4		34.4	40.0	30.4	45.9				39.5	42.1	37.0	29.5				36.0							$25,123	$23,996	$1,127
Libby Elementary	Public	K-5	423 West Redondo Dr.	Oceanside	92057	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-7000	482	22	21.9	89.2%	26 (5.4%)	9 (1.9%)	412 (85.5%)	15 (3.1%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	15 (3.1%)	54	2364^th of 5857 public elementary schools	59.6%		46.9	2738^th of 5869 public elementary schools	53.3%	374	31.9		31.9	32.1	50.8	62.3				47.2	27.7	46.0	71.0				47.0	96.3						$20,998	$19,354	$1,644
La Paloma Elementary	Public	K-6	300 Heald Ln.	Fallbrook	92028	San Diego County	Fallbrook Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 731-4220	499	23	22.1	78.6%	102 (20.4%)	5 (1.0%)	353 (70.7%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	28 (5.6%)	80	1156^th of 5857 public elementary schools	80.3%		72.3	1484^th of 5869 public elementary schools	74.7%	328	49.2		49.2	64.1	57.4	69.0	79.1			68.4	63.1	62.9	39.0	47.7			52.9	93.8		93.8		93.8		$23,093	$21,930	$1,163
Fallbrook Virtual Academy	Public	K-8	300 Heald Ln.	Fallbrook	92028	San Diego County	Fallbrook Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 731-4220	12	0	35.2	75.0%	2 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (75.0%)	1 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										75.0							56.3							$5,276	$4,220	$1,056
Bonsall Elementary	Public	K-5	31555 Old River Rd.	Bonsall	92003	San Diego County	Bonsall Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 631-5205	949	39	24.1	44.8%	407 (42.9%)	6 (0.6%)	353 (37.2%)	44 (4.6%)	18 (1.9%)	2 (0.2%)	118 (12.4%)	61.1	2013^th of 5857 public elementary schools	65.6%		68.8	1647^th of 5869 public elementary schools	71.9%	366	38.8		38.8	50.0	52.1	55.9				52.7	55.8	39.0	37.5				44.3	94.2	97.1	96.0	94.8	96.5	96.0	$24,093	$23,374	$719
Live Oak Elementary	Public	K-6	1978 Reche Rd.	Fallbrook	92028	San Diego County	Fallbrook Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 731-4430	717	30	23.9	68.6%	204 (28.5%)	15 (2.1%)	427 (59.6%)	24 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	45 (6.3%)	69.2	1642^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	72.0%		64.3	1863^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	68.3%	221	41.4		41.4	57.0	49.0	53.5	67.9			57.3	56.0	40.6	38.4	61.6			49.9	95.5	97.0		97.0	95.5		$19,626	$18,482	$1,144

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary

How many students attend Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 820 students attended Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary.

Is Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary a good school?

Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary ranks 647^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary?

Students at Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary are 44% White, 34% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 9% African American, 1% Asian.

What district is Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary in?

Fallbrook Union Elementary

What schools do graduates of Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary attend?

Students who attend Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Fallbrook High

Rate Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.