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Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary

Public Grades K-8
485th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 5,817 California Elementary Schools
Better than 92% of California elementary schools
Summary

Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary serves 820 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in Oceanside, California, and is part of the Fallbrook Union Elementary District. Its 2025–2026 results are strong across English Language Arts (ELA), math and science, and it ranked first among nine nearby nonvirtual schools in all three subjects—the clearest overall finding for families comparing local schools.

The school’s advantage is especially clear in ELA: 80% met proficiency, about 19 percentage points above the district and 30 above the state. It also led nearby nonvirtual schools in math and science, with 66% proficient in math and 62% in science; those results were about 16 and 20 points above the district, respectively. Its math lead over the next-highest nearby school, La Paloma Elementary, was less than one point, so math is its comparatively less distinctive subject. Results also vary by grade: third-grade math was 79%, compared with 53% in eighth grade, and sixth-grade ELA was 72%, 13 points below La Paloma’s result for that grade.

ELA has improved steadily, rising from 69% proficient in 2022–2023 to 80% in 2025–2026, while science fell from 64% to 62% over that span and its lead over the state narrowed by 8 points. Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary was ranked 484th of 5,804 California schools by SchoolDigger in 2025–2026, at the 92nd percentile with five stars, up 8 percentile points from 2021–2022. Its 22.5 student-teacher ratio was the nearby-school median in 2024–2025; 55% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year, compared with a nearby-school average of 71%. Chronic absenteeism was 13% in 2025–2026, below the district’s 15% and the state’s 18%, but up 5 points from the prior year. One notable historical subgroup result: SchoolDigger’s 2021–2022 effectiveness ranking for Multi-racial Students was at the 29th percentile, compared with the school’s overall 84th percentile that year; this older result does not establish current performance for the group.

820
Students ?
22.5
Student/teacher ratio ?
$19,556
Per pupil spending ?
55.2%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
All students in California receive free school meals.
91%
Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)
Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)
 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%
more
 See top rated California elementary schools

 Compare Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 86th percentile in 2015 → 92nd in 2026
Strengths
✓Test scores above the California average (71% vs 42% meeting standards)
✓Ranks in the top 8% of California elementary schools
✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2015
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 (2025-2026) ?
This school71%
District avg53%
California avg42%
Elementary school
485th of 5,817
California public elementary schools ?
Top 8%▲ up 3 pts since 2016
From top 12% (2016) to top 8% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
254th of 2,740
California public middle schools ?
Top 9%▼ down 2 pts since 2016
See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
2nd of 7Elementary Schools in the Fallbrook Union Elementary
259th of 1,530Fallbrook 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202692.9485 of 581791.7%★★★★★
202590.2647 of 585789.0%★★★★☆
202491.3621 of 586989.4%★★★★☆
202386.4896 of 585984.7%★★★★☆
202285.7915 of 588384.4%★★★★☆
201994.5327 of 578994.4%★★★★★
201894.9294 of 566294.8%★★★★★
201791.5544 of 569290.4%★★★★★
201689.5646 of 561488.5%★★★★☆
201586.2813 of 561185.5%★★★★☆
201376.41242 of 553077.5%★★★★☆
201270.21521 of 539071.8%★★★★☆
201173.51327 of 537775.3%★★★★☆
201069.91462 of 531472.5%★★★★☆
200975.51188 of 519377.1%★★★★☆
200866.61558 of 511369.5%★★★☆☆
200759.51853 of 511363.8%★★★☆☆
200665.91507 of 481868.7%★★★☆☆
200568.21414 of 482270.7%★★★★☆
200478.7951 of 480980.2%★★★★☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202595.819 of 56996.7%★★★★★

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202282.5263 of 222788.2%★★★★☆
201992.3142 of 258594.5%★★★★★
201891.5133 of 212893.8%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202691.1513 of 558190.8%★★★★★
202586.9759 of 559786.4%★★★★☆
202490.0619 of 561289.0%★★★★☆
202381.11051 of 560981.3%★★★★☆
202285.9823 of 563585.4%★★★★☆
201992.4406 of 549292.6%★★★★★
201892.4414 of 541392.4%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202695.8121 of 509497.6%★★★★★
202594.9172 of 510796.6%★★★★★
202494.4190 of 510796.3%★★★★★
202379.3771 of 508784.8%★★★★☆
202294.8192 of 508496.2%★★★★★
201995.7121 of 496397.6%★★★★★
201898.147 of 483099.0%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202697.679 of 542398.5%★★★★★
202595.8150 of 546097.3%★★★★★
202496.6169 of 551796.9%★★★★★
202391.2338 of 536393.7%★★★★★
202293.4233 of 526495.6%★★★★★
201997.563 of 517398.8%★★★★★
201898.727 of 508499.5%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202692.4431 of 560392.3%★★★★★
202590.4559 of 562890.1%★★★★★
202489.9620 of 564389.0%★★★★☆
202388.9684 of 563887.9%★★★★☆
202282.11010 of 566382.2%★★★★☆
201994.1308 of 551094.4%★★★★★
201895.4225 of 543195.9%★★★★★

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202689.06 of 12395.1%★★★★★
202586.617 of 15388.9%★★★★☆
202488.78 of 11893.2%★★★★★
202382.818 of 14087.1%★★★★☆
202281.319 of 13085.4%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202234.6435 of 61028.7%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202693.8134 of 292795.4%★★★★★
202588.2247 of 284791.3%★★★★★
202483.9282 of 263589.3%★★★★☆
202390.1172 of 242092.9%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202682.2344 of 253686.4%★★★★☆
202579.6427 of 259883.6%★★★★☆
202481.6367 of 265186.2%★★★★☆
202376.0582 of 266178.1%★★★★☆
202267.3902 of 272666.9%★★★☆☆
201986.0220 of 283492.2%★★★★★
201886.5199 of 273792.7%★★★★★
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202690.4254 of 274090.7%★★★★★
202594.1177 of 276193.6%★★★★★
202491.7238 of 278391.4%★★★★★
202388.1321 of 278188.5%★★★★☆
201988.9288 of 271589.4%★★★★☆
201891.5204 of 248091.8%★★★★★
201779.5476 of 250881.0%★★★★☆
201692.1180 of 249792.8%★★★★★
201589.9224 of 247791.0%★★★★★
201382.4254 of 237989.3%★★★★☆
201277.2371 of 225983.6%★★★★☆
201182.5242 of 223689.2%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202691.4198 of 251692.1%★★★★★
202592.3189 of 253392.5%★★★★★
202489.3264 of 255189.7%★★★★☆
202385.1340 of 253186.6%★★★★☆
202290.1234 of 250990.7%★★★★★
201985.4313 of 238086.8%★★★★☆
201888.8238 of 226289.5%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202696.247 of 235798.0%★★★★★
202489.1152 of 238893.6%★★★★★
202381.6282 of 237488.1%★★★★☆
202297.540 of 235998.3%★★★★★
201986.6185 of 221391.6%★★★★★
201889.5146 of 207293.0%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202696.359 of 252997.7%★★★★★
202598.532 of 254298.7%★★★★★
202494.0124 of 257995.2%★★★★★
202390.7157 of 253193.8%★★★★★
202286.0202 of 245891.8%★★★★★
201992.9105 of 236995.6%★★★★★
201894.075 of 223096.6%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202687.3282 of 251488.8%★★★★☆
202593.0181 of 253492.9%★★★★★
202491.7214 of 255291.6%★★★★★
202388.3288 of 253888.7%★★★★☆
202273.6564 of 252777.7%★★★★☆
201989.3256 of 240789.4%★★★★☆
201890.7207 of 227390.9%★★★★★

Military Connected

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202686.216 of 18191.2%★★★★★
202589.213 of 19493.3%★★★★★
202487.315 of 19292.2%★★★★★
202385.321 of 19789.3%★★★★☆
202277.537 of 19380.8%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202492.383 of 155294.7%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202679.0244 of 149083.6%★★★★☆
202590.562 of 152095.9%★★★★★
202489.483 of 153794.6%★★★★★
202384.6161 of 154389.6%★★★★☆
202263.9521 of 155566.5%★★★☆☆
201981.1240 of 160285.0%★★★★☆
201884.5168 of 149688.8%★★★★☆
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 (2026)99th percentile+7 vs school
Hispanic (2026)98th percentile+6 vs school
African American (2025)97th percentile+8 vs school
Special Education (2026)95th percentile+4 vs school
Military Connected (2026)95th percentile+3 vs school
Male (2026)92nd percentile~ school
Female (2026)91st percentile~ school
Disabled (2022)88th percentile+4 vs school
White (2026)86th percentile-5 vs school
Multi-racial (2022)29th percentile-56 vs school
Middle school
Hispanic (2026)98th percentile+7 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)98th percentile+7 vs school
Special Education (2024)95th percentile+3 vs school
Female (2026)92nd percentile~ school
Military Connected (2026)91st percentile~ school
Male (2026)89th percentile~ school
White (2026)84th percentile-7 vs school
By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?
English Language Arts/Literacy80%+30 vs state
Mathematics66%+28 vs state
Science62%+26 vs state

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What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, June 17, 2011

Open Quote 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





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Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary

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

Yes. Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary ranks in the top 8.3% of California elementary schools.

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

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 data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026
2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026
2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026
2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026


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.

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