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El Capitan High

Q: Is El Capitan High a good school?

El Capitan High ranks 1020 th of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

1020^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,135 California High Schools

Better than 52% of California high schools

Summary

El Capitan High is a public high school serving grades 9–12 and 1,810 students in Lakeside, in eastern San Diego County. Its clearest academic strength is English language arts (ELA), while math and science are the bigger concerns: in 2025–26, ELA proficiency exceeded state and district rates, but math and science proficiency fell below both.

ELA is also a relative strength compared with nearby comprehensive high schools in the same district: El Capitan ranked third among five in each of the three tested subjects, but its ELA rate was 55%, compared with 51% across those schools. Math proficiency was 26% and science was 27%, below nearby-school averages of 30% and 32%. Compared with the Grossmont Union High District, El Capitan was 3 percentage points higher in ELA, but 2 points lower in math and 6 points lower in science. Statewide, it was 6 points higher in ELA, but 12 points lower in math and 9 points lower in science. Among nearby schools with a 2025–26 SchoolDigger rank, El Capitan’s 52nd-percentile standing was behind West Hills High and Santana High.

Math proficiency improved from 20% in 2022–23 to 26% in 2025–26, while ELA edged up from 54% to 55%; science fell from 32% to 27%, shifting from 2 points above the state to 9 points below it. Chronic absenteeism also declined, from 31% in 2021–22 to 24% in 2025–26, but remained above the state’s 18% and district’s 20%. SchoolDigger rated El Capitan 3 stars, placing it at the 52nd percentile statewide in 2025–26. Its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 21.8, and 52% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. SchoolDigger’s group rankings point to notably lower relative performance for Asian students: the school ranked at the 1st percentile for this group in 2024–25, versus the 50th percentile overall. For White students, it ranked at the 22nd percentile in 2025–26, compared with the 52nd percentile overall.

1,810

Students ?

21.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,257

Per pupil spending ?

52.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

10410 Ashwood St.
Lakeside, CA 92040-2406

(619) 938-9100

District: Grossmont Union High

Feeder schools for El Capitan High:

Elementary:	Blossom Valley Elementary
	Lakeside Farms Elementary
	Lakeview Elementary
	Lemon Crest Elementary
	More...
	Lindo Park Elementary
Middle:	Lakeside Middle
	Tierra del Sol Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.4%

Hispanic:

38.3%

Two or more races:

6.6%

See top rated California high schools

Compare El Capitan High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 49th percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the California median (52nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (36% vs 42% meeting standards)

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

!Mathematics scores 12 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg37%

California avg42%

1,020^th of 2,135

California public high schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 12High Schools in the Grossmont Union High

684^th of 1,530Grossmont Union High 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
2026	50.9	1020 of 2135	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.7	1080 of 2162	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.5	662 of 2159	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.7	787 of 2170	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.5	618 of 2123	70.9%	★★★★☆
2021	46.3	662 of 1290	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.9	767 of 2133	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.2	704 of 2017	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.1	687 of 2021	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	48.5	1034 of 2039	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	53.1	915 of 1994	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	48.5	825 of 2426	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.7	783 of 2354	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	51.5	753 of 2367	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.4	665 of 2281	70.8%	★★★★☆
2009	57.1	543 of 2238	75.7%	★★★★☆
2008	51.2	652 of 2117	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	53.0	585 of 2063	71.6%	★★★★☆
2006	44.9	740 of 1968	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	45.8	676 of 1901	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	42.8	643 of 1653	61.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	54.7	187 of 522	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.2	137 of 582	76.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	1.1	578 of 585	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.3	556 of 591	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	50.7	380 of 1161	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.9	164 of 555	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	44.2	493 of 1117	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.0	358 of 1052	66.0%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	54.6	275 of 1085	74.7%	★★★★☆
2023	39.2	580 of 1064	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.6	167 of 1044	84.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	51.5	884 of 1864	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.5	977 of 1906	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.2	528 of 1915	72.4%	★★★★☆
2023	56.1	754 of 1915	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.7	624 of 1858	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.8	722 of 1054	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.4	599 of 1833	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.7	607 of 1760	65.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	57.4	747 of 1880	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.5	1166 of 1900	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.0	571 of 1902	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	51.7	871 of 1917	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.9	768 of 1861	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.9	756 of 1814	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.1	887 of 1742	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	46.7	1058 of 1997	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.9	1123 of 2013	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.2	831 of 2026	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.5	793 of 2030	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.0	743 of 1943	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.0	656 of 1126	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.5	735 of 1937	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.8	811 of 1862	56.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	44.5	1046 of 1930	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.1	1027 of 1942	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.3	743 of 1948	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.3	720 of 1963	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.6	537 of 1916	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	52.1	485 of 1122	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.0	908 of 1880	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.1	756 of 1834	58.8%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.6	107 of 175	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	111 of 183	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	11.6	173 of 190	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	46.1	322 of 588	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	17.1	492 of 577	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.2	351 of 574	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	16.0	455 of 541	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	50.0	264 of 515	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.6	288 of 422	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.3	179 of 366	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	43.3	584 of 1235	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.4	345 of 1252	72.4%	★★★★☆
2024	32.7	765 of 1216	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.1	663 of 1197	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	25.3	881 of 1130	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.1	737 of 1155	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.3	676 of 1173	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	678 of 1193	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.6	625 of 1204	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.8	775 of 1222	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.7	572 of 1173	51.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)75th percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2022)67th percentile-4 vs school

African American (2022)64th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)60th percentile+8 vs school

Special Education (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2026)46th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)45th percentile-7 vs school

Military Connected (2025)39th percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)22nd percentile-30 vs school

Asian (2025)1st percentile-49 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy55%+6 vs state

Science27%-9 vs state

Mathematics26%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near El Capitan High

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)				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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
El Capitan High	Public	9-12	10410 Ashwood St.	Lakeside	92040	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 938-9100	1,810	83	21.8	52.2%	876 (48.4%)	29 (1.6%)	694 (38.3%)	57 (3.1%)	27 (1.5%)	6 (0.3%)	120 (6.6%)	50.9	1020^th of 2135 public high schools	52.2%		47.7	1080^th of 2162 public high schools	50.0%	60			26.5	36.4	26.8			55.2	55.2			26.0	26.0	$20,257	$1,154	$19,103
River Valley Charter	Public, Charter	7-12	9707 1/2 Marilla Dr.	Lakeside	92040	San Diego County	River Valley Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 390-2579	231	12	19.5	20.8%	158 (68.4%)	5 (2.2%)	56 (24.2%)	3 (1.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	95.8	73^rd of 2135 public high schools	96.6%		97.5	45^th of 2162 public high schools	97.9%	28	47.2			60.6	53.6	28.6	61.8	88.6	66.7	35.0	50.0	57.8	50.5	$15,273	$213	$15,060
Santana High	Public	9-12	9915 North Magnolia Ave.	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-0211	1,621	69	23.5	46.0%	868 (53.5%)	23 (1.4%)	529 (32.6%)	68 (4.2%)	7 (0.4%)	3 (0.2%)	123 (7.6%)	79.4	421^st of 2135 public high schools	80.3%		76.4	472^nd of 2162 public high schools	78.2%	51			46.7		46.0			65.6	65.6			46.3	46.3	$19,546	$1,145	$18,401
Granite Hills High	Public	9-12	1719 East Madison Ave.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 593-5500	2,331	97	24.0	57.6%	1,131 (48.5%)	40 (1.7%)	903 (38.7%)	94 (4.0%)	33 (1.4%)	7 (0.3%)	122 (5.2%)	44.7	1151^st of 2135 public high schools	46.1%		39.5	1273^rd of 2162 public high schools	41.1%	122			25.1	5.6	24.4			49.2	49.2			23.6	23.6	$18,227	$1,202	$17,025
Altus Schools East County	Public, Charter	7-12	111 Fletcher Pkwy.	El Cajon	92121	San Diego County	Altus Schools East County District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 678-2020	287	8	35.3	73.2%	68 (23.7%)	21 (7.3%)	167 (58.2%)	8 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.6%)	41.7	1225^th of 2135 public high schools	42.6%		36.1	1355^th of 2162 public high schools	37.3%	130	14.8	22.2	46.2	40.0	26.7	30.4	22.2	40.0	31.8	13.0	14.8	8.6	11.8	$15,499	$1,124	$14,375
El Cajon Valley High	Public	9-12	1035 East Madison Ave.	El Cajon	92021	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 407-4711	1,701	82	20.7	88.8%	633 (37.2%)	157 (9.2%)	692 (40.7%)	120 (7.1%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.4%)	90 (5.3%)	19.6	1660^th of 2135 public high schools	22.2%		23.2	1629^th of 2162 public high schools	24.7%	31			17.6	0.0	16.3			21.6	21.6			9.7	9.7	$21,157	$1,789	$19,368
Chaparral High	Public	9-12	1600 North Cuyamaca St.	El Cajon	92020	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-4600	45	6	7.2	77.8%	14 (31.1%)	7 (15.6%)	22 (48.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.4%)	7.5	2083^rd of 2135 public high schools	2.4%		8	2120^th of 2162 public high schools	1.9%	37			0.0		0.0			3.1	3.1			3.3	3.3	$75,648	$2,933	$72,715
MERIT Academy	Public	9-12	1600 North Cuyamaca St.	El Cajon	91944	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-0600	68	7	9.6	73.5%	28 (41.2%)	7 (10.3%)	28 (41.2%)	2 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)								(n/a)														$41,422	$1,670	$39,752
IDEA Center	Public	9-12	1600 North Cuyamaca St.	El Cajon	92020	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-4332	127	16	7.7	65.4%	60 (47.2%)	3 (2.4%)	51 (40.2%)	2 (1.6%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.3%)	20.7	1640^th of 2135 public high schools	23.2%		21.4	1665^th of 2162 public high schools	23.0%	25			20.5		20.0			28.9	28.9			2.2	2.2	$37,737	$1,372	$36,365
Elite Academy	Public	9-12	230 Jamacha Blvd.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Grossmont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3545	34	3	10.7	64.7%	16 (47.1%)	4 (11.8%)	12 (35.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)								(n/a)														$60,283	$1,114	$59,169

Frequently Asked Questions about El Capitan High

Is El Capitan High a good school?

El Capitan High ranks 1020^th of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into El Capitan High?

El Capitan High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Blossom Valley Elementary
Elementary : Lakeside Farms Elementary
Elementary : Lakeview Elementary
Elementary : Lemon Crest Elementary
Elementary : Lindo Park Elementary
Middle : Lakeside Middle
Middle : Tierra del Sol Middle

How many students attend El Capitan High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,810 students attended El Capitan High.

What is the racial makeup of El Capitan High?

Students at El Capitan High are 48% White, 38% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American, 1% American Indian.

What district is El Capitan High in?

Grossmont Union High

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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.