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La Mesa Dale Elementary

Q: Is La Mesa Dale Elementary a good school?

La Mesa Dale Elementary ranks 2279 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

2279^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of California elementary schools

Summary

La Mesa Dale Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 460 students in the La Mesa-Spring Valley district, notable for its significant and rapid improvement in statewide ranking from the 47th to the 61st percentile over the last three years.

The school has achieved something remarkable with attendance, slashing its chronic absenteeism rate from 31.6% to just 8.2%, which is less than half the rate of both the district and state and is the best among nearby schools like Rolando Elementary (18.3%) and Vista La Mesa Academy (25.7%). Academically, it performs solidly, with English and Science scores above average, and it shows particular strength in supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who perform at the 66th percentile. The school also operates very cost-effectively, spending less per student than several neighboring schools such as Lemon Grove Academy Elementary and Pendleton Elementary.

When compared to schools in the area, La Mesa Dale holds its own: it outperforms San Miguel Elementary in the Lemon Grove district and has a similar ranking to Maryland Avenue Elementary, though that school has stronger English scores. A point for continued growth is in 5th-grade math, where scores dip, suggesting a focus area for the school. Overall, La Mesa Dale is a school on a strong upward trend, effectively engaging its community and supporting its students' success.

460

Students ?

26.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,676

Per pupil spending ?

68.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4251 Olive Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941

(619) 668-5740

District: La Mesa-Spring Valley

Students who attend La Mesa Dale Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	La Mesa Arts Academy
High:	Mount Miguel High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.2%

White:

22.2%

African American:

11.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare La Mesa Dale Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 40th percentile in 2013 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 21 percentile points since 2013

✓Above the California median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 26 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school44%

District avg41%

California avg41%

2,279^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 17Elementary Schools in the La Mesa-Spring Valley

723^rd of 1,543La Mesa-Spring Valley 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	55.5	2279 of 5857	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.6	2367 of 5869	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.1	3110 of 5859	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.7	2818 of 5883	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.3	2407 of 5789	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.4	2423 of 5662	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.2	2169 of 5692	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.4	2021 of 5614	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	52.9	2294 of 5611	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	39.6	3335 of 5530	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.9	3210 of 5390	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	36.3	3515 of 5377	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	31.3	3751 of 5314	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	48.3	2591 of 5193	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	49.4	2406 of 5113	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.1	1550 of 5113	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	70.6	1305 of 4818	72.9%	★★★★☆
2005	61.2	1696 of 4822	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	70.5	1286 of 4809	73.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	62.4	188 of 661	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	72.1	127 of 663	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	69.2	153 of 700	78.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	43.5	975 of 2227	56.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	35.7	2125 of 3162	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.7	752 of 3245	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	93.3	121 of 3275	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	91.6	154 of 3246	95.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.7	2208 of 5597	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	2652 of 5612	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.0	3012 of 5609	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.1	2515 of 5635	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.7	2348 of 5492	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.2	2485 of 5413	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.0	1770 of 5107	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.1	2125 of 5107	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.7	2627 of 5087	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.8	1650 of 5084	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.1	1900 of 4963	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.2	1225 of 4830	74.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	60.2	1847 of 5460	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.6	1818 of 5517	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.8	2651 of 5363	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	1726 of 5264	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.7	1742 of 5173	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.9	1518 of 5084	70.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.7	2254 of 5628	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.2	2025 of 5643	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.0	2997 of 5638	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.5	2920 of 5663	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.5	2340 of 5510	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.7	2243 of 5431	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	56.9	59 of 153	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.3	30 of 118	74.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.5	958 of 2847	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.7	1435 of 2635	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.3	1419 of 2420	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.6	1142 of 2598	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.2	1090 of 2651	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.7	1938 of 2661	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.2	2415 of 2726	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.6	1439 of 2834	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

African American (2023)72nd percentile+25 vs school

Special Education (2025)66th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)66th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)65th percentile+4 vs school

Military Connected (2025)61st percentile~ school

Female (2025)61st percentile~ school

Male (2025)60th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)56th percentile+4 vs school

White (2025)56th percentile-5 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)33rd percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy51%+3 vs state

Mathematics40%+3 vs state

Science36%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near La Mesa Dale 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 (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
La Mesa Dale Elementary	Public	K-5	4251 Olive Ave.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5740	460	18	26.2	68.3%	102 (22.2%)	51 (11.1%)	231 (50.2%)	25 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (10.9%)	55.5	2279^th of 5857 public elementary schools	61.1%		53.6	2367^th of 5869 public elementary schools	59.7%	88	35.8		35.8	51.3	55.7	47.1				51.4	47.4	40.0	30.9				39.8							$17,676	$1,535	$16,141
Rolando Elementary	Public	K-5	6925 Tower St.	La Mesa	91942	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5800	371	13	28.5	68.7%	95 (25.6%)	29 (7.8%)	178 (48.0%)	31 (8.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.7%)	51.2	2539^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.7%		43.5	2956^th of 5869 public elementary schools	49.6%	417	35.6		35.6	39.7	47.6	55.9				47.6	35.5	41.9	37.3				38.3	95.6	97.1	97.1	97.1	95.6	97.1	$17,808	$1,465	$16,343
Vista La Mesa Academy	Public	K-8	3900 Violet St.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	Lemon Grove	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 825-5645	518	21	24.2	71.8%	51 (9.8%)	75 (14.5%)	325 (62.7%)	39 (7.5%)	3 (0.6%)	6 (1.2%)	19 (3.7%)	28.9	4062^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	30.6%		30.1	3917^th of 5869 public elementary schools	33.3%	145	18.6	25.9	22.2	33.3	42.6	22.8	37.3	44.4	34.5	35.7	22.4	31.6	10.3	38.5	32.1	22.4	25.9	96.6				96.6		$19,264	$2,452	$16,812
Lemon Grove Academy Elementary	Public	K-6	7885 Golden Ave.	Lemon Grove	91945	San Diego County	Lemon Grove	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 825-5637	399	16	25.7	83.2%	33 (8.3%)	47 (11.8%)	282 (70.7%)	11 (2.8%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	22 (5.5%)	41.5	3116^th of 5857 public elementary schools	46.8%		36.4	3411^th of 5869 public elementary schools	41.9%	295	28.8		28.8	28.4	35.0	41.7	64.3			42.8	22.4	30.0	22.2	50.0			31.2							$19,739	$2,847	$16,892
Harriet Tubman Village Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	6880 Mohawk St.	San Diego	92115	San Diego County	Harriet Tubman Village Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-8635	446	19	23.3	93.7%	6 (1.3%)	226 (50.7%)	177 (39.7%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	25 (5.6%)	17.1	5091^st of 5857 public elementary schools	13.1%		29.5	3964^th of 5869 public elementary schools	32.5%	1127	6.4	5.6	5.9	12.5	34.8	18.4	18.0	44.4	33.3	26.7	16.7	35.6	18.4	18.0	30.4	5.7	20.3							$17,888	$644	$17,244
Maryland Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	5400 Maryland Ave.	La Mesa	91942	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5744	451	19	23.7	58.5%	155 (34.4%)	41 (9.1%)	164 (36.4%)	34 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (12.4%)	65.6	1818^th of 5857 public elementary schools	69.0%		65.6	1791^st of 5869 public elementary schools	69.5%	27	43.8		43.8	66.2	60.0	50.0				59.8	54.2	47.7	20.8				43.2	94.9			96.9	96.9		$17,041	$1,159	$15,882
Rolando Park Elementary	Public	K-5	6620 Marlowe Dr.	San Diego	92115	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 344-3600	270	13	20.7	66.7%	34 (12.6%)	45 (16.7%)	137 (50.7%)	27 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	25 (9.3%)	66.2	1777^th of 5857 public elementary schools	69.7%		64.8	1830^th of 5869 public elementary schools	68.8%	53	40.4		40.4	47.1	60.6	64.4				58.0	65.7	45.7	31.9				46.2							$26,530	$4,957	$21,573
Pendleton Elementary	Public	K-5	6506 Solita Ave.	San Diego	92115	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 344-5700	352	12	29.3	77.3%	45 (12.8%)	58 (16.5%)	179 (50.9%)	24 (6.8%)	6 (1.7%)	2 (0.6%)	38 (10.8%)	40.1	3204^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.3%		32.9	3700^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.0%	496	37.0		37.0	32.7	37.8	50.0				40.0	35.2	31.3	28.3				31.8	96.7				96.7		$21,211	$3,502	$17,709
Lemon Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	8787 Lemon Ave.	La Mesa	91941	San Diego County	La Mesa-Spring Valley	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 668-5835	502	18	27.8	44.4%	242 (48.2%)	20 (4.0%)	150 (29.9%)	18 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	71 (14.1%)	73.8	1426^th of 5857 public elementary schools	75.7%		65.3	1801^st of 5869 public elementary schools	69.3%	375	46.3		46.3	60.5	55.0	58.5				58.0	70.7	47.6	45.6				55.2	95.9						$17,591	$1,190	$16,401
San Miguel Elementary	Public	K-6	7059 San Miguel Ave.	Lemon Grove	91945	San Diego County	Lemon Grove	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 825-5619	435	19	22.8	81.8%	29 (6.7%)	74 (17.0%)	279 (64.1%)	23 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	26 (6.0%)	23.8	4515^th of 5857 public elementary schools	22.9%		18	5027^th of 5869 public elementary schools	14.3%	512	11.4		11.4	33.9	32.2	13.0	40.0			29.8	30.2	25.4	11.6	26.3			23.2	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	$21,618	$3,595	$18,023

Frequently Asked Questions about La Mesa Dale Elementary

Is La Mesa Dale Elementary a good school?

La Mesa Dale Elementary ranks 2279^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is La Mesa Dale Elementary in?

La Mesa-Spring Valley

How many students attend La Mesa Dale Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 460 students attended La Mesa Dale Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of La Mesa Dale Elementary?

Students at La Mesa Dale Elementary are 50% Hispanic, 22% White, 11% African American, 11% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

What schools do graduates of La Mesa Dale Elementary attend?

Students who attend La Mesa Dale Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : La Mesa Arts Academy
High : Mount Miguel High

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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.