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Vista La Mesa Academy

Q: Is Vista La Mesa Academy a good school?

Vista La Mesa Academy ranks 4062 nd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

4062^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of California elementary schools

Summary

Vista La Mesa Academy is a K-8 public school serving 518 students in the Lemon Grove School District, which serves a community with significant economic need, as over 70% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, the school's performance is mixed, with test scores in English, math, and science generally below the California state average but typical for its district. For example, its English proficiency rate of 36% is similar to San Miguel Elementary (30%) but lower than Lemon Grove Academy Elementary (43%) within the same district. Performance varies greatly by grade, with 6th-grade math being a relative strength while 5th-grade math is a notable challenge. The school has shown a particular strength in supporting English Language Learners, who perform above average for the state.

When compared to schools in neighboring districts like San Diego Unified and La Mesa-Spring Valley, a performance gap is evident; nearby schools such as Language Academy and La Mesa Dale Elementary serve similar student populations but achieve significantly higher proficiency rates. Chronic absenteeism, while improved from pandemic highs, remains above the state average, and the school's statewide ranking has gradually declined over the past decade despite a recent increase in per-student funding.

518

Students ?

24.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,060

Per pupil spending ?

71.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3900 Violet St.
La Mesa, CA 91941-7542

(619) 825-5645

District: Lemon Grove

Students who attend Vista La Mesa Academy usually attend:

High:

Mount Miguel High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

62.7%

African American:

14.5%

White:

9.8%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Vista La Mesa Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 30th percentile in 2013 → 31st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (29% vs 41% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 13 pts below the California average

!Near the bottom of Lemon Grove's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg32%

California avg41%

Elementary school

4,062^nd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▲ up 5 pts since 2015

From bottom 25% (2015) to bottom 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,481^st of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 27% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Lemon Grove

929^th of 1,543Lemon Grove 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	28.9	4062 of 5857	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.1	3917 of 5869	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	3398 of 5859	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.5	3660 of 5883	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.2	3444 of 5789	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.1	3273 of 5662	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	43.8	2875 of 5692	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	42.0	2955 of 5614	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	24.3	4191 of 5611	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	32.0	3897 of 5530	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	35.4	3574 of 5390	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	27.7	4149 of 5377	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.2	4284 of 5314	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.8	3566 of 5193	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	33.3	3374 of 5113	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	31.4	3472 of 5113	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	39.7	2735 of 4818	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	39.1	2774 of 4822	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2004	35.5	2912 of 4809	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	85.4	55 of 661	91.7%	★★★★★
2022	62.1	175 of 663	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	66.5	184 of 747	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	69.5	151 of 700	78.4%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	55.1	840 of 2585	67.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	52.1	1074 of 3162	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.2	1127 of 3245	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.4	686 of 3311	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	60.6	804 of 3275	75.5%	★★★★☆
2018	41.3	1695 of 3246	47.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.3	4064 of 5597	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.8	3723 of 5612	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.8	3433 of 5609	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.8	3949 of 5635	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.7	4011 of 5492	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.2	3337 of 5413	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.5	4004 of 5107	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.9	3886 of 5107	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.7	3157 of 5087	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.7	3240 of 5084	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.6	2381 of 4963	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.1	2609 of 4830	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.0	3835 of 5460	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.8	3162 of 5517	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.5	3026 of 5363	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.3	2817 of 5264	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.2	2668 of 5173	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.2	2734 of 5084	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.4	3665 of 5628	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.3	3722 of 5643	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.0	3065 of 5638	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.9	3144 of 5663	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.3	2658 of 5510	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.7	2995 of 5431	44.9%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	29.7	84 of 118	28.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.8	57 of 140	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.9	85 of 130	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	1481 of 2761	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.4	1033 of 2783	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.6	1317 of 2781	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.3	1637 of 2740	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.4	1435 of 2715	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.0	1283 of 2480	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.1	1334 of 2508	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	33.1	1544 of 2497	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	25.4	1813 of 2477	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	46.7	1248 of 2379	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.5	1291 of 2259	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.3	1350 of 2236	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	79.0	92 of 627	85.3%	★★★★☆
2023	72.2	121 of 613	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	67.2	174 of 643	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	69.5	145 of 600	75.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	30.1	1053 of 1531	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	79.5	87 of 1478	94.1%	★★★★★
2023	62.0	243 of 1521	84.0%	★★★★☆
2022	56.4	348 of 1540	77.4%	★★★★☆
2019	45.2	538 of 1442	62.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.6	1357 of 2533	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.5	1293 of 2551	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.3	1262 of 2531	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.4	1712 of 2509	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.4	1435 of 2380	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.9	1121 of 2262	50.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.7	1374 of 2395	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.2	682 of 2388	71.4%	★★★★☆
2023	51.9	929 of 2374	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.2	1356 of 2359	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.8	1316 of 2213	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.0	1070 of 2072	48.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.7	956 of 2542	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.8	620 of 2579	76.0%	★★★★☆
2023	50.6	1005 of 2531	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.9	1170 of 2458	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.5	1229 of 2369	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.4	819 of 2230	63.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.7	1383 of 2534	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	64.6	724 of 2552	71.6%	★★★★☆
2023	46.3	1171 of 2538	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.3	1271 of 2527	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.5	1201 of 2407	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.2	1308 of 2273	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	71.8	51 of 192	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	63.0	74 of 197	62.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.2	841 of 1566	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.9	300 of 1531	80.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	69.8	436 of 1537	71.6%	★★★★☆

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

African American (2023)92nd percentile+50 vs school

Disabled (2019)68th percentile+27 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)66th percentile+33 vs school

Male (2025)35th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)30th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2024)29th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)27th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)22nd percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

English Language Learner (2024)94th percentile+31 vs school

African American (2024)85th percentile+22 vs school

Military Connected (2024)73rd percentile+11 vs school

White (2024)72nd percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)62nd percentile+16 vs school

Female (2025)46th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)46th percentile~ school

Male (2025)45th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)31st percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy36%-13 vs state

Mathematics26%-11 vs state

Science22%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Vista La Mesa Academy

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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
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		$23,060	$21,192	$1,868
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							$40,330	$38,236	$2,094
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	$26,117	$24,160	$1,957
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	$19,997	$18,696	$1,301
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							$17,569	$15,934	$1,635
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							$23,926	$22,002	$1,924
Darnall Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	6020 Hughes St.	San Diego	92115	San Diego County	Darnall Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 582-1822	442	21	21.5	79.6%	5 (1.1%)	38 (8.6%)	357 (80.8%)	25 (5.7%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	12 (2.7%)	14.5	5307^th of 5857 public elementary schools	9.4%		22.4	4641^st of 5869 public elementary schools	20.9%	666	16.7	18.4	17.4	4.8	8.5	30.0	27.1	36.4	33.3	23.9	9.3	6.4	23.3	14.3	18.6	22.5	16.2
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		$24,138	$22,546	$1,592
Carver Elementary	Public	K-5	3251 Juanita St.	San Diego	92105	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 344-6600	187	8	23.3	90.9%	7 (3.7%)	33 (17.6%)	101 (54.0%)	27 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	14 (7.5%)	22.2	4660^th of 5857 public elementary schools	20.4%		18	5035^th of 5869 public elementary schools	14.2%	375	30.0		30.0	14.3	16.0	52.6				26.2	19.1	3.7	25.0				14.7							$38,046	$35,588	$2,458
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Vista La Mesa Academy

How many students attend Vista La Mesa Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 518 students attended Vista La Mesa Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Vista La Mesa Academy?

Students at Vista La Mesa Academy are 63% Hispanic, 14% African American, 10% White, 8% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

Is Vista La Mesa Academy a good school?

Vista La Mesa Academy ranks 4062^nd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Vista La Mesa Academy attend?

Students who attend Vista La Mesa Academy usually go on to attend:

High : Mount Miguel High

What district is Vista La Mesa Academy in?

Lemon Grove

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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.