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Descanso Elementary

Q: Is Descanso Elementary a good school?

Descanso Elementary ranks 1928 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

1928^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 67% of California elementary schools

Summary

Descanso Elementary is a public elementary school located in Descanso, CA, serving 214 students in grades K-6. It is part of the Mountain Empire Unified School District, which is ranked 1365 out of 1565 districts in California and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Descanso Elementary consistently outperforms its district and the state of California in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 65% of Descanso Elementary students were proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, compared to 26.15% for the district and 48.81% for the state. In mathematics, 38% of Descanso Elementary students were proficient or better, compared to 13.1% for the district and 37.3% for the state. The school's science proficiency rates are also significantly higher than the district and state averages. Descanso Elementary has a strong performance among its Hispanic and low socioeconomic status (SES) student subgroups, ranking in the top quartile of California elementary schools for these groups.

Descanso Elementary outperforms the nearby James Dukes Elementary (Ramona City Unified) and the schools in the Cajon Valley Union School District (Rios Elementary, Crest Elementary, Blossom Valley Elementary) in academic achievement across all grade levels and subjects. However, the Alpine Union Elementary District schools (Creekside Early Learning Center, Mountain View Learning Academy, Shadow Hills Elementary, Boulder Oaks Elementary) and The Heights Charter School perform on par or better than Descanso Elementary in many academic areas. Descanso Elementary's higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to nearby schools may be an area of concern that requires further investigation.

188

Students ?

20.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,860

Per pupil spending ?

45.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

24842 Viejas Blvd.
Descanso, CA 91916-9757

(619) 445-2126

District: Mountain Empire Unified

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.3%

Hispanic:

39.4%

Two or more races:

5.3%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Descanso Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2015 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (50% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Mountain Empire Unified

✓Above the California median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg19%

California avg41%

1,928^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 21% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4Elementary Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified

1361^st of 1,543Mountain Empire Unified 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	62.8	1928 of 5857	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.6	1383 of 5869	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	66.3	1739 of 5859	70.3%	★★★★☆
2022	57.0	2173 of 5883	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.4	720 of 1417	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	70.9	1558 of 5789	73.1%	★★★★☆
2018	79.6	1156 of 5662	79.6%	★★★★☆
2017	73.3	1417 of 5692	75.1%	★★★★☆
2016	85.5	874 of 5614	84.4%	★★★★☆
2015	78.2	1185 of 5611	78.9%	★★★★☆
2013	92.3	302 of 5530	94.5%	★★★★★
2012	54.0	2397 of 5390	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.7	1538 of 5377	71.4%	★★★★☆
2010	53.5	2357 of 5314	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	73.2	1295 of 5193	75.1%	★★★★☆
2008	80.9	931 of 5113	81.8%	★★★★☆
2007	68.3	1442 of 5113	71.8%	★★★★☆
2006	81.8	882 of 4818	81.7%	★★★★☆
2005	76.9	1058 of 4822	78.1%	★★★★☆
2004	65.4	1474 of 4809	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	78.9	1117 of 5597	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	1147 of 5612	79.6%	★★★★☆
2023	65.2	1706 of 5609	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.6	1870 of 5635	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.2	1684 of 5492	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	89.8	354 of 5107	93.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.3	2183 of 5460	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	85.0	628 of 5517	88.6%	★★★★☆
2023	59.0	1804 of 5363	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	2174 of 5264	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.5	561 of 1110	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.6	944 of 5173	81.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.1	3187 of 5628	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.7	1668 of 5643	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	65.0	1726 of 5638	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.0	2449 of 5663	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.0	619 of 1272	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.9	1137 of 5510	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	83.1	930 of 5431	82.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	1713 of 2598	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.4	1366 of 2651	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.7	1643 of 2661	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.0	1959 of 2726	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	53.9	1425 of 2834	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	68.9	867 of 2737	68.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2024)93rd percentile+17 vs school

Female (2025)80th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)60th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2025)43rd percentile-24 vs school

White (2025)34th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy65%+16 vs state

Science39%+7 vs state

Mathematics38%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Descanso 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)	% DTP (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	% DTP KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Descanso Elementary	Public	K-6	24842 Viejas Blvd.	Descanso	91916	San Diego County	Mountain Empire Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 445-2126	188	9	20.8	45.2%	102 (54.3%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (39.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.3%)	62.8	1928^th of 5857 public elementary schools	67.1%		74.6	1383^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	76.4%	545	39.3		39.3	33.3	60.0	78.6	84.2			65.0	27.8	42.9	25.0	57.9			38.0				$26,860	$25,492	$1,368
The Heights Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	2710 Alpine Blvd. Ste. E	Alpine	91901	San Diego County	The Heights Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 792-9000	283	10	28.8	13.4%	232 (82.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.3%)	79.7	1171^st of 5857 public elementary schools	80.0%		74.3	1394^th of 5869 public elementary schools	76.2%	223	53.6	40.0	47.2	57.1	53.9	64.3	58.1	74.1	60.0	61.2	66.7	57.7	57.1	58.1	55.6	37.5	55.8	90.5	90.5	90.5
Boulder Oaks Elementary	Public	1-5	2320 Tavern Rd.	Alpine	91901	San Diego County	Alpine Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 445-8676	367	16	22.9	39.8%	214 (58.3%)	2 (0.5%)	92 (25.1%)	3 (0.8%)	17 (4.6%)	1 (0.3%)	37 (10.1%)	57	2214^th of 5857 public elementary schools	62.2%		44.6	2889^th of 5869 public elementary schools	50.8%	675	40.6		40.6	48.6	31.8	56.3				47.0	58.8	30.3	41.7				43.5				$25,474	$24,342	$1,132
Creekside Early Learning Center	Public	K	8818 Harbison Canyon Rd.	Alpine	91901	San Diego County	Alpine Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 659-8250	227	10	22.7	33.9%	118 (52.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (34.4%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (11.5%)								(n/a)																					$32,901	$31,720	$1,181
Mountain View Learning Academy	Public	K-8	8770 Harbison Canyon Rd.	Alpine	91901	San Diego County	Alpine Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 659-2854	64	3	21.3	39.1%	33 (51.6%)	5 (7.8%)	18 (28.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.7%)	40.7	3171^st of 5857 public elementary schools	45.9%		54.4	2321^st of 5869 public elementary schools	60.5%	850	50.0		40.0			41.7	27.3			38.8			8.3	36.4			38.8				$19,138	$18,356	$782
Shadow Hills Elementary	Public	1-5	8770 Harbison Canyon Rd.	Alpine	91901	San Diego County	Alpine Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 445-2977	377	18	20.9	33.4%	158 (41.9%)	5 (1.3%)	161 (42.7%)	3 (0.8%)	10 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (10.3%)	78	1242^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	78.8%		71.8	1510^th of 5869 public elementary schools	74.3%	268	41.8		41.8	51.3	65.5	68.7				60.9	62.0	72.7	50.8				61.2				$21,667	$20,486	$1,181
Blossom Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	9863 Oakmont Terr.	El Cajon	92021	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3678	533	23	23.6	65.7%	323 (60.6%)	8 (1.5%)	147 (27.6%)	9 (1.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	42 (7.9%)	49.9	2596^th of 5857 public elementary schools	55.7%		65.9	1780^th of 5869 public elementary schools	69.7%	816	23.2		23.2	44.4	52.9	43.2				47.0	60.5	41.9	23.2				41.8				$25,133	$24,002	$1,131
James Dukes Elementary	Public	K-6	24908 Abalar Way	Ramona	92065	San Diego County	Ramona City Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 788-5060	502	23	21.8	39.2%	239 (47.6%)	4 (0.8%)	191 (38.0%)	4 (0.8%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (11.0%)	72.5	1500^th of 5857 public elementary schools	74.4%		79	1197^th of 5869 public elementary schools	79.6%	303	34.4		34.4	51.5	66.7	51.6	62.5			57.9	61.8	54.4	42.2	63.9			55.9				$1,691	$902	$789
Dehesa Elementary	Public	K-8	4612 Dehesa Rd.	El Cajon	92019	San Diego County	Dehesa Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 444-2161	399	28	14.4	36.8%	124 (31.1%)	8 (2.0%)	168 (42.1%)	9 (2.3%)	7 (1.8%)	3 (0.8%)	79 (19.8%)	26.5	4275^th of 5857 public elementary schools	27.0%		20.8	4789^th of 5869 public elementary schools	18.4%	514	22.9	37.5	26.6	14.3	26.2	34.7	46.3	44.4	43.8	34.0	14.8	26.2	18.8	26.8	27.8	37.5	24.0				$33,353	$33,144	$209
Rios Elementary	Public	K-5	14314 Rios Canyon Rd.	El Cajon	92021	San Diego County	Cajon Valley Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 588-3090	255	12	21.2	76.1%	98 (38.4%)	16 (6.3%)	110 (43.1%)	8 (3.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (8.6%)	38.4	3323^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	43.3%		20.2	4850^th of 5869 public elementary schools	17.4%	1527	23.5		23.5	36.4	40.5	36.4				38.0	48.5	28.6	32.4				35.8				$27,220	$25,570	$1,650

Frequently Asked Questions about Descanso Elementary

What schools do graduates of Descanso Elementary attend?

Students who attend Descanso Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Mountain Empire High

What is the racial makeup of Descanso Elementary?

Students at Descanso Elementary are 54% White, 39% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

Is Descanso Elementary a good school?

Descanso Elementary ranks 1928^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Descanso Elementary in?

Mountain Empire Unified

How many students attend Descanso Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 188 students attended Descanso Elementary.

Rate Descanso Elementary!

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Schools in Descanso, CA

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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.