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Deer Canyon Elementary

Public Grades K-5

193^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,817 California Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of California elementary schools

Summary

Deer Canyon Elementary is a K–5 school with 354 students in San Diego’s Poway Unified. In 2025–26, its all-grade proficiency was 83% in English language arts (ELA), 79% in math, and 71% in science. The most important finding for parents is that Deer Canyon was well ahead of both its district and California in all three subjects.

Deer Canyon is a strong local performer, though it is not the top nearby school in every subject. Among 10 K–5 schools, it ranked third in ELA, fifth in math, and fourth in science; its results were about 8, 4, and 5 points above the nearby-school averages, respectively. It was 9, 13, and 7 points above the district in ELA, math, and science, and 34, 41, and 35 points above the state. Adobe Bluffs Elementary led local schools in ELA and math, while Willow Grove Elementary led in science. Grade 3 was a standout at Deer Canyon—86% in ELA and 90% in math, the highest among the supplied K–5 peers in both. Grade 5 ELA was a relative soft spot at 78%, only about 1 point above the district.

Results have eased since 2022–23: ELA fell 4 points, math 5, and science 8, though the school remains well above district and state results. SchoolDigger ranked Deer Canyon 192nd of 5,804 California schools, in the 97th percentile with five stars; Adobe Bluffs, Willow Grove, and Park Village Elementary ranked higher nearby. Its 2024–25 student–teacher ratio was 21.1, and 10% of students were reported as free/reduced lunch eligible that year. SchoolDigger’s measure of how well Deer Canyon serves White Students rose from the 69th percentile in 2023–24 to the 92nd in 2025–26; its ranking for Asian Students was lower, at the 80th percentile in 2025–26.

354

Students ?

21.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$31,930

Per pupil spending ?

10.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

≥ 98%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

13455 Russet Leaf Ln.
San Diego, CA 92129-4411

(858) 484-6064

District: Poway Unified

Students who attend Deer Canyon Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Mesa Verde Middle
High:	Westview High

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

50.0%

White:

27.4%

Two or more races:

11.6%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Deer Canyon Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2015 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (79% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Poway Unified

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg69%

California avg42%

193^rd of 5,817

California public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 26Elementary Schools in the Poway Unified

100^th of 1,530Poway 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
2026	96.5	193 of 5817	96.7%	★★★★★
2025	96.4	208 of 5857	96.4%	★★★★★
2024	96.4	223 of 5869	96.2%	★★★★★
2023	98.2	75 of 5859	98.7%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	92 of 5883	98.4%	★★★★★
2019	97.0	148 of 5789	97.4%	★★★★★
2018	97.9	78 of 5662	98.6%	★★★★★
2017	98.2	65 of 5692	98.9%	★★★★★
2016	98.5	29 of 5614	99.5%	★★★★★
2015	98.0	104 of 5611	98.1%	★★★★★
2013	95.6	80 of 5530	98.6%	★★★★★
2012	93.9	158 of 5390	97.1%	★★★★★
2011	94.0	187 of 5377	96.5%	★★★★★
2010	94.6	155 of 5314	97.1%	★★★★★
2009	96.0	107 of 5193	97.9%	★★★★★
2008	96.5	102 of 5113	98.0%	★★★★★
2007	97.1	96 of 5113	98.1%	★★★★★
2006	97.0	108 of 4818	97.8%	★★★★★
2005	95.9	166 of 4822	96.6%	★★★★★
2004	93.1	330 of 4809	93.1%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	77.3	238 of 1210	80.3%	★★★★☆
2025	78.8	194 of 1203	83.9%	★★★★☆
2024	81.4	130 of 1205	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	83.4	76 of 1190	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	81.1	119 of 1154	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	80.1	135 of 1149	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	81.7	87 of 1071	91.9%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	99.7	13 of 2227	99.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	97.8	51 of 5581	99.1%	★★★★★
2025	96.2	167 of 5597	97.0%	★★★★★
2024	96.6	147 of 5612	97.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.1	124 of 5609	97.8%	★★★★★
2022	97.7	79 of 5635	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	96.1	152 of 5492	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	96.9	92 of 5413	98.3%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	99.0	56 of 5517	99.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	92.8	404 of 5603	92.8%	★★★★★
2025	94.9	271 of 5628	95.2%	★★★★★
2024	94.9	291 of 5643	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	98.2	52 of 5638	99.1%	★★★★★
2022	97.2	135 of 5663	97.6%	★★★★★
2019	95.9	183 of 5510	96.7%	★★★★★
2018	97.9	65 of 5431	98.8%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	72.3	187 of 669	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	77.1	81 of 445	81.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	55.4	765 of 2420	68.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	86.5	197 of 2536	92.2%	★★★★★
2025	80.5	400 of 2598	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	69.5	819 of 2651	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	84.9	250 of 2661	90.6%	★★★★★
2022	90.6	89 of 2726	96.7%	★★★★★
2019	83.8	309 of 2834	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	88.8	125 of 2737	95.4%	★★★★★

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)

Disabled (2022)99th percentile~ school

Female (2026)99th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)99th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)93rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)92nd percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2026)80th percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)72nd percentile-27 vs school

Special Education (2023)68th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy83%+34 vs state

Mathematics79%+41 vs state

Science71%+35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Deer Canyon 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 Vaccination 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)					Vaccination (2024-25)		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 5th 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 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 All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Deer Canyon Elementary	Public	K-5	13455 Russet Leaf Ln.	San Diego	92129	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 484-6064	354	17	21.1	10.2%	97 (27.4%)	6 (1.7%)	33 (9.3%)	177 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (11.6%)	96.5	193^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	96.7%		96.4	208^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.4%	15	71.1	71.1	86.0	86.7	77.6		82.8	90.0	78.7	72.4		79.1	≥ 98%		$31,930	$31,170	$760
Sundance Elementary	Public	K-5	8944 Twin Trails Dr.	San Diego	92129	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 484-2950	428	20	21.1	14.5%	148 (34.6%)	4 (0.9%)	62 (14.5%)	156 (36.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	56 (13.1%)	91.9	549^th of 5817 public elementary schools	90.6%		91.7	565^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.4%	16	64.9	64.9	74.2	79.0	68.9		73.7	77.4	82.3	58.1		71.7	≥ 98%		$28,935	$28,696	$239
Adobe Bluffs Elementary	Public	K-5	8707 Adobe Bluffs Dr.	San Diego	92129	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 538-8403	586	28	20.7	13.8%	133 (22.7%)	5 (0.9%)	49 (8.4%)	289 (49.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	105 (17.9%)	98.1	55^th of 5817 public elementary schools	99.1%		97.2	134^th of 5857 public elementary schools	97.7%	79	80.2	80.2	79.6	88.4	88.4		85.2	87.8	94.2	80.2		87.4	≥ 99%		$25,196	$24,762	$434
Sunset Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	9291 Oviedo St.	San Diego	92129	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 484-1600	381	15	25.0	10.0%	164 (43.0%)	6 (1.6%)	68 (17.8%)	99 (26.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (11.0%)	94	406^th of 5817 public elementary schools	93.0%		93.6	432^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	92.6%	26	70.2	70.2	66.7	74.4	75.4		72.7	75.0	80.5	79.0		78.6	97%	0%	$25,580	$25,104	$476
Canyon View Elementary	Public	K-5	9225 Adolphia St.	San Diego	92129	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 484-0981	505	25	20.4	15.6%	155 (30.7%)	8 (1.6%)	66 (13.1%)	193 (38.2%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	79 (15.6%)	94.2	394^th of 5817 public elementary schools	93.2%		93.4	447^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.4%	53	60.6	60.6	68.0	81.6	77.5		75.6	78.2	89.5	74.7		80.9	95%	0%	$27,842	$27,118	$724
Park Village Elementary	Public	K-5	7930 Park Village Rd.	San Diego	92129	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 484-5621	671	30	22.5	8.8%	176 (26.2%)	5 (0.7%)	63 (9.4%)	357 (53.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	66 (9.8%)	97	142^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	97.6%		96.6	185^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.8%	43	77.4	77.4	79.8	86.1	82.6		83.0	80.0	87.2	73.9		80.3	98%	0%	$27,433	$27,022	$411
Pacific Sky	Public	K-6	6631 Solterra Vista Pkwy.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 755-9301	368	17	21.6	11.1%	106 (28.8%)	3 (0.8%)	31 (8.4%)	186 (50.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	39 (10.6%)	96.4	197^th of 5817 public elementary schools	96.6%		96.8	167^th of 5857 public elementary schools	97.1%	30	68.8	68.8	73.0	81.4	82.5	84.6	80.6	80.0	81.4	79.7	76.9	79.3	≥ 95%		$25,953	$25,226	$727
Willow Grove Elementary	Public	K-5	14727 Via Azul	San Diego	92127	San Diego County	Poway Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 674-6300	701	33	21.4	14.1%	256 (36.5%)	9 (1.3%)	104 (14.8%)	239 (34.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	92 (13.1%)	97.1	128^th of 5817 public elementary schools	97.8%		96.8	171^st of 5857 public elementary schools	97.1%	43	80.4	80.4	82.7	76.0	89.3		82.6	81.7	80.8	84.3		82.3	98%	0%	$27,340	$27,084	$256
Ericson Elementary	Public	K-5	11174 Westonhill Dr.	San Diego	92126	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-1600	650	27	24.0	39.7%	83 (12.8%)	21 (3.2%)	124 (19.1%)	345 (53.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (11.8%)	88.2	739^th of 5817 public elementary schools	87.3%		91.5	580^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.1%	159	52.8	52.8	70.9	62.9	70.3		68.3	69.6	74.4	65.9		70.0	≥ 99%		$28,636	$27,558	$1,078
Sandburg Elementary	Public	K-5	11230 Avenida del Gato	San Diego	92126	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 566-0510	570	24	23.3	43.5%	97 (17.0%)	5 (0.9%)	102 (17.9%)	263 (46.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (18.1%)	81	1090^th of 5817 public elementary schools	81.3%		85.3	911^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.4%	179	51.6	51.6	58.7	48.8	78.1		60.9	66.1	61.0	71.9		65.9	≥ 99%		$27,487	$26,130	$1,357

Frequently Asked Questions about Deer Canyon Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Deer Canyon Elementary?

Students at Deer Canyon Elementary are 50% Asian, 27% White, 12% Two or more races, 9% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Is Deer Canyon Elementary a good school?

Yes! Deer Canyon Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 193^rd of 5817 California elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Deer Canyon Elementary attend?

Students who attend Deer Canyon Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mesa Verde Middle
High : Westview High

How many students attend Deer Canyon Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 354 students attended Deer Canyon Elementary.

What district is Deer Canyon Elementary in?

Poway Unified

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 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.