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Hill Creek Elementary

Q: Is Hill Creek Elementary a good school?

Hill Creek Elementary ranks 1385 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

1385^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of California elementary schools

Summary

Hill Creek Elementary is a K-8 public school serving 695 students in the Santee School District, known for its remarkable transformation into a consistently high-performing school.

The school's journey is impressive, rising from a low state ranking just a few years ago to now performing in the 76th percentile, placing it among the top schools in its district alongside Rio Seco Elementary and Carlton Hills Elementary. It particularly excels in English Language Arts and science, outperforming the district average, and has achieved dramatic success in reducing chronic student absenteeism. Notably, Hill Creek achieves these strong outcomes while spending less per student than most other schools in the Santee district.

What truly sets Hill Creek apart is its exceptional effectiveness in supporting specific student groups, ranking in the 90th percentile for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and the 85th percentile for students in special education. This performance is competitive even when compared to schools in the neighboring Lakeside Union Elementary district, such as Riverview Elementary. While mathematics presents an area for continued growth, the overall picture is of a school that has successfully turned around and now provides excellent, equitable education for its community.

695

Students ?

23.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,815

Per pupil spending ?

47.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9665 Jeremy St.
Santee, CA 92071-2836

(619) 956-5000

District: Santee

Students who attend Hill Creek Elementary usually attend:

High:

Santana High

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.4%

Hispanic:

31.5%

Two or more races:

11.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Hill Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2015 → 76th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (56% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 23 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg53%

California avg41%

Elementary school

1,385^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 23 pts since 2015

From top 47% (2015) to top 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

598^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 36 pts since 2015

From bottom 43% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 9Elementary Schools in the Santee

305^th of 1,543Santee 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	74.7	1385 of 5857	76.4%	★★★★☆
2024	67.6	1700 of 5869	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	67.7	1681 of 5859	71.3%	★★★★☆
2022	64.3	1833 of 5883	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.1	577 of 1417	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.2	4521 of 5789	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.9	2663 of 5662	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.5	2576 of 5692	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.0	1860 of 5614	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	46.7	2641 of 5611	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.8	1897 of 5530	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.5	1697 of 5390	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	57.2	2188 of 5377	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	60.1	1977 of 5314	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	70.2	1429 of 5193	72.5%	★★★★☆
2008	62.5	1751 of 5113	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.3	1666 of 5113	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	57.6	1836 of 4818	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.5	1528 of 4822	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	60.5	1690 of 4809	64.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	75.0	365 of 2227	83.6%	★★★★☆
2021	37.4	143 of 293	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.2	1786 of 2585	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.2	979 of 2128	54.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	78.0	1159 of 5597	79.3%	★★★★☆
2024	67.7	1583 of 5612	71.8%	★★★★☆
2023	62.5	1827 of 5609	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.2	1964 of 5635	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.2	522 of 1267	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.9	4306 of 5492	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.6	2796 of 5413	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	72.4	1091 of 5107	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	67.2	1307 of 5107	74.4%	★★★★☆
2023	64.7	1411 of 5087	72.3%	★★★★☆
2022	66.3	1325 of 5084	73.9%	★★★★☆
2019	24.1	4107 of 4963	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	48.0	2349 of 4830	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.5	558 of 5460	89.8%	★★★★☆
2024	69.5	1283 of 5517	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	71.3	1155 of 5363	78.5%	★★★★☆
2022	52.3	2141 of 5264	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.8	317 of 1110	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	16.9	4750 of 5173	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	45.4	2659 of 5084	47.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.2	1644 of 5628	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	64.4	1770 of 5643	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.8	1517 of 5638	73.1%	★★★★☆
2022	66.9	1642 of 5663	71.0%	★★★★☆
2021	54.6	513 of 1272	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	24.4	4240 of 5510	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.5	2415 of 5431	55.5%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	25.7	536 of 669	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	76.6	438 of 2847	84.6%	★★★★☆
2024	91.9	165 of 2635	93.7%	★★★★★
2023	73.0	426 of 2420	82.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	51.1	1373 of 2598	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.9	1551 of 2651	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.1	1430 of 2661	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.1	1766 of 2726	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	8.8	2672 of 2834	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	30.5	2066 of 2737	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	74.3	598 of 2761	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	65.8	771 of 2783	72.3%	★★★★☆
2023	63.0	818 of 2781	70.6%	★★★★☆
2022	71.6	653 of 2740	76.2%	★★★★☆
2021	48.2	415 of 894	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.5	1164 of 2715	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.7	770 of 2480	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.9	842 of 2508	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.0	756 of 2497	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	36.8	1419 of 2477	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.6	1436 of 2379	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	73.6	490 of 2259	78.3%	★★★★☆
2011	57.4	896 of 2236	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.1	736 of 2179	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	65.7	605 of 2063	70.7%	★★★★☆
2008	65.6	581 of 2005	71.0%	★★★★☆
2007	75.7	381 of 1999	80.9%	★★★★☆
2006	65.4	528 of 1804	70.7%	★★★★☆
2005	64.5	538 of 1777	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	62.1	562 of 1769	68.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	76.5	512 of 2533	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	59.9	824 of 2551	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.9	896 of 2531	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.6	917 of 2509	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.5	373 of 738	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.8	1216 of 2380	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.1	955 of 2262	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	774 of 2395	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.7	405 of 2388	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	65.3	622 of 2374	73.8%	★★★★☆
2022	78.0	334 of 2359	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	37.0	1343 of 2213	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	73.9	374 of 2072	81.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	68.4	575 of 2542	77.4%	★★★★☆
2024	72.2	495 of 2579	80.8%	★★★★☆
2023	61.1	723 of 2531	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	66.7	585 of 2458	76.2%	★★★★☆
2021	55.1	249 of 721	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.9	1145 of 2369	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.8	593 of 2230	73.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.9	621 of 2534	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	68.4	664 of 2552	74.0%	★★★★☆
2023	66.6	684 of 2538	73.0%	★★★★☆
2022	81.2	417 of 2527	83.5%	★★★★☆
2021	51.3	327 of 763	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.1	959 of 2407	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.3	546 of 2273	76.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.0	487 of 1520	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	36.3	951 of 1537	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.9	904 of 1543	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.6	683 of 1555	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.9	1059 of 1602	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.2	847 of 1496	43.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)90th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2025)85th percentile+8 vs school

Disabled (2022)84th percentile+15 vs school

Female (2025)79th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)79th percentile~ school

Male (2025)71st percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)47th percentile-29 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)20th percentile-51 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)80th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)77th percentile~ school

Male (2025)75th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)68th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy67%+18 vs state

Science50%+17 vs state

Mathematics47%+9 vs state

1.0

1 rating

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Schools Near Hill Creek Elementary

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)	% DTP (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	% DTP KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hill Creek Elementary	Public	K-8	9665 Jeremy St.	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-5000	695	29	23.8	47.3%	364 (52.4%)	5 (0.7%)	219 (31.5%)	29 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (11.2%)	74.7	1385^th of 5857 public elementary schools	76.4%		67.6	1700^th of 5869 public elementary schools	71.0%	315	54.1	44.4	49.6	51.3	69.0	62.2	72.9	66.2	82.5	66.6	50.0	60.6	54.1	30.0	36.4	44.4	46.6					$15,815	$709	$15,106
Santee Alternative	Public	K-8	10250 El Nopal	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-2490	11	1	11.0	45.5%	6 (54.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (36.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (9.1%)								(n/a)																						$36,101	$705	$35,396
Cajon Park Elementary	Public	K-8	10300 Magnolia Ave.	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-2400	830	35	23.7	48.8%	508 (61.2%)	6 (0.7%)	200 (24.1%)	22 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	90 (10.8%)	51.7	2519^th of 5857 public elementary schools	57.0%		55.9	2242^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	61.8%	277	28.9	43.0	37.1	53.2	38.9	48.8	57.5	59.3	65.5	55.0	46.8	37.0	27.4	35.8	43.3	45.6	39.6					$16,154	$803	$15,351
Santee Success Program	Public	K-8	10280 North Magnolia Ave.	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-2453	5	1	5.0		2 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (20.0%)								(n/a)																						$105,626	$705	$104,921
Rio Seco Elementary	Public	K-8	9545 Cuyamaca St.	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-5500	913	39	23.4	42.5%	465 (50.9%)	7 (0.8%)	246 (26.9%)	75 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.7%)	114 (12.5%)	79	1195^th of 5857 public elementary schools	79.6%		82.2	1064^th of 5869 public elementary schools	81.9%	131	50.0	52.5	51.4	58.0	61.8	61.5	64.6	66.3	60.2	61.9	60.2	67.6	50.0	46.9	64.9	58.5	58.3					$15,245	$705	$14,540
Riverview Elementary	Public	2-5	9308 Winter Gardens Blvd.	Lakeside	92040	San Diego County	Lakeside Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 390-2662	469	20	23.4	25.2%	184 (39.2%)	8 (1.7%)	208 (44.3%)	17 (3.6%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (10.2%)	83.9	970^th of 5857 public elementary schools	83.4%		78.9	1200^th of 5869 public elementary schools	79.6%	230	55.0		55.0	60.7	70.5	76.5				69.1	64.8	61.3	47.9				58.0					$13,618	$506	$13,112
Lakeside Farms Elementary	Public	K-5	11915 Lakeside Ave.	Lakeside	92040	San Diego County	Lakeside Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 390-2646	667	30	22.2	35.8%	367 (55.0%)	37 (5.5%)	182 (27.3%)	17 (2.5%)	6 (0.9%)	5 (0.7%)	53 (7.9%)	50	2589^th of 5857 public elementary schools	55.8%		42.4	3038^th of 5869 public elementary schools	48.2%	449	49.4		49.4	49.5	38.5	50.6				46.2	40.2	39.6	20.7				34.1	95.8	95.8	98.3	95.8	$18,145	$993	$17,152
Pepper Drive Elementary	Public	K-8	1935 Marlinda Way	El Cajon	92021	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 956-5100	661	27	24.5	58.2%	288 (43.6%)	29 (4.4%)	257 (38.9%)	31 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (8.2%)	59	2119^th of 5857 public elementary schools	63.8%		59.6	2084^th of 5869 public elementary schools	64.5%	35	42.3	31.3	35.6	53.5	52.6	59.6	46.9	55.8	57.5	54.0	46.6	51.3	28.9	32.1	32.6	36.3	37.9					$16,633	$876	$15,757
Carlton Hills Elementary	Public	K-8	9353 Pike Rd.	Santee	92071	San Diego County	Santee	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 258-3400	601	26	23.1	47.9%	314 (52.2%)	7 (1.2%)	198 (32.9%)	33 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (8.2%)	73.8	1425^th of 5857 public elementary schools	75.7%		77.7	1259^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.5%	166	42.0	48.4	45.5	46.8	66.1	64.0	44.3	59.8	77.4	60.1	61.7	66.1	54.0	52.5	56.3	58.1	57.9					$16,159	$743	$15,416
Winter Gardens Elementary	Public	K-1	8501 Pueblo Rd.	Lakeside	92040	San Diego County	Lakeside Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 390-2687	269	12	22.4	30.1%	90 (33.5%)	2 (0.7%)	141 (52.4%)	11 (4.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (8.6%)								(n/a)																		97.8		97.8	97.8	$17,666	$506	$17,160

Frequently Asked Questions about Hill Creek Elementary

Is Hill Creek Elementary a good school?

Hill Creek Elementary ranks 1385^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Hill Creek Elementary?

Students at Hill Creek Elementary are 52% White, 32% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What district is Hill Creek Elementary in?

Santee

What schools do graduates of Hill Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Hill Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Santana High

How many students attend Hill Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 695 students attended Hill Creek Elementary.

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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.