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Howard Pence Elementary

Public Grades K-6

5154^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of California elementary schools

Summary

Howard Pence Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 419 students in the South Bay Union School District in San Diego, consistently ranking in the lower quarter of California elementary schools with proficiency rates in English (24%) and Math (14%) well below state averages.

The school faces significant challenges, including a high student-to-teacher ratio and low overall academic performance, but it shows some promising signs of improvement, particularly in reducing chronic student absenteeism from pandemic highs. Interestingly, Howard Pence demonstrates relative strengths in supporting its English Language Learner and Special Education students compared to other schools statewide. However, a striking finding is the performance gap between it and schools in the neighboring Chula Vista Elementary district, where schools like Silver Wing Elementary and Finney (Myrtle S.) Elementary achieve much higher test scores despite serving similar student populations.

Within its own district, Howard Pence performs similarly to George Nicoloff Elementary but lags behind Sunnyslope Elementary and is significantly outperformed by the high-achieving Nestor Language Academy Charter. The school's historical performance has been volatile, and increased per-student spending in recent years has not yet translated into broad academic gains, suggesting a need to examine instructional strategies and resource allocation, especially in early mathematics.

419

Students ?

24.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,841

Per pupil spending ?

71.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

877 Via Tonga Ct.
San Diego, CA 92154-2256

(619) 662-8100

District: South Bay Union

Students who attend Howard Pence Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Montgomery Middle
High:	Montgomery Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

90.5%

Asian:

3.6%

White:

2.6%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 5th percentile in 2023 → 12th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 12th (2025) from a 5th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (19% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 25 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school19%

District avg29%

California avg41%

5,154^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From bottom 19% (2015) to bottom 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 11Elementary Schools in the South Bay Union

1199^th of 1,543South Bay Union 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	16.4	5154 of 5857	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.0	5217 of 5869	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.2	5541 of 5859	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.7	5476 of 5883	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.3	1306 of 1417	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.1	4259 of 5789	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.2	4149 of 5662	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	36.4	3348 of 5692	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	25.6	4127 of 5614	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	20.8	4546 of 5611	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.6	4767 of 5530	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.3	4063 of 5390	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.4	4306 of 5377	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	42.3	3043 of 5314	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	42.5	2908 of 5193	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	15.5	4626 of 5113	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	14.3	4691 of 5113	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	16.5	4256 of 4818	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	18.7	4054 of 4822	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	19.3	3979 of 4809	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	22.7	1883 of 2227	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.9	1745 of 2585	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.3	2036 of 2128	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	35.4	2155 of 3162	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.8	2611 of 3245	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.0	2275 of 3311	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.8	422 of 602	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.9	1049 of 3275	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.8	1410 of 3246	56.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	16.3	4993 of 5597	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.2	5111 of 5612	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.6	5407 of 5609	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.0	5185 of 5635	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.6	1164 of 1267	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	30.3	3793 of 5492	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.6	4131 of 5413	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	21.9	4328 of 5107	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.5	4492 of 5107	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.7	4856 of 5087	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.5	4771 of 5084	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	3413 of 4963	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.8	3288 of 4830	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.9	4739 of 5460	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	4949 of 5517	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.9	5158 of 5363	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.8	5031 of 5264	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.6	1068 of 1110	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.1	3347 of 5173	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.0	3620 of 5084	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	18.4	4843 of 5628	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.4	4869 of 5643	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	5153 of 5638	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.8	5319 of 5663	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.3	1173 of 1272	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.6	4319 of 5510	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.4	3831 of 5431	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.8	2210 of 2847	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.7	1717 of 2635	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.7	1873 of 2420	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)32nd percentile+21 vs school

Special Education (2025)22nd percentile+10 vs school

Disabled (2022)15th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)15th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)14th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)13th percentile~ school

Female (2025)11th percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy24%-25 vs state

Science20%-13 vs state

Mathematics14%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Howard Pence 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)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)					CSA Spanish Listening (2025)					CSA Spanish Writing (2025)					CSA Spanish Reading (2025)					CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Varicella (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	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	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	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Howard Pence Elementary	Public	K-6	877 Via Tonga Ct.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	South Bay Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 662-8100	419	17	24.6	71.8%	11 (2.6%)	3 (0.7%)	379 (90.5%)	15 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.4%)	16.4	5154^th of 5857 public elementary schools	12.0%		16	5217^th of 5869 public elementary schools	11.1%	63																					20.0	20.0	15.2	17.0	33.9	27.1	24.2	10.9	10.0	21.5	12.9	14.1					$22,841	$21,178	$1,663
Silver Wing Elementary	Public	K-6	3730 Arey Dr.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	Chula Vista Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 423-3950	335	15	22.3	75.5%	5 (1.5%)	6 (1.8%)	302 (90.1%)	14 (4.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.8%)	40.8	3166^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.9%		42.3	3045^th of 5869 public elementary schools	48.1%	121																					34.0	34.0	27.3	50.0	44.9	51.4	44.6	19.6	33.3	29.4	24.0	26.3	92.7				$24,820	$23,698	$1,122
Los Altos Elementary	Public	K-6	1332 Kenalan Dr.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	Chula Vista Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 690-5880	263	15	17.5	82.1%	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	246 (93.5%)	7 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	22.1	4665^th of 5857 public elementary schools	20.4%		32.8	3706^th of 5869 public elementary schools	36.9%	959																					10.0	10.0	23.1	32.5	20.0	32.5	27.0	20.0	32.5	17.5	29.3	24.8	96.9		96.9		$34,280	$31,830	$2,450
Finney (Myrtle S.) Elementary	Public	K-6	3950 Byrd St.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	Chula Vista Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 690-1334	396	19	20.4	72.5%	12 (3.0%)	4 (1.0%)	335 (84.6%)	31 (7.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)	36.2	3462^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	40.9%		33.2	3667^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.5%	205																					28.1	28.1	42.6	36.7	46.6	48.8	43.6	24.1	24.0	13.8	34.1	23.3	96.5				$27,441	$25,270	$2,171
George Nicoloff Elementary	Public	K-6	1777 Howard Ave.	San Ysidro	92173	San Diego County	South Bay Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 428-1605	616	25	24.6	79.9%	2 (0.3%)	6 (1.0%)	591 (95.9%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	8 (1.3%)	15.6	5215^th of 5857 public elementary schools	11.0%		14.8	5327^th of 5869 public elementary schools	9.2%	112	20.0	36.4	8.3		20.1	48.0	34.1	55.0		46.8	24.0	38.6	6.7		21.4	14.0	36.4	5.0		16.9	14.0	14.0	18.5	29.3	22.8	21.7	22.9	28.6	16.5	14.0	14.0	18.1	96.5	96.5		96.5	$22,613	$21,094	$1,519
Juarez-Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-6	849 Twining Ave.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	Chula Vista Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 690-9222	426	19	22.4	69.5%	9 (2.1%)	15 (3.5%)	355 (83.3%)	36 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	8 (1.9%)	35.9	3510^th of 5857 public elementary schools	40.1%		32.4	3742^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	36.2%	232																					24.3	24.3	22.2	22.4	54.3	47.5	37.3	29.2	13.6	31.4	40.3	28.9					$25,482	$24,326	$1,156
Sunnyslope Elementary	Public	K-6	2500 Elm Ave.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	South Bay Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 628-8800	324	13	24.9	78.1%	3 (0.9%)	6 (1.9%)	304 (93.8%)	6 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	28.1	4126^th of 5857 public elementary schools	29.6%		26.9	4214^th of 5869 public elementary schools	28.2%	88	14.3	19.1	5.9	4.8	11.5	50.0	28.6	70.6	23.8	42.5	21.4	19.1	5.9	14.3	16.1	10.7	14.3	11.8	4.8	10.3	19.5	19.5	22.5	20.0	36.6	50.0	31.6	18.0	28.9	22.0	35.7	25.8					$22,603	$20,824	$1,779
Smythe Elementary	Public	K-6	1880 Smythe Ave.	San Ysidro	92173	San Diego County	San Ysidro Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 428-4447	534	24	22.2	65.0%	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.6%)	518 (97.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	14.7	5294^th of 5857 public elementary schools	9.6%		13.7	5422^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	7.6%	128																					14.1	14.1	10.8	20.2	20.7	32.4	21.1	27.1	21.9	10.6	8.7	17.2	97.2				$18,377	$16,704	$1,673
Otay Elementary	Public	K-6	1651 Albany Ave.	Chula Vista	91911	San Diego County	Chula Vista Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 425-4311	455	20	22.7	84.6%	7 (1.5%)	4 (0.9%)	414 (91.0%)	17 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.6%)	38.7	3303^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	43.6%		38.4	3276^th of 5869 public elementary schools	44.2%	27																					25.3	25.3	35.2	43.1	36.4	47.4	40.7	46.4	28.3	22.9	30.3	31.0					$25,964	$24,736	$1,228
La Mirada Elementary	Public	K-6	222 Avenida de la Madrid	San Ysidro	92173	San Diego County	San Ysidro Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 428-4424	382	18	21.2	62.6%	5 (1.3%)	2 (0.5%)	361 (94.5%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	24.6	4445^th of 5857 public elementary schools	24.1%		27.3	4177^th of 5869 public elementary schools	28.8%	268																					30.2	30.2	18.4	13.0	42.5	38.5	28.5	16.3	8.7	23.3	26.2	19.2					$17,963	$16,140	$1,823

Frequently Asked Questions about Howard Pence Elementary

How many students attend Howard Pence Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 419 students attended Howard Pence Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Howard Pence Elementary?

Students at Howard Pence Elementary are 90% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3% White, 2% Two or more races.

Is Howard Pence Elementary a good school?

Howard Pence Elementary ranks in the bottom 12.0% of California elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Howard Pence Elementary attend?

Students who attend Howard Pence Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Montgomery Middle
High : Montgomery Senior High

What district is Howard Pence Elementary in?

South Bay Union

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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.