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Email BoardPepper Drive Elementary
1935 Marlinda Way, El Cajon, CA 92020-1155
Summary
Pepper Drive Elementary is underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 72nd percentile among comparable California schools.
55.2% of students met California's reading standard, and it is trending up slightly.
Math is weaker: 40.9% of students met California's math standard, but it is trending up.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 55.2% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 40.9% |
| Reading State Rank | 447/1,734 (74th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 524/1,735 (70th percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 21:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 661 |
| Low-Income Students | 380 (58.5%) |
| English Learners | 89 (13.7%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading rose 1.2 points from last year and rose 2.2 points over the full period. Math rose 3.0 points from last year and rose 5.1 points over the full period.
•Math +5.1 percentage points (2024–2026)Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Two or more races and White students have the strongest results.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the reading standard ranges from 47.5% to 67.1% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank in the top 26% among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 13.4-point reading income gap is narrower than the 16.5-point gap at a typical California K–8 school. It widened over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
16.7% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 57.5% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results rose and English-only results rose.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Two or more races students have the strongest math results at about 44% proficiency. The other reported groups range from about 23% to 43%.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the math standard ranges from 19.6% to 55.0% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank in the top 31% among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 14.7-point math income gap is narrower than the 15.5-point gap at a typical California K–8 school. It widened over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
12.2% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 44.5% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results rose and English-only results rose.
•Progress as students move up
2023–2026
How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 802 schools for reading and 801 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California K–8 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does Pepper Drive Elementary compare within the district?
Pepper Drive Elementary is No. 7 in both reading and math proficiency among the 8 K–8 schools in Santee with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does Pepper Drive Elementary rank in California?
Pepper Drive Elementary ranks No. 447 of 1,734 in reading and No. 524 of 1,735 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at Pepper Drive Elementary compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 4 in reading and No. 7 in math among 8 K–8 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 48.8% meet the reading standard and 33.8% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does Pepper Drive Elementary compare with other schools in El Cajon?
Pepper Drive Elementary is No. 1 in both reading and math proficiency among the 5 K–8 schools in El Cajon with 2026 results.
Explore schools in El CajonHow does Pepper Drive Elementary compare with other schools in San Diego County?
Pepper Drive Elementary is No. 29 in reading and No. 33 in math proficiency among the 65 K–8 schools in San Diego County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in San Diego CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving K–8 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper Drive ElementaryThis school | 40.9% | 55.2% |
| Cajon Park Elementary | 37.5% | 49.6% |
| Carlton Hills Elementary | 57.9% | 60.4% |
