Best Schools in Santee, California
13 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Santee?
Use this page to compare every school in Santee by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Hill Creek Elementary
Elementary · Santee. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
West Hills High
High · Grossmont Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Carlton Hills Elementary
Elementary · Santee. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Santee for 2026 are Hill Creek Elementary (8.2/10), West Hills High (6.8/10), and Carlton Hills Elementary (6.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
13
in this city
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$654,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
13
in this city
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$654,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 35% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Santee schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santee schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santee
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hill Creek Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | West Hills High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Carlton Hills Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Cajon Park Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Carlton Oaks Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Santana High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Learning Choice Academy | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Chet F. Harritt Elementary | 5.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Sycamore Canyon Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Pride Academy at Prospect Avenue | 5.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $105,603
- Median home value
- $654,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
9% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Santee compares
California rank
#400 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$106k
106% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Santee runs 77% of Santee's public schools
Santee touches 3 districts, but Santee is the one most addresses actually attend.
Santee accounts for 10 of 13 public schools (77%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.3 to 8.2 — the spread is inside Santee, not a citywide average.
- Santee10 public · 77%
- Grossmont Union High2 public · 15%
- Learning Choice Academy District1 public · 8%
About Schools in Santee, California
Santee, California is home to 13 schools, including 13 public schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, , and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Santee show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Santee is Hill Creek Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Santee is served by 3 school districts: Learning Choice Academy District, Grossmont Union High, Santee. These districts collectively serve 22,910 students.
Santee's community shows 33% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $105,603. The poverty rate in the area is 8.5%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 690 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 576 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.4 |
| 3 | 866 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.2 |
| 4 | 877 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 |
| 5 | 625 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.5 |
| 6 | 360 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.4 |
| 7 | 563 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.3 |
| 8 | 920 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 14 students · Kindergarten–8th | — |
| 10 | 2 students · Kindergarten–8th | — |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,515 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 1,712 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 185 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 |
Schools in Santee
Santee, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$105,603
Median Home Value
$654,800
Median Rent
$2,202/mo
Population
59,739
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
72%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Community Profile
Santee has a median household income of $105,603. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $654,800, with a median rent of $2,202/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 10
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Santee, California
How many schools are in Santee, California?
Santee has 13 schools, including 13 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Santee, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Santee is 6.1 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Santee, California?
The top-ranked school in Santee on MySchoolScout is Hill Creek Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santee, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santee on MySchoolScout is Hill Creek Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Santee, California?
The top-ranked high school in Santee on MySchoolScout is West Hills High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Santee, California?
Santee is served by 3 school districts: Learning Choice Academy District, Grossmont Union High, Santee.
What is the education level in Santee, California?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Santee have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Santee, California?
The median household income in Santee is approximately $105,603 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santee, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santee is 40.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Santee, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.