Best Schools in Santee, California
14 schools · 10 Elementary · 3 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.
Learning Choice Academy
Other · Learning Choice Academy District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Sycamore Canyon Elementary
Elementary · Santee. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pride Academy at Prospect Avenue
Elementary · Santee. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Santee for 2026 are Learning Choice Academy (7.9/10), Sycamore Canyon Elementary (7.9/10), and Pride Academy at Prospect Avenue (7.3/10), 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
14
13 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$654,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
14
13 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$654,800
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 39% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 (11 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Learning Choice Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Sycamore Canyon Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Pride Academy at Prospect Avenue | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Rio Seco Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Carlton Oaks Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Carlton Hills Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Hill Creek Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Chet F. Harritt Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | West Hills High | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Santana High | 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
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $105,603
- Median home value
- $654,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
27% 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
#256 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$106k
106% of California median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Santee, California
Santee, California is home to 14 schools, including 13 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, , and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.5 out of 10, schools in Santee show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Santee is Learning Choice Academy with a composite score of 7.9/10, 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 | 360 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 563 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.3 |
| 3 | 920 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.9 |
| 4 | 877 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.7 |
| 5 | 576 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 690 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 625 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 |
| 8 | 866 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 14 students · Kindergarten–8th | — |
| 10 | 2 students · Kindergarten–8th | — |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,515 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 1,712 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Horizons in Education
Private
9 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 185 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.9 |
Schools in Santee
Santee, California · 14 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
- 3
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 14 schools, including 13 public and 1 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 6.5 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 Learning Choice Academy with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santee, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santee on MySchoolScout is Sycamore Canyon Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.
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 5.4/10.
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.
Are there private schools in Santee, California?
Yes, Santee has 1 private school alongside 13 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santee, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santee is 38.5:1. 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.