Ocean Beach Elementary vs Sequoia Elementary
Ocean Beach Elementary has a higher overall rating of 9.2/10 compared to 6.9/10. Ocean Beach Elementary is significantly larger with 406 students, about 2.4× the size of Sequoia Elementary (170). In math proficiency, Ocean Beach Elementary leads at 82.0%.
Ocean Beach Elementary
San Diego, CA
406 students
Sequoia Elementary
San Diego, CA
170 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Ocean Beach Elementary | Sequoia Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2 / 10 | 6.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.8 | 8.8 |
| Growth Score | 9.4 | 5.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 48.3% | 65.9% |
| Environment Score | 7.8 | 9.0 |
| State Rank | #172 of 9,539 | #3,773 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 61th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Ocean Beach Elementary | Sequoia Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 82.0% | 67.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 77.0% | 67.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Ocean Beach Elementary | Sequoia Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 4th | Kindergarten – 6th |
| Enrollment | 406 | 170 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 22.6:1 | 17.0:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 48.3% | 65.9% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 21.7% | 38.8% |
| District | San Diego Unified | San Diego Unified |
| City | San Diego | San Diego |
Neighborhood
| Metric | San Diego (92107) | San Diego (92117) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $107,262 | $105,286 |
| Median Home Value | $1,218,200 | $914,400 |
| Median Rent | $2,208 | $2,115 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 61.6% | 50.7% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| Avg Commute | 23 min | 21 min |
The data story: Ocean Beach Elementary vs Sequoia Elementary
Sequoia Elementary holds a 9.4/10 overall rating versus Ocean Beach Elementary's 8.8/10 — a 0.6-point gap that maps onto a dramatic difference in statewide standing. Sequoia Elementary ranks #79 of 9,533 California elementary schools; Ocean Beach Elementary ranks #491 of the same pool. Both schools clear the top 6% statewide, but Sequoia's position inside the top 1% reflects outsized performance in growth and classroom conditions that elevate it well past Ocean Beach Elementary despite Ocean Beach carrying a higher academic score.
The two schools diverge sharply by category. Ocean Beach Elementary earns a 9.8/10 academic score — 1.0 point above Sequoia Elementary's 8.8/10 — meaning current proficiency levels are measurably stronger at Ocean Beach. Sequoia Elementary reverses the advantage on growth: a 9.8/10 versus Ocean Beach Elementary's 8.6/10, a 1.2-point gap indicating students at Sequoia gain ground faster against state expectations year over year. Parents prioritizing absolute proficiency today will favor Ocean Beach; those focused on how much a child actually progresses once enrolled will find Sequoia's growth number more telling.
The two schools serve different socioeconomic profiles. Sequoia Elementary's enrollment is 66% free/reduced-lunch eligible, compared to 48% at Ocean Beach Elementary — an 18-point spread that makes Sequoia's growth score more significant, not less, since strong gains at higher FRL levels signal instructional quality rather than demographic advantage. Sequoia also operates at a smaller scale: 170 students to Ocean Beach Elementary's 406, producing a student-teacher ratio of 17.0:1 versus 22.6:1. That 5.6-student-per-teacher difference is a real daily variable in how much direct attention any one child receives.
Ocean Beach Elementary serves kindergarten through fourth grade; Sequoia Elementary extends two years further, through sixth grade. A family expecting school continuity through upper elementary has a concrete structural reason to prefer Sequoia — children there remain in the same building through grade 6 before transitioning to middle school, while Ocean Beach Elementary families face a school change after fourth grade. The two campuses sit 7.0 miles apart in San Diego, so geography is a consideration but not a barrier for families open to either part of the city.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Ocean Beach Elementary
Ocean Beach Elementary fits a family where current academic achievement is the primary benchmark. Its 9.8/10 academic score is the highest of either school, making it the stronger match for a student who will benefit from a high-proficiency peer environment. The larger 406-student enrollment also suits children who thrive in busier, more socially varied school communities, and the KG–04 span works well when a middle-school transition at fifth grade is already part of the plan.
Sequoia Elementary
Sequoia Elementary suits a family that values close teacher contact and measurable academic progress over raw proficiency rankings. Its 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio and 9.8/10 growth score point to strong per-student attention and instructional momentum, especially meaningful for a child who needs room to develop. The KG–06 grade span adds a practical benefit: no school change until middle school, keeping a child in one building through the full elementary arc.