Average
#4915 of 9,539 schools in CA
Descanso Elementary
Elementary School · Mountain Empire Unified · Descanso, CA
A Mountain Empire Unified elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
24842 Viejas Blvd., Descanso, CA 91916
- Math 50% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 57% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Descanso Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 21 points since 2020, reaching 53% in 2024.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
47.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Descanso Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Diego map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 32Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low114/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$110,833
Median home value
$615,700
Median rent
$3,501/mo
College educated
22.5%
Homeownership
73%
Poverty rate
2.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 91916; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 in Mountain Empire Unified
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campo ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | K–6 | Not available | 394 | Compare → |
| Clover Flat ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 2.8 | K–6 | Not available | 192 | Compare → |
| Potrero ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.4 | K–6 | Not available | 289 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Mountain Empire Unified
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #1 of 7
- District spending per student
- $18,531NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 12.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Descanso Elementary is listed in Mountain Empire Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Descanso Elementary
Descanso Elementary is a public elementary school in Descanso, CA, part of Mountain Empire Unified, serving approximately 214 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #4,915 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Descanso Elementary
What grades does Descanso Elementary serve?
Descanso Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Descanso Elementary?
Descanso Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 214 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Descanso Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Descanso Elementary is 23.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Descanso Elementary rank in CA?
Descanso Elementary ranks #4,915 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Descanso Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Descanso Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Descanso Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Descanso Elementary has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Descanso Elementary a charter school?
No, Descanso Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Descanso Elementary a Title I school?
No, Descanso Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Descanso Elementary?
47.7% of students at Descanso Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 214
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 23.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.4%
- Phone
- (619) 445-2126
- Area population (ZIP 91916)
- 1,757
- Area median age
- 49.4
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 91916; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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