Below Average
#7956 of 9,539 schools in CA
Highlands Elementary
Elementary School · La Mesa-spring Valley · La Mesa, CA
A La Mesa-spring Valley elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 6th.
4750 Date Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942
- Math 27% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 40% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 27.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highlands Elementary score 33% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 25 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 33% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
77.6%
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 Highlands 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 28Car-Dependent
- Bike 20Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,806/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (La Mesa), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$81,262
Median home value
$689,300
Median rent
$1,934/mo
College educated
38.2%
Homeownership
44%
Poverty rate
12.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 91942; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater Springs ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–6 | 0.6 mi | 447 | Compare → |
| Casa De Oro ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | K–6 | 0.8 mi | 346 | Compare → |
| Loma ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.9 | K–6 | 0.8 mi | 326 | Compare → |
| Montessori Achievement CentrePrivate · tuition | Not rated | K | 0.8 mi | 4 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
La Mesa-spring Valley
- Schools in district
- 22
- Rank in district
- #15 of 22
- District spending per student
- $16,802NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highlands Elementary is listed in La Mesa-Spring Valley; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highlands Elementary
Highlands Elementary is a public elementary school in La Mesa, CA, part of La Mesa-spring Valley, serving approximately 446 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 27.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #7,956 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highlands Elementary
What grades does Highlands Elementary serve?
Highlands Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Highlands Elementary?
Highlands Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 446 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary is 27.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Highlands Elementary rank in CA?
Highlands Elementary ranks #7,956 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Highlands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Highlands Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands Elementary has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Highlands Elementary a charter school?
No, Highlands Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highlands Elementary a Title I school?
No, Highlands Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highlands Elementary?
77.6% of students at Highlands 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
- 446
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 27.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.0%
- Phone
- (619) 668-5780
- Area population (ZIP 91942)
- 40,920
- Area average commute
- 24.7 min
- Area median age
- 37.5
Official sources & links
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 91942; 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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