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Excellent

#624 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 7% in state

Normal Heights Elementary

Elementary School · San Diego Unified

3750 Ward Rd., San Diego, CA 92116

Enrollment

292

Student-Teacher

22.5:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#624 of 9,539

In San Diego

#39 of 288

public schools

In district

#26 of 174

San Diego Unified

Academic growth

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Normal Heights Elementary

8.7/10

Elementary School in San Diego · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Adams Elementary

6.6/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

San Diego Global Vision Academy

8.7/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Normal Heights Elementary

Normal Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in San Diego, CA, part of San Diego Unified. Normal Heights Elementary serves approximately 292 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Normal Heights Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #624 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Normal Heights Elementary show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.9
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Normal Heights Elementary runs 22.5:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

40% of students at Normal Heights Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change+0.37 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency53.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.6% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+7.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.8 pts
Overall Proficiency56% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)29% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+27.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment5.8Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,828
Chronic Absenteeism40.1%

Normal Heights Elementary — Students at Normal Heights Elementary score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

80.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 48.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 51.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
48.8%
ELA
47.3%
2024
Math
52.8%
ELA
58.2%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How Normal Heights Elementary Compares

See how Normal Heights Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
94th percentile in CA
Academic
9.1/10
Excellent
Growth
9.6/10
Excellent
Environment
5.8/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
81%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
13 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
40.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

3750 Ward Rd., San Diego, CA 92116

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Normal Heights Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. San Diego Global Vision Academy (rated 8.7/10, 0.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Garfield Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 1.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Edison Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in San Diego, see our San Diego schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Adams Elementary San Diego 0.3 mi 6.6
San Diego Global Vision Academy San Diego 0.4 mi 8.7
Wilson Middle San Diego 0.5 mi 6.6
Central Elementary San Diego 0.5 mi 5.2
ST DIDACUS SCHOOL San Diego 0.5 mi 7.2
Franklin Elementary San Diego 0.6 mi 5.1
Edison Elementary San Diego 0.7 mi 7.7
Health Sciences High and Middle College San Diego 0.8 mi 7.6
Cherokee Point Elementary San Diego 0.9 mi 6.7
Hoover High San Diego 0.9 mi 6.0
Children's Creative and Performing Arts Academy San Diego 1.0 mi
Altus Schools Audeo San Diego 1.3 mi 6.0
Rosa Parks Elementary San Diego 1.3 mi 4.3
Joyner Elementary San Diego 1.4 mi 3.0
Euclid Elementary San Diego 1.3 mi 5.3
Garfield Elementary San Diego 1.3 mi 8.3
ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE San Diego 1.4 mi 5.5
ST PATRICK SCHOOL San Diego 1.5 mi 6.6
Nazareth School of San Diego San Diego 1.7 mi
Clark Middle San Diego 1.6 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92116 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$95,775

Median Home Value

$898,500

Median Rent

$1,903/mo

Population

31,484

College Educated

58.4%

Homeownership

32.1%

Avg Commute

22.2 min

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Median Age

35.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Barron Park Elementary Palo Alto, CA 8.7
Bell Hill Academy Grass Valley, CA 8.7
Brewer Island Elementary Foster City, CA 8.7
D. J. Sedgwick Elementary Cupertino, CA 8.7
Dow's Prairie Elementary Mckinleyville, CA 8.7
Enders Elementary Garden Grove, CA 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Normal Heights Elementary

What grades does Normal Heights Elementary serve?

Normal Heights Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Normal Heights Elementary?

Normal Heights Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 292 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Normal Heights Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Normal Heights Elementary is 22.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Normal Heights Elementary rank in CA?

Normal Heights Elementary ranks #624 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Normal Heights Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Normal Heights Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Normal Heights Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Normal Heights Elementary has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Normal Heights Elementary a charter school?

No, Normal Heights Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Normal Heights Elementary a Title I school?

No, Normal Heights Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Normal Heights Elementary?

80.5% of students at Normal Heights 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
88 Very Walkable
Transit Score
47 Some Transit
Bike Score
74 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
292
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
13
Free/Reduced Lunch
80.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
San Diego County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
40.1%

District

San Diego Unified
District Enrollment
95,492
Schools in District
175
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,828
District Rank
#26 of 174

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