Excellent
#1255 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 13% in state
Penn Elementary
Elementary School · San Diego Unified
2797 Utica Dr., San Diego, CA 92139
Enrollment
380
Student-Teacher
22.4:1
Score
8.1
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
380
Student-Teacher
22.4:1
Score
8.1
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In San Diego
#41 of 288
public schools
California elementary schools
#903 of 5,817
In district
#28 of 174
San Diego Unified
Equity
8.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Penn Elementary
Penn Elementary serves 380 students from kindergarten through fifth grade in San Diego, California, with a student-teacher ratio of 22.4 to 1 supported by 17 full-time equivalent teachers. The school earns a solid 7.2 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks in the 78th percentile statewide, placing it at #2126 among California's 9566 elementary schools. Academically, Penn Elementary shows stronger performance in English Language Arts, where 54% of students achieve proficiency or above across grade levels, while math scores indicate room for growth with 41% of students meeting proficiency standards.
These results reflect the school's ongoing focus on student development and academic improvement. The school serves families in the 92139 zip code area, where the median household income is $87,463 and median home values reach $567,600. The community maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 8.3%, though with 23% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, there's a mix of educational backgrounds among families.
Penn Elementary operates within San Diego's large urban environment, providing neighborhood elementary education in a diverse metropolitan setting.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Penn Elementary is 22.4:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Penn Elementary — Students at Penn Elementary score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
75.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.
How Penn Elementary Compares
See how Penn Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 42% (2019) to 40.11% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 52% (2019) to 53.37% (2024).
Location
2797 Utica Dr., San Diego, CA 92139
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Penn Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ira Harbison (rated 8.1/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby National City), with a very similar rating. Another option is Zamorano Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Bethune K-8 (rated 7.1/10, 1.1 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in San Diego, see our San Diego schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego SCPA San Diego | 0.4 mi | 6.2 |
| Pacific View Leadership Elementary San Diego | 0.6 mi | 4.0 |
| Zamorano Elementary San Diego | 0.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Valley Vista Elementary Bonita | 1.0 mi | 6.3 |
| Bethune K-8 San Diego | 1.1 mi | 7.1 |
| Perry Elementary San Diego | 1.1 mi | 6.3 |
| Bell Middle San Diego | 1.1 mi | 5.7 |
| Paradise Hills Elementary San Diego | 1.2 mi | 3.3 |
| MONTESSORI AMERICAN SCHOOL Chula Vista | 1.5 mi | 7.0 |
| Allen (Ella B.) Elementary Bonita | 1.4 mi | 6.1 |
| Boone Elementary San Diego | 1.6 mi | 4.6 |
| BONITA LEARNING ACADEMY Chula Vista | 1.7 mi | — |
| Altus Schools South Bay Chula Vista | 1.8 mi | 3.4 |
| Granger Junior High National City | 1.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Morse High San Diego | 1.9 mi | 6.5 |
| Fulton K-8 San Diego | 2.0 mi | 5.4 |
| Ira Harbison National City | 1.7 mi | 8.1 |
| Clear View Chula Vista | 2.0 mi | 6.9 |
| Lincoln Acres National City | 1.7 mi | 4.3 |
| Palmer Way National City | 1.7 mi | 5.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92139 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$92,381
Median Home Value
$598,500
Median Rent
$2,107/mo
Population
34,780
College Educated
25.1%
Homeownership
60.2%
Avg Commute
28.1 min
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Median Age
36.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Penn Elementary has a median household income of $92,381. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $598,500, with a median rent of $2,107/month. The local poverty rate of 7.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Addison Elementary Palo Alto, CA | 8.1 |
| Aloha Elementary Lakewood, CA | 8.1 |
| Altadena Elementary Altadena, CA | 8.1 |
| Alvarado Elementary Signal Hill, CA | 8.1 |
| Aptitud Community Academy at Goss San Jose, CA | 8.1 |
| Bell Hill Academy Grass Valley, CA | 8.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Penn Elementary
What grades does Penn Elementary serve?
Penn Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Penn Elementary?
Penn Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 380 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penn Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Penn Elementary is 22.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Penn Elementary rank in CA?
Penn Elementary is ranked #1255 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Penn Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Penn Elementary has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Penn Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Penn Elementary has 41.1% math proficiency and 53.6% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Penn Elementary a charter school?
No, Penn Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Penn Elementary a Title I school?
No, Penn Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Penn Elementary?
75.8% of students at Penn 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 380
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 75.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Diego County
- Phone
- (619) 430-1700
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
San Diego Unified- District Enrollment
- 95,492
- Schools in District
- 175
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,828
- District Rank
- #28 of 174
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated 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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