Skip to main content

Average

#5899 of 9,539 schools in CA

Turtleback Elementary

Elementary School · Poway Unified · San Diego, CA

A Poway Unified elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

15855 Turtleback Rd., San Diego, CA 92127

  • Math 63% vs CA 39% (2024)
  • Reading 57% vs CA 45% (2024)
  • 22.7:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.83 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.6Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+16.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.6 pts
Overall Proficiency59% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-3.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile64th
Resources & Environment6.0Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.7:1
District spending per student$15,231
Chronic Absenteeism20%

Students at Turtleback Elementary score 59% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency63%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
39%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency57%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
45%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 5 points since 2018, to 60% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
88%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
84%
ELA
83%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
61%
ELA
63%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
70%
2016
Math
65%
ELA
63%
2017
Math
73%
ELA
66%
2018
Math
65%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
65%
ELA
65%
2022
Math
65%
ELA
57%
2024
Math
63%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

20.4%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Turtleback 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 45Car-Dependent
  • Transit 28Some Transit
  • Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,092/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (San Diego), 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

$179,220

Median home value

$1,165,100

Median rent

$2,642/mo

College educated

72.4%

Homeownership

72.4%

Poverty rate

3.4%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92127; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Rolling Hills ElementaryEnrollment path unverified8.9K–51.0 mi496Compare →
Dot to DotPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK1.2 mi12Compare →
Highland Ranch ElementaryEnrollment path unverified7.0K–51.7 mi661Compare →
Stone Ranch ElementaryEnrollment path unverified7.3K–51.7 mi752Compare →

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.

Poway Unified

Schools in district
39
Rank in district
#37 of 38
District spending per student
$15,231NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
4.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Turtleback Elementary is listed in Poway Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Turtleback Elementary

Turtleback Elementary is a public elementary school in San Diego, CA, part of Poway Unified, serving approximately 500 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 22.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #5,899 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Turtleback Elementary

What grades does Turtleback Elementary serve?

Turtleback Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Turtleback Elementary?

Turtleback Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 500 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Turtleback Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Turtleback Elementary is 22.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Turtleback Elementary rank in CA?

Turtleback Elementary ranks #5,899 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Turtleback Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Turtleback Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Turtleback Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Turtleback Elementary has 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Turtleback Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Turtleback Elementary a Title I school?

No, Turtleback Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

20.4% of students at Turtleback 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 – 5th
Enrollment
500
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
San Diego County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.0%
Area population (ZIP 92127)
50,711
Area average commute
25.3 min
Area median age
38.6
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 92127; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.