Enrollment
1,701
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · El Cajon, CA
El Cajon Valley High
Federal NCES profile for El Cajon Valley High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061623002018
👥 S:T ratio 10
📚 AP courses 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
El Cajon Valley High earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #8 of 9
- high schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.4:1
- students per teacher
- 70.1%
- free-lunch eligible
El Cajon Valley High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, El Cajon Valley High ranks #8 of 9 high schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
District: Grossmont Union High · California
NCES ID 061623002018 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
76.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.4:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
+26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How El Cajon Valley High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at El Cajon Valley High
El Cajon Valley High is a higher-need, large high school in El Cajon, California, enrolling 1,701 students.
At 22.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the California median, within a few percentage points of the 21.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 70.1% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,701 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 341 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #157.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (41%) and White (37%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 9 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 284 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among El Cajon's high schools, it stands alongside Granite Hills High (2,331 students): El Cajon Valley High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.4:1 vs 24:1).
Grossmont Union High also operates Granite Hills High (2,331 students) and Grossmont High (2,172 students) alongside El Cajon Valley High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How El Cajon Valley High compares
El Cajon Valley High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.1% | ▲ 26% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,701 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.4:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,701
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 57% in California - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
43.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,029
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 284 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 148 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 40.7%
White 37.2%
African American 9.2%
Asian 7.1%
Two or More 5.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 40.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.0, El Cajon Valley High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Grossmont Union High, which includes El Cajon Valley High.
$17,029
Per student
+3%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 49.2%
State 38.6%
Federal 12.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How El Cajon Valley High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite Hills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grossmont High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| El Capitan High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valhalla High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Hills High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to El Cajon Valley High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,331
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,172
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,810
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,728
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,624
- Students per teacher
- 25.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in El Cajon
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Granite Hills High
Standard public school
2,331 students 24:1 students per teacher
Valhalla High
Standard public school
1,728 students 22.2:1 students per teacher
Idea Center
Alternative education program
127 students 7.9:1 students per teacher
Merit Academy
Special-education school
68 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Chaparral High
Alternative education program
45 students 6.4:1 students per teacher
Grossmont Middle College High
Alternative education program
37 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,701 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on El Cajon Valley High's federal record.
- Compare El Cajon Valley High against another school. Compare schools
- Grossmont Union High's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about El Cajon Valley High
How many students attend El Cajon Valley High?
El Cajon Valley High has 1,701 students enrolled. It is a high school in El Cajon, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at El Cajon Valley High?
The student-teacher ratio at El Cajon Valley High is 22.4:1, which is 4% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at El Cajon Valley High?
70.1% of students at El Cajon Valley High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of El Cajon Valley High?
The largest demographic group at El Cajon Valley High is Hispanic or Latino at 40.7% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for El Cajon Valley High?
El Cajon Valley High has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does El Cajon Valley High rank among high schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, El Cajon Valley High ranks #8 of 9 high schools in El Cajon, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in El Cajon on the city page.
Is El Cajon Valley High a good school?
El Cajon Valley High earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Grossmont Union High?
Besides El Cajon Valley High, Grossmont Union High also operates Granite Hills High (2,331 students), Grossmont High (2,172 students), and El Capitan High (1,810 students). See the Grossmont Union High district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.