- Enrollment
- 913
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · El Cajon, CA
Pepper Drive Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Pepper Drive Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063588006142
👥 S:T ratio 6
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pepper Drive Elementary earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #19 of 24
- elementary schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.6:1
- students per teacher
- 52.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Pepper Drive Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pepper Drive Elementary ranks #19 of 24 elementary schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-57 students YoY
Pepper Drive Elementary shrank from 712 students in 2022-23 to 655 in 2023-24 (-8.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-57 students YoY 063588006142 · El Cajon, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
661 enr · 23.6:1 · 52.5% lunch · RII 19
Nearest enrollment peer: Rio Seco Elementary (913 students)
Pepper Drive Elementary shrank from 712 students in 2022-23 to 655 in 2023-24 (-8.0%). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Pepper Drive Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rio Seco Eleme
Rio Seco Elementary
913 students
- Cajon Park Ele
Cajon Park Elementary
830 students
- Carlton Oaks E
Carlton Oaks Elementary
823 students
- Hill Creek Ele
Hill Creek Elementary
695 students
- This school
Pepper Drive Elementary
661 students
- Chet F. Harrit
Chet F. Harritt Elementary
606 students
What this shows Pepper Drive Elementary reports 661 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pepper Drive Elementary compares
Pepper Drive Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.6:1 | ▲ 10% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.5% | ▼ 5% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 661 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.6:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
661
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.6:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 68% in California - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
40.8%
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
$14,532
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 661 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 43.6%
Hispanic or Latino 38.9%
Two or More 8.2%
Asian 4.7%
African American 4.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 43.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.8, Pepper Drive Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Santee reports $14,532 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pepper Drive Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Seco Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cajon Park Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carlton Oaks Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hill Creek Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chet F. Harritt Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pepper Drive Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 830
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 823
- Students per teacher
- 22.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 695
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in El Cajon
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Naranca Elementary
Standard public school
985 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
Lexington Elementary
Standard public school
878 students 27.4:1 students per teacher
Johnson Elementary
Standard public school
766 students 28.4:1 students per teacher
Chase Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
757 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Flying Hills School of Arts
Standard public school
742 students 26.5:1 students per teacher
Magnolia Elementary
Standard public school
703 students 29.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~661 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pepper Drive Elementary
How many students attend Pepper Drive Elementary?
Pepper Drive Elementary has 661 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in El Cajon, CA. CCD year-over-year: 712 (2022-23) → 655 (2023-24), down 57.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pepper Drive Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pepper Drive Elementary is 23.6:1, which is 10% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 50% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pepper Drive Elementary?
52.5% of students at Pepper Drive Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pepper Drive Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Pepper Drive Elementary is White at 43.6% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pepper Drive Elementary?
Pepper Drive Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Pepper Drive Elementary rank among elementary schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, Pepper Drive Elementary ranks #19 of 24 elementary 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 elementary schools in El Cajon on the city page.
What other schools are in Santee?
Besides Pepper Drive Elementary, Santee also operates Rio Seco Elementary (913 students), Cajon Park Elementary (830 students), and Carlton Oaks Elementary (823 students). See the Santee district page for the complete list.