- Enrollment
- 1,481
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · El Cajon, CA
Vista Grande Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Vista Grande Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 060681007655
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vista Grande Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of California schools.
- #2 of 24
- elementary schools in El Cajon · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.3:1
- large classes for California
- 36.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Vista Grande Elementary has class sizes larger than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vista Grande Elementary ranks #2 of 24 elementary schools in El Cajon, CA.
School address
District: Cajon Valley Union · California
NCES ID 060681007655 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Vista Grande Elementary held near 610 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.0 → 24.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 060681007655 · El Cajon, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
633 enr · 24.3:1 · 36.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students)
Vista Grande Elementary held near 610 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.0 → 24.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Vista Grande Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hillsdale Midd
Hillsdale Middle
1,481 students
- Naranca Elemen
Naranca Elementary
985 students
- Cajon Valley M
Cajon Valley Middle
942 students
- Montgomery Mid
Montgomery Middle
929 students
- Lexington Elem
Lexington Elementary
878 students
- This school
Vista Grande Elementary
633 students
What this shows Vista Grande Elementary reports 633 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vista Grande Elementary compares
Vista Grande Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.4% | ▼ 34% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 633 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.3:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
633
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 74% in California - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
17.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,631
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.5%
Hispanic or Latino 16.3%
Two or More 11.1%
Asian 3.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 66.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.7, Vista Grande Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cajon Valley Union reports $17,631 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vista Grande Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Naranca Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cajon Valley Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Montgomery Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lexington Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vista Grande Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 985
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 942
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 929
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
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 (~633 students)
Frequently asked questions about Vista Grande Elementary
How many students attend Vista Grande Elementary?
Vista Grande Elementary has 633 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in El Cajon, CA. CCD year-over-year: 615 (2022-23) → 610 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista Grande Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Vista Grande Elementary is 24.3:1, which is 13% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Vista Grande Elementary?
36.4% of students at Vista Grande Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vista Grande Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Vista Grande Elementary is White at 66.5% of enrollment, in El Cajon, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vista Grande Elementary?
Vista Grande Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Vista Grande Elementary rank among elementary schools in El Cajon?
By Resource Investment Index, Vista Grande Elementary ranks #2 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 Cajon Valley Union?
Besides Vista Grande Elementary, Cajon Valley Union also operates Hillsdale Middle (1,481 students), Naranca Elementary (985 students), and Cajon Valley Middle (942 students). See the Cajon Valley Union district page for the complete list.