Pepper Drive Elementary

1935 Marlinda Way
El Cajon, CA 92020

www.santeesd.net

661 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Pepper Drive Elementary, located in El Cajon, California, is a key school within the Santee School District. Serving students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, the school prides itself on fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. It is committed to academic excellence, focusing on equipping students with the essential skills in literacy and mathematics while promoting critical thinking and personal responsibility. The campus is known for integrating modern instructional practices with a dedicated staff that emphasizes the social and emotional development of its student body.

Beyond academics, Pepper Drive offers a variety of enrichment opportunities and extracurricular activities designed to engage students’ diverse interests. The school maintains a strong emphasis on building a collaborative community, encouraging active parent involvement and partnership to support student achievement. By prioritizing a well-rounded education and a positive school culture, Pepper Drive Elementary strives to prepare its graduates for success in high school and beyond, serving as a pillar of the local Santee community.

661

Total Students

26.9

Full-Time Teachers

24.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

58.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Pepper Drive Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	288
Hispanic	257
Black	29
Asian	31
Two or More	54
Pacific Islander	2

White
288 (43.6%)
Hispanic
257 (38.9%)
Two or More
54 (8.2%)
Asian
31 (4.7%)
Black
29 (4.4%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Santee
Phone:	(619)956-5100
Website:	http://www.santeesd.net
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	661
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	26.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	24.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	298
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	87

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 102

Grade 1 66

Grade 2 61

Grade 3 56

Grade 4 77

Grade 5 51

Grade 6 82

Grade 7 87

Grade 8 79