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Dehesa School

El Cajon, CA 92019

Phone: (619) 444-2161
Fax: (619) 444-2105
District: Dehesa Elementary

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GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 • 399 students

Dehesa School, a public school located in El Cajon, CA, serves grades K-8 in the Dehesa Elementary School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Dehesa School is a public school located in El Cajon, CA. 399 students attend Dehesa School.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	4/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth	3/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: August 27, 2026

This school is the worst. They do not care about kids especially ones with IEP's. They are not the school they use to be at all.

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: February 9, 2026

This school used to be a small family friendly community school that was welcoming, and inviting. Everyone knew everyone. Current administrators (principal Peterson and superintendent Johnson) have now made it anything but that. Dehesa students are now overshadowed by this "sports academy". No accountability or proper responses from the principal. She is never direct and fails to answer questions and concerns from community members and parents. You go in circles with her with no resolve. Leadership is not what it once was . The test scores are terrible and not climbing much. Teacher turnover is terrible. All classes are now combo classes. I've had friends who've moved their children to new schools and they were very behind and had a hard time catching up to grade level. Particularly in reading, ELA, and math. The last principal we had was the absolute best and was making changes for the positive. Seems now that she's not there it's taken a dramatic downturn. Looking for some better options but for now we're stuck. Don't make the mistake of enrolling your kids here unless the adminstration has a massive overhaul.

Posted: February 9, 2026

Posted: February 8, 2026

Sadly Dehesa use to be one of the best small schools with staff that cared and loved the kids like their own. The last 4 years or so they have changed principals, and teachers multiple times and the school started to crack at the foundation. I pulled my child at the end of last year when they let yet another principal go and it was the best decision I could have made. I have seen and heard nothing but negative things about the school, administration and especially the principal. One thing that always bothered me is why is their a Superintendent on campus at all times and getting paid an outrageous amount of money for such a small school? Pull your kids if you have their best interest at heart.

Posted: February 6, 2026

As someone who had family introduce me to this school due to my baby needing a better and safer learning environment I had high hopes it would be our resolution! If I could go back I wouldnt have even wasted our time or put my daughter through that! I wouldnt recommend this school to any parent that is looking for the betterment of their children. Most of the teachers are exceptional but that is if they stay! This school seems to be a revolving door for teachers, staff, and principals. When it comes to needing higher intervention it is a complete nightmare due to the lack of administration and even care! The current principal, Hee Jin Peterson is the MOST USELESS and INCOMPETENT person I have ever come across. When it comes to needing to get into contact with her it is so hard, emails wont be answered, never around to answer the phone or return calls, cant even schedule a meeting with her. She wont allow you on campus to watch your children receive achievements they have worked so hard on, you are told you are not welcome on the campus that my child attends? It is insane that this is the principal of a SCHOOL and it is a BIG PROBLEM!!! The behaviors my daughter witnesses on a day to day basis with no higher intervention is alarming to me as a parent. And dont even get me started on the big kid adults my child mentions are on her campus when she gets lunch?? I would love to know what that is all about but I can ever get an answer from the principal or someone higher than her and I am not welcome on campus. The lack of transparency and communication is concerning to say the least. Dehesa School is not the place for your children if you truly care and want what is best for your child. Please save your time and stress and dont put your kids here, matter of fact RUN from this school!! It is a complete joke!!

Posted: July 1, 2022

I have 3 kids at this school and was a little hesitant because of the rating, however it has been a really great school. We are a military family and have had our children in schools all over the country that ranked much higher than this school, but you cannot beat that small class size and community feel. All the staff know all the children and really care about meeting their educational needs. I have one that needed an IEP and it was initiated and put in place very fast. I am very pleased with the quality of education my children are getting here. My children run up the steps to class every morning because they are so excited to start the day.

Posted: July 1, 2022

Posted: August 7, 2020

Wonderful experience for my family and children

Posted: August 7, 2020

Posted: July 29, 2020

Wonderful rural feeling school close to El Cajon. Small class sizes and a staff that is concerned about the students.

Posted: July 29, 2020

Homework is being deemphasized in place of positive learning experinces within the classroom. Homework is only done if class work is not completed in class

Posted: July 29, 2020

New positive leadership from long time teacher now principal. Both our children graduated 8th grade reading at a twelfth grade reading level and math at 11th and 12th grade levels.

Posted: July 29, 2020

Character Counts is one of the awards that is given at the monthly award ceremony

Posted: July 29, 2020

Responsive leadership team to the different needs of students within the school

Posted: July 29, 2020

Diverse student body reflects the surrounding areas and adds to what students learn/experience.

Posted: July 29, 2020

No school is perfect, but bullying is not accepted and dealt with using a multi-prong approach

Posted: July 29, 2020