For the 2025 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 16,427 students in La Mesa, CA (there are 8 private schools, serving 879 private students). 95% of all K-12 students in La Mesa, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in La Mesa, CA are Helix High School, La Mesa Arts Academy and Murdock Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
La Mesa, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the California public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in La Mesa have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in La Mesa, CA (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Helix High School
Charter School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
7323 University Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 644-1940
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 644-1940
Grades: 9-12
| 2,544 students
Rank: #22.
La Mesa Arts Academy
(Math: 51% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4200 Parks Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5730
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5730
Grades: 4-8
| 1,057 students
Rank: #33.
Murdock Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4354 Conrad Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5775
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5775
Grades: K-6
| 617 students
Rank: #44.
Fletcher Hills Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2330 Center Pl.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5820
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5820
Grades: K-6
| 612 students
Rank: #55.
Murray Manor Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8305 El Paso St.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5865
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5865
Grades: K-6
| 568 students
Rank: #66.
Lemon Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
8787 Lemon Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5835
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5835
Grades: K-6
| 513 students
Rank: #77.
Jcs - Manzanita
Charter School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5300 Jackson Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 303-4344
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 303-4344
Grades: K-12
| 200 students
Rank: #88.
Merit Academy
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1600 North Cuyamaca St.
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 956-0600
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 956-0600
Grades: 9-12
| 64 students
Rank: #99.
Reach Academy
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
230 Jamacha Rd.
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 588-3580
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 588-3580
Grades: 9-12
| 22 students
Rank: #1010.
Grossmont High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1100 Murray Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 668-6000
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 668-6000
Grades: 9-12
| 2,079 students
Rank: #1111.
Maryland Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
5400 Maryland Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5744
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5744
Grades: K-6
| 485 students
Rank: #1212.
Parkway Sports And Health Science Academy
(Math: 30% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9009 Park Plaza Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5810
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5810
Grades: 6-8
| 690 students
Rank: #1313.
Northmont Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9405 Gregory St.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5830
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5830
Grades: K-6
| 427 students
Rank: #1414.
Avocado Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3845 Avocado School Rd.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 588-3100
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 588-3100
Grades: K-5
| 600 students
Rank: #1515.
Sparrow Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4207 Spring Gardens Rd.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 439-6327
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 439-6327
Grades: K-8
| 348 students
Rank: #1616.
Learning Choice Academy - Chula Vista
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
881 Kuhn Dr., Ste. 106
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 463-6801
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 463-6801
Grades: K-12
| 415 students
Rank: #1717.
The Learning Choice Academy - East County
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4215 Spring St., Ste. 104
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 463-6801
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 463-6801
Grades: K-12
| 440 students
Rank: #1818.
Rolando Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
6925 Tower St.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5800
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5800
Grades: K-6
| 449 students
Rank: #1919.
La Mesa Dale Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4370 Parks Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5740
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5740
Grades: K-6
| 520 students
Rank: #2020.
Sweetwater Springs Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10129 Austin Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5895
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5895
Grades: K-6
| 447 students
Rank: #2121.
Casa De Oro Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10227 Ramona Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5715
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5715
Grades: K-6
| 346 students
Rank: #2222.
Avondale Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8401 Stansbury St.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5880
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5880
Grades: K-6
| 326 students
Rank: #2323.
Loma Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
10355 Loma Ln.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5862
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5862
Grades: K-6
| 326 students
Rank: #2424.
Rancho Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
8845 Noeline Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5885
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 668-5885
Grades: K-6
| 356 students
Rank: #2525.
Highlands Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3131 South Barcelona St.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5780
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5780
Grades: K-6
| 446 students
Rank: #2626.
Vista La Mesa Academy
(Math: 22% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3900 Violet St.
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 825-5645
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 825-5645
Grades: K-8
| 531 students
Rank: #2727.
Kempton Street Literacy Academy
(Math: 15% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
740 Kempton St.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5870
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5870
Grades: K-6
| 557 students
Rank: #2828.
Bancroft Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
8805 Tyler St.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5890
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-5890
Grades: K-8
| 442 students
La Mesa, California Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
3291 Buckman Springs Rd.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 303-2782
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 303-2782
Grades: 5-8
| n/a students
East Region Community (Closed 2012)
Alternative School
8374 Hercules St
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
Grades: 6-12
| 266 students
East Region Community School Of Greater El Cajon (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
8374 Hercules St
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
Grades: 7-12
| 108 students
East Region Community School Of Greater La Mesa (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
8374 Hercules St
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
Grades: 7-12
| 125 students
East Region Court (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
8374 Hercules St
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
Grades: K-12
| 60 students
Gateway Community Day (Closed 2013)
Alternative School
8691 Echo Dr
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 258-3740
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 258-3740
Grades: 9-12
| 20 students
Gateway West Community Day (Closed 2013)
Alternative School
8693 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 667-2707
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619) 667-2707
Grades: 9-12
| 15 students
Grossmont Union High Special Education Program (Closed 2017)
Special Education School
1100 Murray Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 644-8115
La Mesa, CA 91944
(619) 644-8115
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
South And East Community Day Schools (Closed 2008)
Alternative School
8374-6 Hercules St.
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 668-4660
Grades: 9-12
| 20 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in La Mesa, CA?
The top ranked public schools in La Mesa, CA include Helix High School, La Mesa Arts Academy and Murdock Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in La Mesa?
28 public schools are located in La Mesa.
What percentage of students in La Mesa go to public school?
95% of all K-12 students in La Mesa are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in La Mesa?
La Mesa public schools minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in La Mesa are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in La Mesa include: La Mesa Arts Academy vs. Parkway Sports And Health Science Academy, Parkway Sports And Health Science Academy vs. La Mesa Arts Academy, Lemon Avenue Elementary School vs. Murdock Elementary School
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