CaliforniaSchoolsPepper Drive Elementary

Pepper Drive Elementary

PublicRegular
El Cajon, California · Santee
Students655enrolled
FRL51%Free/Reduced Lunch
Ratio25.2:1students:teacher
LevelPrimary0–8
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students655
Grade Span0–8
Student:Teacher25.2:1
Free/Reduced Lunch51%
Title INo
SectorPublic

Finance

School finance is reported at the district (LEA) level. The figures below cover the full Santee.

Per-pupil spending (2020)
$16,250
Total district expenditure
$105,332,000
Total district revenue
$94,593,000
District enrollment
6,482

Revenue sources

Federal$11,018,000(11.6%)
State$49,649,000(52.5%)
Local$33,926,000(35.9%)

Spending breakdown

Instruction (teacher salaries, classroom materials)$51,759,000
Support services (admin, transport, building ops)

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, FY 2020. Figures cover the entire district; individual school-level spending is not published.

US public school funding 101

  • Local revenue (property taxes) is typically the largest source in most states, though this varies widely.
  • State revenue equalization formulas aim to reduce disparities between wealthy and poor districts.
  • Federal revenue is usually 6-10% of budget — Title I (poverty), IDEA (special education), ESSER (COVID relief).
  • Per-pupil spending varies from under $10,000 to over $30,000 across states; California averages around $15,000, New York around $28,000.