Pepper Drive Elementary School

1935 Marlinda Way

El Cajon, CA 92020

School District

Santee
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by student on November 02, 2023

I go to this school and trust me, you do not want to go to it. This school doesn't care about anything and will only use suspension and expulsion against you instead of actually doing something about the situation. I constantly get bullied and none of the staff members ever see it nor believe me. This school is terrible and I would not recommend it. Save yourself while you still can.
Submitted by parent on July 20, 2022

Idk what it looks like now but when it was under Mr. Metz it was a great school. It was one of the best in the country. However, it slowly has been declining after he retired. I grew up in this school. I met one of my best friends at this school. I am very dissappointed in the demise of this school.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2022

school is not what it used to be. Ever since new administration came in it hasgone down hill. There is a lot of bullying. Administration is unable to control situations, there has been problems with social media, verbal abuse many fights that the school is unable to take care of. Many things brought to their attention and they do nothing.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2017

I love this school, I even attended here. Wish there was a little more homework for the older kids to get them ready for HS. And wish there was maybe some electives for middle schoolers also.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2017

I have had an amazing experience with the principal, Mr. Hooks and 4 out of my sons' 6 teachers have been very caring and over par. I have to recommend Mrs. Debby Towne, 1rst grade. By far the sweetest, most caring teacher I've ever met. She is also very big on literacy and english- focused which I loved.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2016

We love pepper drive! Already 4 years here and still continues to be great. Principal is awesome and the teachers are amazing
Submitted by other on May 13, 2016

I asked for my son to get an IEP at this school, they told me over and over they didn't do that. My son is struggling and I feel that they simply didn't want to help my son. It's very sad working so close with them for the months I did and they shorted my son out of getting help.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2015

I would like to say that the new leadership including principal & vice principal is great!! It was time for a change & I am very happy that this year programs like, art, vocals, & other things are being implemented. Both of my girls have been at Pepper since kinder & I am happy with it so far. My oldest just started 6th grade this year, so I will be keeping an eye out on what they are doing up there. The only reason I will not give a perfect score is because of parking, which has always been and issue & right now with construction is just horrid. I have to be there super early or my kids will be late, so it's pretty time consuming for me in the morning. Keep up the great work Mr. Hooks, I love the changes!
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2014

Better than most California state schools. All California state schools it puts teachers and staff before students. Example it allows two teachers to share one class. One works a couple of days other works the rest of the week. What is the impact? Each week student has to adjust to a different teaching style. Personal experience my child is easily distracted which is normal for a 5 year old. One of her teachers was able to work around this. Behavior card are given out, we never got a card (yellow or Red) for misbehavior from one teacher. It was common to get a yellow or red card from the second teacher. The same behavior was tolerated by one and not tolerated by the other. I do not take issue with should it have been tolerated. I do take issue with inconsistency. The easiest way to cause bad behavior is to be inconsistent. I first grade they tried to place her in a two teacher class we objected and she was placed in a one teacher class. That teacher solved the issue by rearranging the seating one or two yellow cards all year. Five stars for the school. Zero for the two teacher policy average 3 stars. Do not let them have two teachers in your child's class.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014

i went to this school my middle school career one of the best experiences i ever had. Ignore the parents writing one liner on the reviews that's not fair to the school. My daughter LOVES THIS SCHOOL!!!!.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2014

I didn't even want to put a star. Worst school ever Stay away, ask for a different school. Teachers Are not kind, education is poor, school Is dirty and run down. Over crowded and They do not have a reading program to help Students.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

I am NOT a fan of Pepper Drive School. The problems seem to begin at the top. Maybe it is time for a new leadership team. (Principal & Vice Principal) After a couple of years, I have rarely caught a glimpse of the Principal, she is like royalty and I guess only makes the occasional guest appearance! The Vice Principal seems jaded, stressed and certainly not a 'people-person'. The way I have heard her speak to some parents, I can only wonder at how she speaks to the children!
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2013

There was a time when I would've recommended this school in a heartbeat. Now I would say that this school is okay for K thru 5, but not for middle school. Middle school has no electives-- no language, minimal art, no dance or music. The same group of kids go from class to class, so there is little opportunity to make friends from other classes. The selection of teachers is small because the school is small, so your child may be stuck with the same teacher from 6th to 7th - this is not a good thing. The culture of the kids in middle school is one where they seem to be in a rush to grow up - more so than others. A lot of the 10-12 year olds have boyfriends/girlfriends and there seems to be pressure to have one. The way they talk, the language used -- it's shocking. The best thing I did was to transfer my child out of there. My child is a much happier person, with better friends, better grades, and more opportunities. Don't let the high score fool you.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2013

My son has been attending Pepper Drive for almost two years. I like this school because the staff are cooperative and friendly. However the school needs financial support from parents and any financial assistance they can get. It would truly benefit the student if they can get more after school tutoring. This money would truly benefit the school and provide a better classroom environment for everyone
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2013

I LOVE THIS SCHOOL my son has been goingbto pepper for 3 years the teachers are so amazing cant wait till my other boys start there they handled a kid that was bullying my son in such an amazing manor and now my son is friends with the kidfo I couldnt be happier and not to mention my son learned so much he was writing doing math and reading books all in kindergarden such an amazing schoolni woukd recomend this school to everyone
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2013

Used to be an amazing school and was the reason we moved back into the neighborhood. Our family has been part of the school since it open in the 50s! I have nothing nice to say about the school now. There are still some wonderful/caring teachers, but even the stress of the change in the school has effected them The bullying, but students and teachers, is out of control. The staff that was once caring and supportive, has become controlling and driven by numbers. such a sad disappointment.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2012

My son has been going to this school since K and is not going into 7th. Now he has to switch cause the admistration does NOTHING about bullying! My poor son as been put through the ringer for 2 years and was even bullied by a teacher!!! Now cause his grades have dropped they deem him the "problem" child instead of the bullies that caused the problem in the first place! I do not suggest this school to anyone! Oh yah and when I called to schedule is therapy appt they asked what school he attends, the office was not surprised when I named this one!