San Altos educates approximately 307 students, from preschool through sixth grade. The school's focus this school year is on health and nutrition, and improving attendance. The San Altos mascot is the coyote.
Golden Avenue, the district's school closest to downtown Lemon Grove, focuses on health and fitness with its comprehensive wellness program and a before-school jogging club. The school's mascot is the tiger. The school also has a daily Positive Action curriculum to encourage good behavior, and a gardening club. The school boasts the best attendance rate in the district.
St. John of the Cross School is a private Catholic school educating students from preschool through eighth grade. It is associated with, and located directly behind, St. John of the Cross Catholic Church.
The school day runs from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and uniforms are required. The school sports team is called the Crusaders; football and volleyball are among the sports offered. The school also has a choir and various other activities.
Monterey Heights educates about 407 students, from preschool through fifth grade. This school has the distinction of having earned the highest scores in the district on the statewide API (Academic Performance Index) standardized tests in 2010. The school's mascot is the eagle. Monterey Heights also prides itself on its PeaceBuilder program, which teaches children to be successful in social settings and to be effective problem solvers.
Liberty Charter High School emphasizes literacy and the process of being educated and cultured. Students learn and master the written and spoken word as well as math, science, history, technology, arts, media and contemporary culture.
This K-8 school district operates five elementary schools and one middle school, serving approximately 3,900 students.
The Lemon Grove School District has been struggling with budget cuts in recent years, but has managed to keep a vibrant educational program alive. Even though one middle school was closed, and the sixth-grade camp program cut, the school board recently managed to find enough money to re-hire some badly-needed teachers' aides and janitors. The board president, as of Oct. 2010, is Tim Shaw. Other board members are Katie Dexter, Larry Loschen, Blanca Brown and Jay Bass.
The school board meets in the Community Center twice a month, every other Tuesday.
The district includes six elementary schools and one middle school. Lemon Grove Middle school is closed for two years, to save money and for renovation as part of a planned school/library project.
Mount Vernon educates approximately 414 students in preschool through sixth grade. The school has a Peace Builder program and a student Peace Patrol, to help children find good solutions to conflicts and succeed in social settings. The school is also participating in the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market "Shop for Schools" program, in which the school will receive a percentage of sales from receipts from that store which are deposited in a box inside the school's office. The school's mascot is the mustang.
Palm Middle School is currently the district's only middle school, since Lemon Grove Middle closed at the end of the last school year. Located at the eastern edge of town, the campus is adorned by many palm trees. The school's mascot is the panther.
The Christian Church of Lemon Grove is an independent, non-denominational church that provides the Lemon Grove community with worship services, Sunday school and women's and men's ministries.
San Miguel Elementary educates approximately 515 students, from preschool through sixth grade. The school has a Community Peace Garden, murals painted by students, and an after-school Spanish language program.