The earliest school on record was "Foster School," sometimes referred to as "San Vicente School". Originally a homesteader's cabin, it was owned by Joseph Foster and was located just north of the El Cajon Rancho boundary. Classes started there in 1879 and continued until 1895. It reconvened in 1913 and in 1928 was admitted to the Lakeside School District. The property later sold to the City of San Diego for the San Vicente dam site.