One of San Diego County's more affordable communities, Grossmont was named for the actor William Gross by its developer and Gross' partner in the project, Col. Ed Fletcher. Originally intended as an artist's colony, the area now sports a large shopping mall, Grossmont Center, and affordable homes for students, renters and first-time home buyers.
Grossmont High School, the area's oldest high school, serves students from Grossmont, Fletcher Hills, El Cajon, and La Mesa/ Mount Helix. The school sit atop the city line between El Cajon and La Mesa.