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John Muir

Q: Is John Muir a good school?

John Muir ranks 867 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

867^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 85% of California elementary schools

Summary

John Muir is a K-8 elementary school serving 336 students in the San Diego Unified district, and it stands out as a remarkable success story of rapid improvement, having risen from a 1-star to a 4-star rating since 2019.

The school's most impressive achievement is dramatically reducing chronic student absenteeism from over 40% to just 11.2%, a key factor in its academic jump from the 43rd to the 85th percentile statewide. This improvement trajectory is the strongest among nearby schools, outperforming others like Sequoia Elementary and Whitman Elementary while spending less per student. John Muir excels in serving Hispanic students, ranking in the 94th percentile for this group, and shows particular strength in early grade English and math.

While a strong option, the school faces challenges in upper-grade math and science, with proficiency rates dipping in 7th and 8th grades. Performance for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds has also been inconsistent year-to-year. Compared to the highest-performing neighbor, Holmes Elementary, John Muir serves a different student population, and similar local charters like Kavod Charter achieve comparable results with lower spending. Overall, John Muir represents a compelling turnaround, effectively using its resources to boost attendance and achievement, especially in the younger grades.

336

Students ?

19.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,931

Per pupil spending ?

43.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4431 Mt. Herbert Ave.
San Diego, CA 92117-4728

(858) 268-1954

District: San Diego Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.9%

White:

29.8%

Two or more races:

9.8%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2013 → 85th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (59% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 15% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school59%

District avg49%

California avg41%

Elementary school

867^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 15%▲ up 16 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to top 15% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

729^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 26%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From top 31% (2015) to top 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

31^st of 120Elementary Schools in the San Diego Unified

577^th of 1,543San Diego Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	86.2	867 of 5857	85.2%	★★★★☆
2024	47.9	2670 of 5869	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.5	3311 of 5859	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	3002 of 5883	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.3	4171 of 5789	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	63.9	1868 of 5662	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.1	1697 of 5692	70.2%	★★★★☆
2016	67.3	1651 of 5614	70.6%	★★★★☆
2015	65.2	1703 of 5611	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	71.3	1507 of 5530	72.7%	★★★★☆
2012	86.8	634 of 5390	88.2%	★★★★☆
2011	60.7	1978 of 5377	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.0	2619 of 5314	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	56.1	2119 of 5193	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	50.7	2328 of 5113	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	49.1	2381 of 5113	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	36.4	2911 of 4818	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	11.2	4578 of 4822	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	13.6	4444 of 4809	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.6	821 of 5597	85.3%	★★★★☆
2024	31.9	3643 of 5612	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.2	3659 of 5609	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.3	1961 of 5413	63.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.6	324 of 5107	93.7%	★★★★★
2024	69.4	1213 of 5107	76.2%	★★★★☆
2023	64.2	1444 of 5087	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	73.0	1020 of 5084	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	68.6	1204 of 4830	75.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.7	1067 of 5460	80.5%	★★★★☆
2024	14.6	5171 of 5517	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.3	5069 of 5173	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	50.3	2342 of 5084	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	78.3	1139 of 5628	79.8%	★★★★☆
2024	47.0	2635 of 5643	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.3	1749 of 5431	67.8%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.5	729 of 2761	73.6%	★★★★☆
2024	49.4	1191 of 2783	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.4	1358 of 2781	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.6	1317 of 2740	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.3	1347 of 2715	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.4	1210 of 2480	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.8	1010 of 2508	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.4	885 of 2497	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	65.2	759 of 2477	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.2	1041 of 2379	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	65.3	693 of 2259	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.7	558 of 2236	75.0%	★★★★☆
2010	52.1	976 of 2179	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	72.3	460 of 2063	77.7%	★★★★☆
2008	69.0	506 of 2005	74.8%	★★★★☆
2007	54.5	796 of 1999	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	32.4	1201 of 1804	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	25.1	1332 of 1777	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	32.3	1153 of 1769	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	40.4	1316 of 2380	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.6	988 of 2262	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	86.2	194 of 2388	91.9%	★★★★★
2023	63.3	658 of 2374	72.3%	★★★★☆
2022	66.1	581 of 2359	75.4%	★★★★☆
2019	53.5	846 of 2213	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.7	603 of 2072	70.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.8	417 of 2542	83.6%	★★★★☆
2023	39.6	1348 of 2531	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.3	798 of 2458	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.4	1232 of 2369	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.0	993 of 2230	55.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	40.6	1319 of 2538	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.4	1019 of 2407	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.1	1221 of 2273	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2015	81.4	333 of 1994	83.3%	★★★★☆
2013	48.6	823 of 2426	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	47.7	848 of 2354	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	59.2	539 of 2367	77.2%	★★★★☆
2010	44.1	913 of 2281	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	42.6	944 of 2238	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	52.5	616 of 2117	70.9%	★★★★☆
2007	55.6	537 of 2063	74.0%	★★★★☆
2006	31.9	1039 of 1968	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	32.0	993 of 1901	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	35.8	797 of 1653	51.8%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Hispanic (2025)94th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)85th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)80th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)80th percentile-5 vs school

Middle school

Hispanic (2024)92nd percentile+35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)84th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2023)48th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2019)45th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy65%+16 vs state

Science56%+23 vs state

Mathematics53%+16 vs state

★

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Schools Near John Muir

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
John Muir	Public	K-8	4431 Mt. Herbert Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 268-1954	336	17	19.7	43.8%	100 (29.8%)	21 (6.3%)	181 (53.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.8%)	86.2	867^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.2%		47.9	2670^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.5%	1803	73.9	23.1	55.6	66.7	57.1	78.3	72.4	56.3	46.2	65.1	66.7	52.4	60.9	56.7	31.3	30.8	53.1							$23,931	$3,140	$20,791
Field Elementary	Public	K-5	4375 Bannock Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 800-5900	238	10	23.8	68.5%	43 (18.1%)	4 (1.7%)	166 (69.7%)	11 (4.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.5%)	71.3	1545^th of 5857 public elementary schools	73.6%		62.8	1938^th of 5869 public elementary schools	67.0%	393	48.8		48.8	50.0	50.0	55.8				52.3	63.3	61.8	44.2				55.1							$27,474	$4,809	$22,665
High Technical Elementary Mesa	Public, Charter	K-5	5331 Mt. Alifan Dr.	San Diego	92111	San Diego County	High Technical Elementary Mesa District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 510-4620	423	18	23.5	38.5%	139 (32.9%)	28 (6.6%)	136 (32.2%)	95 (22.5%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	17 (4.0%)	46.9	2771^st of 5857 public elementary schools	52.7%		44.7	2881^st of 5869 public elementary schools	50.9%	110	36.6		36.6	40.3	45.1	50.7				45.3	34.7	39.4	29.6				34.6	97.0						$14,064	$904	$13,160
Holmes Elementary	Public	K-5	4902 Mt. Ararat Dr.	San Diego	92111	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-4400	495	19	26.3	23.8%	313 (63.2%)	0 (0.0%)	95 (19.2%)	18 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (13.7%)	96.5	191^st of 5857 public elementary schools	96.7%		98.5	47^th of 5869 public elementary schools	99.2%	144	57.0		57.0	92.3	83.8	82.3				86.1	91.1	90.0	74.7				85.3							$18,230	$2,562	$15,668
Sequoia Elementary	Public	K-5	4690 Limerick Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-1800	180	10	18.0	74.4%	37 (20.6%)	5 (2.8%)	97 (53.9%)	21 (11.7%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	18 (10.0%)	80.6	1136^th of 5857 public elementary schools	80.6%		69.8	1606^th of 5869 public elementary schools	72.6%	470	55.9		55.9	61.5	56.5	67.7				62.7	61.5	50.0	58.8				57.1							$30,140	$2,937	$27,203
Whitman Elementary	Public	K-5	4050 Appleton St.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 935-2900	102	4	25.5	72.5%	17 (16.7%)	2 (2.0%)	65 (63.7%)	8 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (9.8%)	47.7	2720^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.6%		49.1	2600^th of 5869 public elementary schools	55.7%	120	25.0		25.0	41.2	66.7	33.3				48.9	26.3	50.0	33.3				36.7							$30,271	$3,496	$26,775
Hawthorne Elementary	Public	K-5	4750 Lehrer Dr.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 634-5701	248	11	22.5	61.7%	78 (31.5%)	6 (2.4%)	99 (39.9%)	28 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	33 (13.3%)	72.5	1498^th of 5857 public elementary schools	74.4%		69.4	1617^th of 5869 public elementary schools	72.4%	119	44.7		44.7	51.2	58.1	68.4				59.1	53.7	51.6	50.0				51.8							$25,942	$4,249	$21,693
Cadman Elementary	Public	K-5	4370 Kamloop Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 397-6500	184	8	23.0	54.9%	85 (46.2%)	4 (2.2%)	54 (29.3%)	19 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (12.0%)	67.1	1739^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.3%		70.3	1582^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	73.0%	157	30.0		30.0	57.1	60.0	55.0				57.5	50.0	52.0	50.0				50.7							$24,297	$4,196	$20,101
Clairemont Canyons Academy	Public	K-5	4133 Mt. Albertine Ave.	San Diego	92111	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-1350	318	17	18.7	73.3%	84 (26.4%)	44 (13.8%)	105 (33.0%)	56 (17.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	26 (8.2%)	41.6	3106^th of 5857 public elementary schools	47.0%		54.9	2292^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	60.9%	814	25.0		25.0	41.9	30.0	33.3				35.5	58.1	30.0	33.3				42.1	92.1	93.7	95.2	95.2	95.2	96.8	$30,288	$4,556	$25,732
Lafayette Elementary	Public	K-5	6125 Printwood Way	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 987-5000	208	16	13.4	76.0%	49 (23.6%)	7 (3.4%)	123 (59.1%)	8 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	20 (9.6%)	32.6	3759^th of 5857 public elementary schools	35.8%		38.1	3297^th of 5869 public elementary schools	43.8%	462	32.3		32.3	14.8	35.7	46.7				32.9	20.0	28.6	32.3				27.0							$25,354	$4,383	$20,971

Frequently Asked Questions about John Muir

How many students attend John Muir?

In the 2024-25 school year, 336 students attended John Muir.

What is the racial makeup of John Muir?

Students at John Muir are 54% Hispanic, 30% White, 10% Two or more races, 6% African American.

What district is John Muir in?

San Diego Unified

Is John Muir a good school?

John Muir ranks 867^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate John Muir!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.