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Whitman Elementary

Q: Is Whitman Elementary a good school?

Whitman Elementary ranks 2720 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

2720^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 54% of California elementary schools

Summary

Whitman Elementary is a small, K-5 public school in the San Diego Unified district with about 102 students, serving a community where a significant majority of families face economic challenges.

The school has shown impressive and steady improvement over the last several years, moving from a lower-performing rating to a solid, middle-of-the-road state ranking. This progress is particularly notable given its student population, and the school has become especially effective in supporting its economically disadvantaged students. A major success story is the dramatic reduction in chronic absenteeism, which was a serious issue after the pandemic but is now much closer to average—a stronger performance in this area compared to a similar nearby school like Sequoia Elementary. Academically, Whitman's students perform near or slightly above state averages in core subjects, with fourth graders excelling in English, though the school has room to grow in math and science.

Whitman operates with higher per-student funding than most area schools, which likely supports its positive trajectory. However, parents should note the student-teacher ratio has recently increased, which could affect individual attention. Compared to higher-ranking schools in the area like Holmes Elementary or Curie Elementary, Whitman serves a very different community, making direct comparisons of test scores less meaningful. Its story is one of a small, well-resourced school that is successfully helping a high-needs population make consistent academic and attendance gains.

102

Students ?

25.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,271

Per pupil spending ?

72.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4050 Appleton St.
San Diego, CA 92117-1101

(858) 935-2900

District: San Diego Unified

Students who attend Whitman Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Innovation Middle
High:	Madison High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

63.7%

White:

16.7%

Two or more races:

9.8%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Whitman Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 47th percentile in 2013 → 54th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2013

✓Above the California median (54th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 26 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg49%

California avg41%

2,720^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 46%▲ up 19 pts since 2015

From bottom 34% (2015) to top 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

69^th 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	2720 of 5857	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.1	2600 of 5869	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.5	3535 of 5859	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.9	3714 of 5883	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.7	4296 of 5789	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.2	4666 of 5662	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	38.9	3175 of 5692	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	38.7	3164 of 5614	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.2	3684 of 5611	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.0	2925 of 5530	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.6	2910 of 5390	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	56.6	2210 of 5377	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	33.3	3594 of 5314	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.3	2343 of 5193	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	40.9	2894 of 5113	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	39.6	2927 of 5113	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	36.5	2907 of 4818	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	50.1	2189 of 4822	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	50.2	2151 of 4809	55.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2018	21.7	4396 of 5413	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	27.4	3914 of 5087	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.2	4877 of 4963	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.7	4329 of 4830	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.2	2011 of 5460	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	35.2	3453 of 5363	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.5	2565 of 5264	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.1	4353 of 5173	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.0	4492 of 5084	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	44.7	2758 of 5638	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	18.5	4788 of 5510	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.7	4507 of 5431	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)63rd percentile+10 vs school

Male (2023)51st percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2023)23rd percentile-17 vs school

Female (2018)19th percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy49%~ state avg

Mathematics37%~ state avg

Science25%-8 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 19, 2019

I am an Alumni and I am so proud to be sending my kids here! Staff is amazing and they really take the time to help each student. Super clean and tucked away in a great neighborhood. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 10, 2012

I think that this school is absolutely FANTASTIC!

Students are learning well. I should know my daughter has excelled since she has been there.

The teachers are professional and at the same care about each individual student.

Their recognition programs promote continued success.

The PTA is inviting, involved and active.

Lastly, but a very big point, is that the school is safe!

I should also point out that I love the big windows in the classrooms, allowing the children some sense of weather and life. I don't want my child to be a mushroom, stuck in a stuffy windowless room! Close Quote

Schools Near Whitman Elementary

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)	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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
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
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
Alcott Elementary	Public	K-5	4680 Hidalgo St.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-1200	234	10	23.4	38.9%	100 (42.7%)	7 (3.0%)	97 (41.5%)	8 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.4%)	57.6	2189^th of 5857 public elementary schools	62.6%		52.9	2403^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	59.1%	214	30.4		30.4	57.1	30.3	60.9				46.8	47.8	48.5	52.2				49.4		$40,786	$5,841	$34,945
Spreckels Elementary	Public	K-5	6033 Stadium St.	San Diego	92122	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 453-5377	680	25	27.2	35.6%	321 (47.2%)	6 (0.9%)	204 (30.0%)	61 (9.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	85 (12.5%)	86.6	843^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	85.6%		86.8	873^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	85.1%	30	51.8		51.8	67.9	73.1	67.3				69.3	75.7	66.4	51.8				64.6	98.0	$19,196	$2,905	$16,291
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
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
Curie Elementary	Public	K-5	4080 Governor Dr.	San Diego	92122	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 221-5500	536	22	24.3	18.8%	307 (57.3%)	9 (1.7%)	92 (17.2%)	67 (12.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (11.2%)	97	152^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	97.4%		97.3	139^th of 5869 public elementary schools	97.6%	13	81.2		81.2	86.4	80.7	79.7				82.5	92.1	77.3	75.0				82.0		$19,094	$2,779	$16,315
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Whitman Elementary

How many students attend Whitman Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 102 students attended Whitman Elementary.

Is Whitman Elementary a good school?

Whitman Elementary ranks 2720^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Whitman Elementary attend?

Students who attend Whitman Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Innovation Middle
High : Madison High

What is the racial makeup of Whitman Elementary?

Students at Whitman Elementary are 64% Hispanic, 17% White, 10% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 2% African American.

What district is Whitman Elementary in?

San Diego Unified

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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.