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Jefferson Elementary

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 4220 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

4220^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 28% of California elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 616 students in the Santa Ana Unified district, operating in a high-need community where over 83% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

While the school's overall state ranking has fluctuated, it shows clear strengths in mathematics, where its proficiency rate of 31% outpaces the district average and outperforms several nearby schools like Washington Elementary and Carl Harvey Elementary. Jefferson is particularly effective in supporting vulnerable student groups, with homeless students historically ranking in the 79th percentile statewide, and it has made remarkable progress in improving attendance, now boasting a chronic absenteeism rate lower than the district and state averages. The school also uses its resources efficiently, spending less per student than comparison schools like Adams Elementary and Taft Elementary while achieving comparable or better academic results.

When compared to nearby "Fundamental" schools such as Jim Thorpe Fundamental and Greenville Fundamental Elementary, which have different models and lower poverty rates, Jefferson trails in English Language Arts but remains competitive in math. Areas for growth include addressing a decline in math performance in the upper grades and a performance gap between male and female students. Overall, Jefferson demonstrates significant successes in specific areas despite the challenges of its high-need environment.

616

Students ?

20.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,105

Per pupil spending ?

83.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1522 West Adams St.
Santa Ana, CA 92704-5798

(714) 431-3800

District: Santa Ana Unified

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually attend:

High:

Segerstrom High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

90.9%

Asian:

4.2%

White:

1.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 27th percentile in 2013 → 28th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (28% vs 41% meeting standards)

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

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 22 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school28%

District avg26%

California avg41%

4,220^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 28%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 22% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 34Elementary Schools in the Santa Ana Unified

1254^th of 1,543Santa Ana 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	27.0	4220 of 5857	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.0	3436 of 5869	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.2	3861 of 5859	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.4	3593 of 5883	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.1	4698 of 5789	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.4	4287 of 5662	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.1	3745 of 5692	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.1	3762 of 5614	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	22.6	4364 of 5611	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.9	4047 of 5530	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.7	4027 of 5390	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	30.0	3987 of 5377	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.8	4240 of 5314	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	22.4	4253 of 5193	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.3	4025 of 5113	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	26.5	3830 of 5113	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	36.6	2900 of 4818	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	32.3	3143 of 4822	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	26.3	3469 of 4809	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	20.6	1983 of 2227	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	1664 of 2585	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	40.4	1790 of 3162	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.5	1859 of 3245	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.5	1644 of 3311	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.7	2358 of 3275	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.3	2444 of 3246	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	29.7	3867 of 5597	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.8	3159 of 5612	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.4	3468 of 5609	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.2	3395 of 5635	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	18.4	4759 of 5492	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.5	4133 of 5413	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.9	3460 of 5107	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.6	2638 of 5107	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.1	3212 of 5087	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.3	2809 of 5084	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.6	3801 of 4963	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.6	3583 of 4830	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	190 of 429	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.5	76 of 364	79.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	30.6	3937 of 5460	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.3	2962 of 5517	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.1	3471 of 5363	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.7	2295 of 5264	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.8	4174 of 5173	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.8	3777 of 5084	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.4	4244 of 5628	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.8	3496 of 5643	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.6	3908 of 5638	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.1	3538 of 5663	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.5	4234 of 5510	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.7	4211 of 5431	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	1444 of 2847	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.8	1389 of 2635	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.2	1636 of 2420	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2025)56th percentile+28 vs school

Special Education (2025)49th percentile+21 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)43rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)32nd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)31st percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)28th percentile~ school

Male (2025)25th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)11th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics31%-6 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy27%-22 vs state

Science23%-10 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, November 5, 2009

it's great my son is learning alot they just dont call u when they are out so its a little concerning.. Close Quote

Schools Near Jefferson 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)	% 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
Jefferson Elementary	Public	K-5	1522 West Adams St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 431-3800	616	30	20.4	83.6%	12 (1.9%)	10 (1.6%)	560 (90.9%)	26 (4.2%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	27	4220^th of 5857 public elementary schools	27.9%		36	3436^th of 5869 public elementary schools	41.5%	784	22.6		22.6	22.1	24.5	35.7				27.2	34.9	32.4	26.2				31.3	87.3	89.1	95.5	91.8	88.2	91.8	$27,105	$1,169	$25,936
McFadden Institute of Technology	Public	K-8	2701 South Raitt	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 435-3700	1,074	55	19.3	90.2%	16 (1.5%)	8 (0.7%)	1,014 (94.4%)	27 (2.5%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.6%)	15.8	5204^th of 5857 public elementary schools	11.1%		16.8	5135^th of 5869 public elementary schools	12.5%	69	13.3	16.7	16.2	5.1	5.1	31.1	22.2	32.7	30.5	26.9	18.0	10.0	15.6	20.2	18.7	22.1	19.5							$24,905	$1,299	$23,606
Adams Elementary	Public	K-5	2130 South Raitt St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 430-5900	320	19	17.2	96.3%	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	305 (95.3%)	7 (2.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	26.8	4244^th of 5857 public elementary schools	27.5%		24	4456^th of 5869 public elementary schools	24.1%	212	32.6		32.6	19.2	30.4	39.5				29.1	19.2	26.8	27.9				24.5							$31,395	$1,361	$30,034
Washington Elementary	Public	K-5	910 West Anahurst Pl.	Santa Ana	92707	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 440-5100	529	24	21.8	95.7%	6 (1.1%)	4 (0.8%)	508 (96.0%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	18.7	4947^th of 5857 public elementary schools	15.5%		22	4680^th of 5869 public elementary schools	20.3%	267	9.6		9.6	23.3	35.9	24.3				28.0	14.9	30.5	12.2				19.6							$28,973	$1,321	$27,652
Jim Thorpe Fundamental	Public	K-5	2450 West Alton	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 430-5800	738	29	25.3	71.8%	14 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	661 (89.6%)	45 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	15 (2.0%)	49.2	2640^th of 5857 public elementary schools	54.9%		56.5	2214^th of 5869 public elementary schools	62.3%	426	26.5		26.5	40.3	54.4	48.7				47.7	41.5	43.7	30.8				38.9	97.4	97.4		98.0	97.4	98.0	$23,169	$823	$22,346
Carl Harvey Elementary	Public	K-5	1635 South Center St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 430-6200	268	13	20.5	91.8%	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	263 (98.1%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17.5	5052^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	13.7%		17.8	5045^th of 5869 public elementary schools	14.0%	7	14.6		14.6	26.0	25.5	26.8				26.1	22.0	10.6	24.4				18.8							$29,903	$1,427	$28,476
Greenville Fundamental Elementary	Public	K-5	3600 South Raitt St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 558-3400	817	34	23.9	79.9%	19 (2.3%)	6 (0.7%)	725 (88.7%)	46 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.6%)	45.4	2858^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.2%		47.9	2669^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.5%	189	25.9		25.9	39.0	50.0	49.7				46.2	36.3	41.9	30.1				35.8	92.1	94.1	96.1	96.7	94.7	96.7	$23,601	$981	$22,620
Manuel Esqueda Elementary	Public	K-8	2240 South Main St.	Santa Ana	92707	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 431-1500	811	37	21.7	94.3%	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	796 (98.2%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	15.7	5208^th of 5857 public elementary schools	11.1%		15.6	5245^th of 5869 public elementary schools	10.6%	37	16.0	12.0	13.9	23.0	28.6	27.5	14.3	29.0	21.7	23.5	27.0	18.6	19.6	6.3	14.1	8.6	14.7	93.7				95.8	96.8	$23,274	$865	$22,409
Diamond Elementary	Public	K-5	1450 South Center St.	Santa Ana	92704	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 480-8100	367	16	22.9	93.7%	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	351 (95.6%)	10 (2.7%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29	4042^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	31.0%		24	4464^th of 5869 public elementary schools	23.9%	422	29.3		29.3	18.0	29.3	42.7				30.9	11.5	24.1	33.3				23.7	97.0						$27,832	$858	$26,974
Taft Elementary	Public	K-6	500 West Keller	Santa Ana	92707	Orange County	Santa Ana Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 431-7700	408	26	15.6	85.3%	15 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	366 (89.7%)	17 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (2.0%)	10.6	5594^th of 5857 public elementary schools	4.5%		11.3	5597^th of 5869 public elementary schools	4.6%	3	5.9		5.9	19.0	7.8	28.6	18.0			17.6	25.0	9.4	5.9	12.2			13.4	81.6	81.6		81.6	81.6	81.6	$36,532	$3,146	$33,386

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary

Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 4220^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Jefferson Elementary in?

Santa Ana Unified

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Segerstrom High

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 616 students attended Jefferson Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary?

Students at Jefferson Elementary are 91% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 2% White, 2% African American.

Rate Jefferson Elementary!

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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.