Oster Elementary

Oster Elementary is a highly-regarded K-5 public school serving 627 students in San Jose, part of the top-performing Union Elementary school district.

The school stands out for its consistent, high-level academic achievement, ranking in the top 6% of all California elementary schools for over a decade. Its test scores significantly outpace both state and district averages, with exceptional strength in mathematics where nearly 80% of students are proficient. What truly differentiates Oster Elementary is its success with all students; it maintains high performance across every grade level and for every student subgroup, including English learners and students in special education, showing no significant performance gaps that are common elsewhere.

Compared to nearby schools, Oster delivers these outstanding results efficiently, with a class size slightly larger than some neighbors and mid-range per-student spending. While other high performers like Steindorf STEAM K-8 Magnet exist, Oster's stability is notable—it has maintained its elite status for years, unlike some local schools whose rankings have fluctuated. The school's very low chronic absenteeism rate (6%) is also a key strength linked to its success, and it performs well within a district where all schools, including Carlton Elementary and Lietz Elementary, generally outperform those in neighboring districts like San Jose Unified.