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Best Elementary Schools in Santa Ana, CA


At a glance
51
Schools
26,220
Students
9
Districts
4
5-star schools
Top rankedTustin Memorial Elementary102nd of 5,857 California elementary schools
Biggest riser
John F. Kennedy Elementary up 552 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Taft Elementary 15.6 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
3★
2★
1★
0★
Summary:

This analysis covers 51 elementary schools serving grades K-6 in Santa Ana, California, a diverse city where school performance varies dramatically between different districts.

Schools in the Tustin Unified district, such as the top-ranked Tustin Memorial Elementary and Arroyo Elementary, consistently perform among the best in the state with very high test scores and low absenteeism. In contrast, most schools within the larger Santa Ana Unified district face greater challenges, with lower average test scores and higher rates of student poverty, though standout schools like John Muir Fundamental Elementary show strong results within the district.

Key findings for parents include the strong link between low chronic absenteeism and high performance, and that higher per-student spending in Santa Ana Unified does not automatically lead to better outcomes compared to neighboring districts. Charter schools like El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy show mixed results, indicating that school model alone is less important than specific practices, which are exemplified by the district's higher-performing "Fundamental" program schools.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private





Cities Near Santa Ana

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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.





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