Summary:
Colma has two schools in Garden Village Elementary (K–5) and Benjamin Franklin Intermediate (grades 6–8), both in Jefferson Elementary District. In 2025–2026, the schools’ average proficiency was 33% in ELA, 31% in math, and 22% in science, compared with state rates of 49%, 38%, and 36%. The clearest overall concern is that both schools were below the state in every reported subject, with the largest average gap in ELA.
Garden Village stands out in math and science: 37% were proficient in math and 24% in science, compared with 26% and 20% at Benjamin Franklin—gaps of 11 and 4 percentage points. Garden Village’s math result was just 1 point below the state rate. Benjamin Franklin led in ELA, 34% to 32%, though both schools were about 16 points below the state. SchoolDigger gives Benjamin Franklin a rank of 1,849 of 2,703 (32nd percentile) and Garden Village a rank of 3,645 of 5,804 (37th percentile); both have 2 stars. The schools serve different grade levels and have different ranking pools, so their rank numbers are not a direct comparison.
Recent results show contrasting school trajectories: from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, Benjamin Franklin improved in all three subjects, while Garden Village declined in all three. As a result, the two-school averages fell by 4 points in ELA, 1 in math, and 2 in science, and the gaps to the state widened by 5, 3, and 6 points, respectively. Context also differs: Benjamin Franklin enrolls 497 students and has a 17.9 student-teacher ratio; Garden Village enrolls 288 and has a ratio of 24. Both report free/reduced lunch eligible for 2024–2025: 48% at Benjamin Franklin and 60% at Garden Village. Chronic absenteeism in 2025–2026 was 21% at Benjamin Franklin and 15% at Garden Village, compared with 18% statewide. These measures offer context, but they do not explain the schools’ score patterns.
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