Elementary Schools in Alisal Union

Alisal Union has 12 elementary schools, and all serve kindergarten through sixth grade. Across the schools, average proficiency was 32% in ELA, 23% in math, and 18% in science, compared with statewide rates of 49%, 38%, and 36%. The biggest differences between schools were 19 percentage points in ELA, 26 in math, and 14 in science. The most important takeaway is that results vary considerably from school to school, especially in math.

Monte Bella Elementary led all three subjects, with 41% proficient in ELA, 38% in math, and 23% in science. Fremont Elementary had the lowest results in each, at 22%, 11%, and 10%, respectively. The gap between these schools was 19 points in ELA, 26 in math, and 14 in science. Other subject standouts include John E. Steinbeck Elementary, second in ELA at 38%; Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary, second in math at 32%; and Bardin Elementary, second in science at 23%.

From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, average ELA proficiency rose 3 points and math rose 1; science rose 2 points, but the state’s science rate rose 3, so the local gap widened by about 1 point. ELA gains were widespread: 11 of 12 schools improved, including Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Academy and Virginia Rocca Barton, each up 9 points, while Alisal Community fell 6 points. Science changes were more mixed: King Academy rose 17 points, while Steinbeck fell 10. Context measures also differ: free/reduced lunch eligible figures for school year 2024–2025 ranged from 76% at Creekside to 98% at Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary; these are observations, not explanations for scores. Separately, SchoolDigger’s statewide percentile ranking rose from the 37th to the 47th percentile for Monte Bella and fell from the 41st to the 26th for Alisal Community.