Sparrow Academy District

The Sparrow Academy District in La Mesa, California, consists of a single elementary school, Sparrow Academy, serving 156 students in grades K-5.

Sparrow Academy presents a mixed picture for parents, with a significant strength in student attendance—its chronic absenteeism rate is about half the state average—but notable challenges in academic achievement. The school's overall proficiency in English Language Arts, Math, and Science is below California averages, with math scores being a particular area of concern. Performance trends show that while younger students in 3rd and 4th grade perform closer to state averages in English, there is a noticeable decline by 5th grade across all subjects.

Historically, the school's state ranking has fallen considerably over the past few years, moving from the 66th percentile to the 36th percentile. This suggests the school is navigating significant challenges, despite its small size and the potential for a personalized learning environment. For parents, the key takeaways are the school's strong attendance culture and engaged student body, but also the clear need for academic improvement, especially in supporting students as they progress into the upper elementary grades.