Panama-Buena Vista Union

The Panama-Buena Vista Union school district in California serves 25 schools, including 20 elementary schools and 5 middle schools, spanning a range of performance levels. While the district has several standout high-performing schools, there are also some lower-performing institutions that struggle with low test scores and high chronic absenteeism rates.

At the top of the district's schools are Ronald Reagan Elementary, Buena Vista Elementary, and Highgate Elementary, all of which rank among the top 2,000 elementary schools in California and boast strong test scores and low chronic absenteeism. In contrast, Charles H. Castle Elementary, Amy B. Seibert Elementary, and a few other schools rank in the bottom 25% of California elementary schools and struggle with very low proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math.

The district as a whole faces challenges related to socioeconomic status, with high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, which correlates with lower academic performance. Attendance is also a concern, as chronic absenteeism rates range from around 15% to over 40% at some schools. Addressing these disparities and providing targeted support to the lower-performing schools will be crucial for the Panama-Buena Vista Union district to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.