Freshwater Elementary

The Freshwater Elementary district in Eureka, California, consists of two schools—Freshwater Elementary (grades K-6) and Freshwater Charter Middle (grades 7-8)—sharing a campus and serving 334 total students, with both earning a 4-star rating.

Comparing the two schools, Freshwater Elementary shows exceptional strength in English Language Arts, with proficiency rates well above the state average and a significant jump in its statewide ranking. Freshwater Charter Middle also performs strongly in English but shows a notable decline in mathematics and science proficiency compared to previous years, creating an academic gap as students transition between schools.

Key strengths for the district include excellent student attendance, with chronic absenteeism rates much lower than the state average, and consistently high overall district ranking. A major point for consideration is the large disparity in per-student spending between the elementary and middle schools, which may relate to the middle school's challenges in math and science. Parents can be confident in the district's strong English foundation and student engagement while noting the focus needed on supporting math and science in the upper grades.