San Jose Unified

The San Jose Unified school district serves approximately 21,000 students across 40 schools, including 27 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high schools, reflecting a diverse urban community with a wide range of educational outcomes.

The district features several standout high-performing schools, such as Williams Elementary and Leland High, which achieve state rankings in the 98th-99th percentiles with exceptional test scores and low chronic absenteeism. In contrast, schools like Lowell Elementary and Broadway High face significant challenges, with much lower academic proficiency and, in the case of Broadway High, an alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 82.4%.

Key findings show a strong correlation between economic disadvantage and school performance, with top schools averaging under 11% free/reduced lunch participation compared to over 78% at the lowest-performing schools. Interestingly, higher per-student spending does not guarantee success, and a concerning district-wide trend shows science scores plummeting by 12th grade. Middle schools like Bret Harte Middle demonstrate excellence, feeding into top high schools, while specialized programs like Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary show successful alternative models within the district.