Elementary Schools in San Jose Unified

This analysis examines 27 elementary schools serving grades K-5 in the San Jose Unified district, revealing a landscape of both exceptional performance and significant challenges, with chronic absenteeism rates above the state average.

The district features standout schools like Williams Elementary and Graystone Elementary, which rank in the top 5% statewide with very high test scores and low absenteeism, alongside schools like Lowell Elementary and Washington Elementary that are in the bottom percentiles and face severe academic struggles. A striking contrast exists at the shared campus housing both the high-performing Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary and the low-performing Ernesto Galarza Elementary, demonstrating that factors beyond the physical building heavily influence outcomes.

Key findings show that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results, and chronic absenteeism is a major district-wide concern strongly linked to lower performance. Specialized programs like magnet and Montessori schools often outperform traditional models, and over half of the district's elementary schools have proficiency rates below 40%, indicating a need for targeted support in many areas.