Summary:
The Selma Unified district operates 12 schools serving grades K-12 in a community where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic need.
Academic performance varies widely across the district, with James Garfield Elementary standing out as a clear top performer, achieving proficiency rates well above the district average in all subjects. In contrast, Terry Elementary and the alternative high schools, Heartland High (Continuation) and Selma Independent, face severe challenges, including very low test scores and, for the high schools, extremely high chronic absenteeism and dropout rates.
The district's largest school, Selma High, maintains a strong graduation rate near 98%. A notable finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results, as some of the highest-funded schools have the poorest outcomes. Parents should note the significant performance drop in middle school and investigate the specific programs and support systems at each school, as outcomes differ dramatically even among schools serving similar student populations.
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