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Buena Vista Elementary

Q: Is Buena Vista Elementary a good school?

Buena Vista Elementary ranks 2821 st of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

2821^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of California elementary schools

Summary

Buena Vista Elementary is a small, rural K-8 school of about 180 students in Tulare that has shown impressive, steady improvement over the last decade, now performing close to the state average in English and Math.

The school stands out for its effectiveness, particularly in the early grades, and for supporting its students well given available resources. While the school's performance in science is an area for growth, it achieves stronger academic results than many nearby schools with similar student populations, such as Lincoln Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary. A key strength is its positive trajectory; its statewide ranking has risen from the 19th to the 52nd percentile since 2013, a contrast to some neighboring schools that have declined. The school has also made excellent progress reducing chronic student absenteeism, which is now better than the state average.

Operating as its own district likely gives Buena Vista useful flexibility. A notable comparison is with the higher-performing Oak Valley Elementary, a nearby school that highlights the potential impact of even stronger attendance and resource allocation. Overall, Buena Vista is a consistently improving school that delivers solid value for its community, though families should be aware of the variability in performance between grade levels and the significant need for improvement in science education.

180

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$34,489

Per pupil spending ?

52.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

21660 Road 60
Tulare, CA 93274-9470

(559) 686-2015

District: Buena Vista Elementary

Students who attend Buena Vista Elementary usually attend:

High:

Tulare Western High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.8%

White:

25.6%

Two or more races:

1.7%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Buena Vista Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2013 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 33 percentile points since 2013

✓Above the California median (52nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Science scores 15 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg38%

California avg41%

Elementary school

2,821^st of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 12 pts since 2015

From bottom 40% (2015) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,489^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 9 pts since 2015

From bottom 37% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

785^th of 1,543Buena Vista Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.1	2821 of 5857	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	2455 of 5869	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.4	3038 of 5859	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.2	2783 of 5883	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.3	3588 of 5789	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.2	2704 of 5662	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.9	2073 of 5692	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	43.9	2835 of 5614	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.6	3358 of 5611	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	23.7	4478 of 5530	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	22.4	4485 of 5390	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	18.8	4750 of 5377	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.1	4590 of 5314	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.4	3598 of 5193	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	42.6	2807 of 5113	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.5	2235 of 5113	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	62.6	1644 of 4818	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	44.8	2452 of 4822	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	36.5	2843 of 4809	40.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	38.6	3078 of 5635	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.9	2990 of 5492	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.1	2180 of 5413	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	44.9	2652 of 5107	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.9	1849 of 5107	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.4	2462 of 5087	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.3	1999 of 5084	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.0	2617 of 4963	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.3	2203 of 4830	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	52.1	2262 of 5517	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	2296 of 5363	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	1784 of 5264	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.2	3261 of 5173	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.8	2898 of 5084	43.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	36.8	3274 of 5638	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.3	1850 of 5663	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	23.5	4337 of 5510	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.4	3197 of 5431	41.1%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.3	1489 of 2761	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.5	1000 of 2783	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.2	1725 of 2781	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.8	1594 of 2740	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.0	791 of 2715	70.9%	★★★★☆
2018	44.2	1250 of 2480	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.4	1327 of 2508	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	21.5	1964 of 2497	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	32.1	1567 of 2477	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	25.6	1855 of 2379	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	35.6	1490 of 2259	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	44.3	1247 of 2236	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	42.4	1245 of 2179	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.8	1006 of 2063	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	50.5	912 of 2005	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	43.7	1046 of 1999	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	58.5	663 of 1804	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	62.9	565 of 1777	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	47.9	820 of 1769	53.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	73.9	564 of 2551	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	52.9	984 of 2531	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.1	1374 of 2509	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.3	788 of 2380	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	994 of 2262	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	1319 of 2395	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.5	599 of 2388	74.9%	★★★★☆
2023	31.9	1559 of 2374	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.6	1272 of 2359	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.2	519 of 2213	76.5%	★★★★☆
2018	39.9	1183 of 2072	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	60.5	770 of 2542	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.7	651 of 2579	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	31.1	1705 of 2531	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.4	1681 of 2458	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.7	401 of 2369	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	42.0	1193 of 2230	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.0	1400 of 2534	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.8	950 of 2552	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	22.0	1993 of 2538	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.9	1458 of 2527	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.1	759 of 2407	68.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)59th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)48th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2022)45th percentile-7 vs school

Male (2023)42nd percentile-6 vs school

Middle school

Female (2024)78th percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)70th percentile+24 vs school

Hispanic (2025)45th percentile~ school

Male (2025)45th percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy48%~ state avg

Mathematics34%-3 vs state

Science18%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Buena Vista Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% DTP (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% DTP KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Buena Vista Elementary	Public	K-8	21660 Road 60	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Buena Vista Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 686-2015	180	10	18.0	52.2%	46 (25.6%)	0 (0.0%)	131 (72.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	46.1	2821^st of 5857 public elementary schools	51.8%		51.9	2455^th of 5869 public elementary schools	58.2%	366	25.0	13.0	18.0	60.0	58.8	56.3	19.1	72.7	30.4	48.3	46.7	35.3	31.3	23.8	45.5	26.1	34.2				$34,489	$34,014	$475
Oak Valley Elementary	Public	K-8	24500 Road 68	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Oak Valley Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 688-2908	562	31	17.8	65.3%	101 (18.0%)	6 (1.1%)	447 (79.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.2%)	56.4	2232^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	61.9%		51.5	2472^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	57.9%	240	29.8	45.8	37.9	67.2	58.3	33.3	46.8	55.1	56.9	53.0	65.6	55.0	24.6	24.2	32.7	20.7	37.5				$36,436	$35,610	$826
Pleasant Elementary	Public	K-5	1855 West Pleasant Ave.	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Tulare City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 685-7300	668	28	23.8	84.4%	38 (5.7%)	15 (2.2%)	585 (87.6%)	17 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	11 (1.6%)	46.5	2795^th of 5857 public elementary schools	52.3%		37.5	3336^th of 5869 public elementary schools	43.2%	541	18.0		18.0	51.3	43.5	48.5				48.0	51.8	27.2	31.0				37.6	98.3			$15,775	$14,364	$1,411
Roosevelt Elementary	Public	K-4	365 South Howard St.	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Tulare City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 685-7280	561	27	20.7	97.1%	21 (3.7%)	7 (1.2%)	520 (92.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.8%)	15.1	5253^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	10.3%		8.7	5742^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	2.2%	489				23.9	22.8					23.3	27.6	13.0					19.8				$18,432	$16,676	$1,756
Maple Elementary	Public	K-6	640 West Cross Ave.	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Tulare City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 685-7270	574	26	22.0	93.4%	37 (6.4%)	7 (1.2%)	519 (90.4%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	16.7	5132^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	12.4%		9.8	5694^th of 5869 public elementary schools	3.0%	562	12.6		12.6	22.7	28.0	24.2				25.2	27.9	22.3	9.5				19.5				$20,603	$19,184	$1,419
Tulare Support	Public	K-8	505 West Maple Ave.	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Tulare City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 685-7376	19	3	6.2	84.2%	6 (31.6%)	4 (21.1%)	8 (42.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.3%)								(n/a)										0.0							0.0				$70,945	$69,676	$1,269
Waukena Joint Union Elementary	Public	K-8	19113 Road 28	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Waukena Joint Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 686-3328	220	10	22.0	84.1%	17 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	203 (92.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34	3651^st of 5857 public elementary schools	37.7%		31.3	3835^th of 5869 public elementary schools	34.7%	184	37.0	37.0	37.0	31.8	34.8	59.3	18.5	26.3	44.4	36.6	9.1	26.1	37.0	11.5	50.0	40.0	28.4				$41,947	$40,754	$1,193
Palo Verde Elementary	Public	K-8	9637 Avenue 196	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Palo Verde Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 688-0648	511	23	22.2	87.7%	29 (5.7%)	5 (1.0%)	470 (92.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	38.8	3298^th of 5857 public elementary schools	43.7%		56.1	2238^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.9%	1060	21.3	19.7	20.4	15.8	35.9	32.6	58.1	49.2	50.9	41.3	21.1	46.3	31.9	39.7	34.9	32.8	34.0	95.5	95.5	95.5	$40,463	$40,044	$419
Heritage Elementary	Public	K-6	895 West Gail Ave.	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Tulare City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 685-7360	597	24	24.8	85.4%	40 (6.7%)	19 (3.2%)	507 (84.9%)	21 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.7%)	27.2	4204^th of 5857 public elementary schools	28.2%		22.1	4668^th of 5869 public elementary schools	20.5%	464	25.3		25.3	35.6	32.9	40.0	24.2			32.9	33.8	30.1	23.0	7.5			22.9	98.1			$17,800	$16,168	$1,632
Lincoln Elementary	Public	K-6	909 East Cedar Ave.	Tulare	93274	Tulare County	Tulare City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 685-7350	309	15	20.6	92.2%	13 (4.2%)	12 (3.9%)	277 (89.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	17.5	5056^th of 5857 public elementary schools	13.7%		22.2	4658^th of 5869 public elementary schools	20.6%	398	18.4		18.4	26.7	27.5	29.0	24.5			26.7	20.0	22.5	15.8	10.2			16.9				$21,191	$19,738	$1,453

Frequently Asked Questions about Buena Vista Elementary

How many students attend Buena Vista Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 180 students attended Buena Vista Elementary.

What district is Buena Vista Elementary in?

Buena Vista Elementary

What schools do graduates of Buena Vista Elementary attend?

Students who attend Buena Vista Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Tulare Western High

Is Buena Vista Elementary a good school?

Buena Vista Elementary ranks 2821^st of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Buena Vista Elementary?

Students at Buena Vista Elementary are 73% Hispanic, 26% White, 2% Two or more races.

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.