Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Bess Maxwell Elementary

Public Grades K-5

5702^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of California elementary schools

Summary

Bess Maxwell Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 217 students in Crescent City, California, as part of the Del Norte County Unified district, and it faces significant academic and attendance challenges that set it apart from neighboring schools.

The school's academic performance is among the lowest in the area, with only about 13% of students proficient in English and Math, which is substantially below both district averages and nearby schools like Redwood Elementary and Pine Grove Elementary. Furthermore, over a third of its students are chronically absent, a rate higher than most other elementary schools in the district. The student population is also one of the most economically disadvantaged in the region, with over 86% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

An interesting comparison is Mountain Elementary, another school in the same district, which achieves much higher proficiency rates and has a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 4.3%, alongside significantly higher per-student spending. Bess Maxwell's academic ranking has declined steadily over the past decade, and it currently performs well below the already low district average, indicating a need for focused improvement efforts, particularly in addressing attendance and instructional effectiveness.

217

Students ?

19.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,716

Per pupil spending ?

86.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1124 El Dorado St.
Crescent City, CA 95531-2111

(707) 464-0310

District: Del Norte County Unified

Students who attend Bess Maxwell Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Crescent Elk Middle
High:	Del Norte High

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.0%

Hispanic:

23.5%

American Indian:

16.6%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Bess Maxwell Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 47th percentile in 2013 → 3rd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (13% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 19% California)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school13%

District avg26%

California avg41%

5,702^nd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 31 pts since 2015

From bottom 34% (2015) to bottom 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 7Elementary Schools in the Del Norte County Unified

1202^nd of 1,543Del Norte County Unified 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	8.7	5702 of 5857	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.5	5659 of 5869	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.6	5711 of 5859	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.4	5708 of 5883	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.4	4673 of 5789	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.6	4551 of 5662	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.4	4915 of 5692	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	31.2	3669 of 5614	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.0	3704 of 5611	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.2	2914 of 5530	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	23.8	4400 of 5390	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	43.2	3012 of 5377	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.4	2257 of 5314	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	33.9	3441 of 5193	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	34.9	3278 of 5113	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	29.0	3648 of 5113	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	28.9	3391 of 4818	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	35.4	2985 of 4822	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	33.5	3026 of 4809	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	11.7	5322 of 5597	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	5350 of 5612	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.6	5403 of 5609	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.7	5549 of 5635	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.6	4334 of 5492	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.6	3954 of 5413	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	8.3	5379 of 5460	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.6	5366 of 5517	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.4	5286 of 5363	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	5131 of 5264	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.9	4232 of 5173	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.3	4097 of 5084	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	8.0	5537 of 5628	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	5449 of 5643	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.6	5532 of 5638	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.9	5383 of 5663	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.9	4576 of 5510	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.2	4562 of 5431	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	17.1	2573 of 2635	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	3.2	2550 of 2598	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.4	2610 of 2651	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.4	2625 of 2661	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.3	2694 of 2726	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.2	2626 of 2834	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.6	2701 of 2737	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2025)5th percentile~ school

Special Education (2024)2nd percentile~ school

White (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy14%-35 vs state

Mathematics13%-25 vs state

Science9%-23 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Bess Maxwell Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, March 26, 2019

My son's 1st grade teacher ms.Lucas is wonderful. Close Quote

Schools Near Bess Maxwell Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

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)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (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	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bess Maxwell Elementary	Public	K-5	1124 El Dorado St.	Crescent City	95531	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0310	217	11	19.7	86.2%	102 (47.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (23.5%)	7 (3.2%)	36 (16.6%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (9.7%)	8.7	5702^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	2.6%		10.5	5659^th of 5869 public elementary schools	3.6%	43	9.4		9.4	15.2	7.9	18.8				13.6	21.2	10.5	6.3				12.6	93.8		93.8				$28,716	$26,154	$2,562
Mary Peacock Elementary	Public	K-5	1720 Arlington	Crescent City	95331	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0301	251	13	19.3	62.5%	142 (56.6%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (27.9%)	11 (4.4%)	16 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.8%)	29.1	4029^th of 5857 public elementary schools	31.2%		26.7	4238^th of 5869 public elementary schools	27.8%	209	30.8		30.8	20.6	25.0	38.5				28.3	29.4	27.5	30.8				29.2	92.9	92.9		92.9	92.9	92.9	$31,104	$29,064	$2,040
Joe Hamilton Elementary	Public	K-5	1050 E St.	Crescent City	95531	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0330	298	15	20.4	81.5%	135 (45.3%)	1 (0.3%)	66 (22.1%)	18 (6.0%)	41 (13.8%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (12.4%)	12.2	5487^th of 5857 public elementary schools	6.3%		27.5	4158^th of 5869 public elementary schools	29.2%	1329	14.8		14.8	12.2	12.5	28.3				18.3	14.6	14.6	13.0				14.0	91.9	91.9	91.9	91.9	91.9	91.9	$23,804	$21,846	$1,958
Pine Grove Elementary	Public	K-5	900 Pine Grove Rd.	Crescent City	95531	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0350	265	12	21.9	83.4%	124 (46.8%)	3 (1.1%)	72 (27.2%)	12 (4.5%)	25 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (10.9%)	12.6	5458^th of 5857 public elementary schools	6.8%		14.2	5371^st of 5869 public elementary schools	8.5%	87	13.6		13.6	18.0	29.4	22.7				22.7	18.0	14.7	4.6				12.5	93.8	95.0		96.3	95.0	96.3	$21,902	$20,532	$1,370
Redwood Elementary	Public	K-8	6900 Lake Earl Dr.	Crescent City	95531	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0360	452	19	23.2	59.1%	241 (53.3%)	1 (0.2%)	87 (19.2%)	14 (3.1%)	48 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (13.5%)	43.1	2995^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.9%		47.9	2672^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	54.5%	323	22.6	19.6	21.1	38.1	44.4	41.5	52.7	62.5	50.9	49.0	39.5	33.3	27.8	34.6	48.2	23.2	34.3	93.6				93.6		$18,773	$17,624	$1,149
Smith River Elementary	Public	K-8	134 First St.	Smith River	95567	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0370	258	11	24.3	67.8%	79 (30.6%)	1 (0.4%)	116 (45.0%)	2 (0.8%)	45 (17.4%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.8%)	32.2	3783^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	35.4%		20	4864^th of 5869 public elementary schools	17.1%	1081	37.5	45.2	41.3	29.2	21.4	43.8	32.1	37.0	61.3	38.2	37.5	25.0	28.1	17.9	33.3	38.7	30.0							$25,501	$23,832	$1,669
Mountain Elementary	Public	K-8	55 Azalea Ln.	Gasquet	95543	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 457-3211	44	3	14.5	50.0%	28 (63.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (25.0%)	1 (2.3%)	2 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.5%)								(n/a)										51.7							31.0							$56,494	$50,044	$6,450
'O Me-nok Learning Center	Public	K-6	300 Minot Creek Rd.	Klamath	95548	Del Norte County	Del Norte County Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 464-0340	86	6	14.3	87.2%	19 (22.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (57.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (9.3%)	8.6	5705^th of 5857 public elementary schools	2.6%		7.4	5793^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	1.3%	88	8.3		8.3	11.8	17.7	8.3				13.0	11.8	17.7	8.3				13.0							$34,835	$32,570	$2,265

Frequently Asked Questions about Bess Maxwell Elementary

How many students attend Bess Maxwell Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 217 students attended Bess Maxwell Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Bess Maxwell Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bess Maxwell Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Crescent Elk Middle
High : Del Norte High

What is the racial makeup of Bess Maxwell Elementary?

Students at Bess Maxwell Elementary are 47% White, 24% Hispanic, 17% American Indian, 10% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Bess Maxwell Elementary in?

Del Norte County Unified

Is Bess Maxwell Elementary a good school?

Bess Maxwell Elementary ranks in the bottom 2.6% of California elementary schools.

Rate Bess Maxwell Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

CACalifornia Elementary School Rankings

CACalifornia District Rankings

Schools in Crescent City, CA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Bess Maxwell Elementary!

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.