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John R. Peterson Elementary

Q: Is John R. Peterson Elementary a good school?

John R. Peterson Elementary ranks 1271 st of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1271^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 78% of California elementary schools

Summary

John R. Peterson Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 477 students in the highly-rated Huntington Beach City Elementary district, known for its strong historical performance but showing some recent academic declines.

The school serves a student population with a higher level of economic need than most of its neighbors, with 46% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate more than double that of nearby schools like Ralph E. Hawes Elementary (18%) and Huntington Seacliff Elementary (20%). Despite this, its test scores remain above the state average, though its statewide ranking has slipped from the 88th percentile to the 78th percentile in recent years. This performance trajectory differs from other local schools, such as Newland (William T.) Elementary in the Fountain Valley Elementary district, which maintains a 99th percentile ranking.

Performance varies significantly by grade, with 4th grade showing strength in English but weaker math scores, while 3rd grade scores fall below district averages. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 7.9% is lower than the state average but higher than several local peers. While spending per student is consistent across the district, outcomes vary, suggesting that school-level practices are key. The data indicates that targeted support for specific student groups and better curriculum alignment across grades could help address the recent performance slide.

477

Students ?

22.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,558

Per pupil spending ?

46.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

20661 Farnsworth Ln.
Huntington Beach, CA 92646-5511

(714) 378-1515

District: Huntington Beach City Elementary

Students who attend John R. Peterson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ethel Dwyer Middle
High:	Huntington Beach High

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.5%

Hispanic:

30.6%

Two or more races:

17.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare John R. Peterson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 93rd percentile in 2013 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (57% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of California elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2013

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of Huntington Beach City Elementary's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school57%

District avg67%

California avg41%

1,271^st of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From top 7% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Huntington Beach City Elementary

118^th of 1,543Huntington Beach City 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.2	1271 of 5857	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	89.7	716 of 5869	87.8%	★★★★☆
2023	89.3	755 of 5859	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	84.3	978 of 5883	83.4%	★★★★☆
2019	87.7	767 of 5789	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	84.8	899 of 5662	84.1%	★★★★☆
2017	93.0	451 of 5692	92.1%	★★★★★
2016	92.1	495 of 5614	91.2%	★★★★★
2015	94.0	385 of 5611	93.1%	★★★★★
2013	91.1	391 of 5530	92.9%	★★★★★
2012	88.2	541 of 5390	90.0%	★★★★☆
2011	85.8	692 of 5377	87.1%	★★★★☆
2010	79.7	1019 of 5314	80.8%	★★★★☆
2009	81.1	945 of 5193	81.8%	★★★★☆
2008	83.3	826 of 5113	83.8%	★★★★☆
2007	86.8	682 of 5113	86.7%	★★★★☆
2006	87.4	624 of 4818	87.0%	★★★★☆
2005	81.7	861 of 4822	82.1%	★★★★☆
2004	87.3	620 of 4809	87.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	68.9	416 of 1154	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	89.0	4 of 1149	99.7%	★★★★★
2018	81.8	82 of 1071	92.3%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	74.1	437 of 2585	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	72.8	375 of 2128	82.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.7	1166 of 5597	79.2%	★★★★☆
2024	91.8	513 of 5612	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	89.4	665 of 5609	88.1%	★★★★☆
2022	79.1	1150 of 5635	79.6%	★★★★☆
2019	87.7	681 of 5492	87.6%	★★★★☆
2018	84.2	860 of 5413	84.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.3	1593 of 5107	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	88.0	430 of 5107	91.6%	★★★★★
2023	78.7	798 of 5087	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	73.1	1009 of 5084	80.2%	★★★★☆
2019	74.3	951 of 4963	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	72.8	1001 of 4830	79.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	61.3	1782 of 5460	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	85.3	617 of 5517	88.8%	★★★★☆
2023	89.0	427 of 5363	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	61.6	1589 of 5264	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.5	1060 of 5173	79.5%	★★★★☆
2018	74.4	955 of 5084	81.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.8	1335 of 5628	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	82.7	976 of 5643	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	85.1	860 of 5638	84.7%	★★★★☆
2022	85.1	865 of 5663	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	85.3	809 of 5510	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	83.1	928 of 5431	82.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	31.3	539 of 718	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.2	538 of 670	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.5	383 of 669	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.8	346 of 610	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.7	157 of 445	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.0	238 of 339	29.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.7	845 of 2847	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.0	462 of 2420	80.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	60.0	1095 of 2598	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	76.0	593 of 2651	77.6%	★★★★☆
2023	76.9	542 of 2661	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	63.8	1021 of 2726	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.9	708 of 2834	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	69.3	850 of 2737	68.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2019)83rd percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)79th percentile~ school

Male (2025)76th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)70th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)69th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)67th percentile-11 vs school

Asian (2022)64th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)58th percentile-20 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)25th percentile-53 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy61%+12 vs state

Mathematics56%+18 vs state

Science52%+20 vs state

★

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Schools Near John R. Peterson 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)	% 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
John R. Peterson Elementary	Public	K-5	20661 Farnsworth Ln.	Huntington Beach	92646	Orange County	Huntington Beach City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 378-1515	477	21	22.7	46.1%	217 (45.5%)	0 (0.0%)	146 (30.6%)	31 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	82 (17.2%)	77.2	1271^st of 5857 public elementary schools	78.3%		89.7	716^th of 5869 public elementary schools	87.8%	555	52.3		52.3	53.3	71.4	60.5				60.7	52.6	54.4	59.3				55.7	90.8	94.3	93.1	92.0	94.3	90.8	$18,558	$17,250	$1,308
S. A. Moffett Elementary	Public	K-5	8800 Burlcrest Ave.	Huntington Beach	92646	Orange County	Huntington Beach City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 963-8985	410	17	24.1	23.7%	241 (58.8%)	1 (0.2%)	62 (15.1%)	41 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (15.9%)	90.7	618^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.4%		90.3	687^th of 5869 public elementary schools	88.3%	69	67.5		67.5	72.0	61.5	82.5				71.8	88.0	60.2	73.8				71.8							$17,026	$15,992	$1,034
Kinetic Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	721 Utica Ave.	Huntington Beach	92648	Orange County	Kinetic Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 465-4565	361	21	17.4	33.8%	192 (53.2%)	8 (2.2%)	80 (22.2%)	34 (9.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	45 (12.5%)	83.2	1006^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.8%		90.7	656^th of 5869 public elementary schools	88.8%	350	39.4	60.0	47.2	58.7	64.7	72.7	77.8	88.9	79.0	71.8	63.0	67.7	54.6	61.1	55.6	55.0	60.2	92.4	93.9	93.9	95.5	95.5	95.5
Newland (William T.) Elementary	Public	K-5	8787 Dolphin St.	Huntington Beach	92646	Orange County	Fountain Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 378-4201	531	22	24.1	14.1%	268 (50.5%)	3 (0.6%)	92 (17.3%)	78 (14.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	87 (16.4%)	98.1	60^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.0%		97.9	88^th of 5869 public elementary schools	98.5%	28	64.9		64.9	86.4	86.5	89.2				87.3	96.3	91.9	85.1				91.3	93.6	94.9		93.6	96.2	94.9	$17,956	$17,228	$728
Agnes L. Smith Elementary	Public	K-5	770 17th St.	Huntington Beach	92648	Orange County	Huntington Beach City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 536-1469	591	23	25.6	42.0%	292 (49.4%)	3 (0.5%)	155 (26.2%)	43 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	97 (16.4%)	88.9	716^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.8%		86.4	889^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.9%	173	55.1		55.1	72.9	68.5	71.6				71.1	74.2	67.0	58.7				66.3	85.1	89.4	94.7	88.3	87.2	89.4	$18,219	$16,984	$1,235
Ralph E. Hawes Elementary	Public	K-5	9682 Yellowstone Dr.	Huntington Beach	92646	Orange County	Huntington Beach City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 963-8302	516	23	22.4	18.4%	254 (49.2%)	2 (0.4%)	99 (19.2%)	62 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	97 (18.8%)	95.1	318^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.6%		96.6	204^th of 5869 public elementary schools	96.5%	114	75.6		75.6	71.1	86.1	86.1				81.2	69.7	89.2	68.6				75.4	98.5	98.5			98.5		$16,790	$15,756	$1,034
John H. Eader Elementary	Public	K-5	9291 Banning Ave.	Huntington Beach	92646	Orange County	Huntington Beach City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 962-2451	416	17	24.4	27.9%	229 (55.0%)	5 (1.2%)	63 (15.1%)	58 (13.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (14.4%)	91.1	603^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	89.7%		93.3	492^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	91.6%	111	57.8		57.8	81.4	84.7	60.0				75.9	81.4	87.7	55.7				75.6	94.9			96.2	97.4	97.4	$16,184	$15,150	$1,034
Oka (Isojiro) Elementary	Public	K-5	9800 Yorktown Ave.	Huntington Beach	92646	Orange County	Fountain Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 378-4260	504	20	25.2	34.1%	242 (48.0%)	1 (0.2%)	126 (25.0%)	70 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	60 (11.9%)	95.8	256^th of 5857 public elementary schools	95.6%		94.3	403^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	93.1%	147	63.9		63.9	77.4	84.8	79.8				80.8	77.0	86.8	74.7				79.8	92.9	94.6		94.6	92.9	94.6	$17,636	$16,864	$772
Huntington Seacliff Elementary	Public	K-5	6701 Garfield Ave.	Huntington Beach	92648	Orange County	Huntington Beach City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 841-7081	495	20	24.7	20.0%	207 (41.8%)	1 (0.2%)	115 (23.2%)	99 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (14.7%)	93.7	428^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.7%		96.2	248^th of 5869 public elementary schools	95.8%	180	73.8		73.8	64.0	80.5	85.1				77.0	74.2	72.0	69.2				71.6	97.4				97.4		$17,822	$16,788	$1,034
Courreges (Roch) Elementary	Public	K-5	18313 Santa Carlotta	Fountain Valley	92708	Orange County	Fountain Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 378-4280	631	24	26.2	19.2%	212 (33.6%)	2 (0.3%)	80 (12.7%)	254 (40.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	82 (13.0%)	96.4	197^th of 5857 public elementary schools	96.6%		96.4	232^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	96.0%	35	75.4		75.4	74.8	84.9	82.3				80.9	79.6	86.6	72.2				79.3							$16,336	$15,924	$412

Frequently Asked Questions about John R. Peterson Elementary

How many students attend John R. Peterson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 477 students attended John R. Peterson Elementary.

Is John R. Peterson Elementary a good school?

John R. Peterson Elementary ranks 1271^st of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is John R. Peterson Elementary in?

Huntington Beach City Elementary

What is the racial makeup of John R. Peterson Elementary?

Students at John R. Peterson Elementary are 45% White, 31% Hispanic, 17% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

What schools do graduates of John R. Peterson Elementary attend?

Students who attend John R. Peterson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ethel Dwyer Middle
High : Huntington Beach High

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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.