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Taft Elementary

Public Grades K-5

5481^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of California elementary schools

Summary

Taft Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 357 students in the Redwood City Elementary district, located in a high-need community where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with test scores in English, math, and science far below both district and state averages, placing it in the bottom 6% of all California elementary schools; this represents a notable decline from its performance several years ago. Chronic absenteeism, at 26.4%, is also a concern as it is higher than at neighboring schools like Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion (12.8%) and Encinal Elementary (7.4%). Interestingly, Taft Elementary spends more per student than most nearby schools, including those that outperform it, such as Rocketship Redwood City.

Despite the overall struggles, there is a bright spot: the school has shown dramatic improvement for its Special Education students, whose performance now ranks above average. The school's situation highlights stark differences within the same area, as just a few miles away, a school like Laurel Elementary in the Menlo Park City Elementary district performs at a very high level, demonstrating how educational outcomes can vary greatly between nearby communities.

357

Students ?

21.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,426

Per pupil spending ?

93.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

903 Tenth Ave.
Redwood City, CA 94063-4269

(650) 482-2416

District: Redwood City Elementary

Students who attend Taft Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	John F. Kennedy Middle
High:	Sequoia High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

94.4%

Asian:

1.7%

Pacific Islander:

1.7%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 15th percentile in 2013 → 6th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (16% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 19% California)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school16%

District avg43%

California avg41%

5,481^st of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From bottom 18% (2015) to bottom 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 9Elementary Schools in the Redwood City Elementary

725^th of 1,543Redwood 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.3	5481 of 5857	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.5	5359 of 5869	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.1	5032 of 5859	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	5060 of 5883	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.9	3705 of 5789	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.0	3667 of 5662	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	17.5	4905 of 5692	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	14.4	5096 of 5614	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	20.3	4591 of 5611	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.2	4721 of 5530	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	41.4	3173 of 5390	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	31.7	3867 of 5377	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	51.0	2517 of 5314	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	48.7	2565 of 5193	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	41.0	2883 of 5113	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	36.6	3134 of 5113	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	17.1	4200 of 4818	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	10.6	4624 of 4822	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	10.7	4635 of 4809	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	24.1	2893 of 3162	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	33.6	2272 of 3245	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.1	2195 of 3311	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.4	1423 of 3275	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.3	1431 of 3246	55.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	10.6	5398 of 5597	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.5	5165 of 5612	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.7	5082 of 5609	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.9	5100 of 5635	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	36.2	3331 of 5492	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.9	3361 of 5413	37.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	16.4	4675 of 5107	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	4611 of 5107	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.6	4136 of 5087	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.5	4078 of 5084	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.1	2672 of 4963	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.8	2500 of 4830	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	16.9	4938 of 5460	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	4955 of 5517	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.9	4459 of 5363	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.9	4086 of 5264	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.6	2856 of 5173	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.1	3081 of 5084	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	15.6	5066 of 5628	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.6	5118 of 5643	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	4491 of 5638	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.1	4604 of 5663	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	3730 of 5510	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.5	3435 of 5431	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.4	1406 of 2847	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	26.2	2046 of 2635	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	2077 of 2420	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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

Special Education (2025)51st percentile+44 vs school

Male (2025)10th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)10th percentile+3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)9th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)8th percentile~ school

Female (2025)4th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy21%-28 vs state

Mathematics15%-22 vs state

Science9%-24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Taft 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
Taft Elementary	Public	K-5	903 Tenth Ave.	Redwood City	94063	San Mateo County	Redwood City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 482-2416	357	17	21.0	93.8%	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	337 (94.4%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	3 (0.8%)	12.3	5481^st of 5857 public elementary schools	6.4%		14.5	5359^th of 5869 public elementary schools	8.7%	122	9.1		9.1	20.8	26.1	17.3				20.7	15.7	17.0	13.2				14.9							$25,426	$21,562	$3,864
KIPP Excelencia Community Preparatory	Public, Charter	K-8	2950 Fair Oaks Ave.	Redwood City	94063	San Mateo County	KIPP Excelencia Community Preparatory District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 465-5477	711	37	19.1	91.0%	9 (1.3%)	8 (1.1%)	672 (94.5%)	5 (0.7%)	3 (0.4%)	11 (1.5%)	3 (0.4%)	25.8	4331^st of 5857 public elementary schools	26.1%		33.2	3659^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.7%	672	14.7	21.8	18.5	37.1	24.3	20.8	30.5	41.1	43.0	33.3	46.0	33.8	17.6	20.2	33.3	37.9	30.9	70.7	81.7	81.7	80.5	74.4	81.7
Connect Community Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	635 Oakside Ave.	Redwood City	94063	San Mateo County	Connect Community Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 482-2426	143	8	17.8	88.1%	4 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	137 (95.8%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.8	5816^th of 5857 public elementary schools	0.7%		7.6	5789^th of 5869 public elementary schools	1.4%	27	7.7	10.0	8.7	7.1	8.3	12.0	13.0	14.3	35.0	15.7	0.0	0.0	3.9	4.4	9.5	30.0	8.6
Garfield Elementary	Public	K-5	3600 Middlefield Rd.	Menlo Park	94025	San Mateo County	Redwood City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 482-2405	280	14	20.1	94.6%	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	273 (97.5%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	10.9	5576^th of 5857 public elementary schools	4.8%		5.9	5842^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	0.5%	266	12.2		12.2	4.4	13.3	39.0				18.2	8.7	8.9	7.3				8.3	90.0	96.0	96.0	94.0	96.0		$28,086	$25,054	$3,032
Hoover Elementary	Public	K-8	701 Charter St.	Redwood City	94063	San Mateo County	Redwood City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 482-2408	675	33	20.4	96.7%	11 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	646 (95.7%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	3 (0.4%)	12.1	5498^th of 5857 public elementary schools	6.1%		12.9	5487^th of 5869 public elementary schools	6.5%	11	7.3	6.2	6.8	10.8	15.9	16.5	30.1	26.0	43.6	23.8	22.4	23.9	8.6	7.9	7.5	6.2	12.3	96.6						$20,893	$18,218	$2,675
Encinal Elementary	Public	K-5	195 Encinal Ave.	Atherton	94027	San Mateo County	Menlo Park City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 326-5164	604	39	15.4	15.6%	219 (36.3%)	4 (0.7%)	175 (29.0%)	110 (18.2%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.3%)	87 (14.4%)	91.9	558^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.5%		94.3	404^th of 5869 public elementary schools	93.1%	154	55.5		55.5	64.6	80.4	77.8				74.4	69.8	80.6	71.3				74.1	98.0						$14,552	$14,334	$218
Laurel Elementary	Public	K-5	95 Edge Rd.	Atherton	94027	San Mateo County	Menlo Park City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 324-0186	658	37	17.6	12.6%	259 (39.4%)	6 (0.9%)	148 (22.5%)	149 (22.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.2%)	88 (13.4%)	97.1	143^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	97.6%		96.7	195^th of 5869 public elementary schools	96.7%	52	72.5		72.5	77.3	84.4	88.1				83.2	78.2	85.4	89.0				84.1	97.2			98.2			$14,329	$14,064	$265
Belle Haven Elementary	Public	K-5	415 Ivy Dr.	Menlo Park	94025	San Mateo County	Ravenswood City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 329-2898	312	15	20.8	87.5%	4 (1.3%)	18 (5.8%)	265 (84.9%)	4 (1.3%)	2 (0.6%)	13 (4.2%)	6 (1.9%)	4.9	5841^st of 5857 public elementary schools	0.3%		6.7	5822^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	0.8%	19	5.5		5.5	2.3	6.2	9.3				6.2	11.1	1.5	5.5				5.4	97.1			97.1			$32,281	$31,428	$853
Rocketship Redwood City	Public, Charter	K-5	909 Roosevelt Ave	Redwood City	94061	San Mateo County	Rocketship Redwood City District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(877) 806-0920	275	9	32.3	87.6%	6 (2.2%)	2 (0.7%)	260 (94.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	1 (0.4%)	32.6	3757^th of 5857 public elementary schools	35.9%		17.5	5075^th of 5869 public elementary schools	13.5%	1318	17.5		17.5	18.9	37.5	35.0				31.2	30.8	40.8	35.0				35.9	96.9	96.9
Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion	Public	K-5	170 Selby Ln.	Atherton	94027	San Mateo County	Redwood City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 482-2415	582	23	25.3	60.1%	80 (13.7%)	3 (0.5%)	474 (81.4%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (3.4%)	53.4	2400^th of 5857 public elementary schools	59.0%		46.2	2782^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	52.6%	382	35.5		35.5	50.6	42.0	54.8				48.7	57.5	27.7	32.3				40.1	96.0			96.8	98.4		$21,373	$18,960	$2,413

Frequently Asked Questions about Taft Elementary

What schools do graduates of Taft Elementary attend?

Students who attend Taft Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : John F. Kennedy Middle
High : Sequoia High

Is Taft Elementary a good school?

Taft Elementary ranks in the bottom 6.4% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend Taft Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 357 students attended Taft Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Taft Elementary?

Students at Taft Elementary are 94% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% White.

What district is Taft Elementary in?

Redwood City Elementary

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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.