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Rachel Carson Elementary

Q: Is Rachel Carson Elementary a good school?

Rachel Carson Elementary ranks 4002 nd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

4002^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of California elementary schools

Summary

Rachel Carson Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 199 students in the San Jose Unified School District, but it has experienced a significant and concerning academic decline over the past decade, dropping from a 4-star to a 2-star rating.

While the school has made impressive progress in improving student attendance, now matching the state average, its academic performance has fallen dramatically compared to nearby schools. For example, it ranks in the 32nd percentile statewide, which is far below high-performing neighbors like Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet (87th percentile) and Indigo (77th percentile). The school also shows large performance gaps, with female students and students from low-income families scoring significantly lower than their male peers, a disparity more pronounced than at a similar school like Del Roble Elementary.

A notable finding is that Rachel Carson spends more per student—over $27,700—than all the nearby comparison schools, yet it yields weaker academic results. This suggests resources may not be effectively translating to classroom success. The school's performance varies greatly by grade, and its challenges highlight that even within the same district and serving similar communities, school effectiveness can differ widely, offering clear examples for potential improvement strategies.

199

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,738

Per pupil spending ?

47.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4245 Meg Dr.
San Jose, CA 95136-1959

(408) 535-6287

District: San Jose Unified

Students who attend Rachel Carson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	John Muir Middle
High:	Gunderson High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

47.7%

Asian:

19.1%

White:

18.1%

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Compare Rachel Carson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2015 → 32nd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (29% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 47 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg45%

California avg41%

4,002^nd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 48 pts since 2015

From top 21% (2015) to bottom 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^th of 27Elementary Schools in the San Jose Unified

788^th of 1,543San Jose 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	29.5	4002 of 5857	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.4	2835 of 5869	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.4	2727 of 5859	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.8	3109 of 5883	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.7	871 of 1417	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.9	2952 of 5789	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.7	2355 of 5662	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	73.5	1409 of 5692	75.2%	★★★★☆
2016	77.2	1227 of 5614	78.1%	★★★★☆
2015	78.7	1160 of 5611	79.3%	★★★★☆
2013	72.0	1471 of 5530	73.4%	★★★★☆
2012	71.4	1450 of 5390	73.1%	★★★★☆
2011	73.7	1316 of 5377	75.5%	★★★★☆
2010	73.2	1319 of 5314	75.2%	★★★★☆
2009	56.9	2079 of 5193	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.0	1401 of 5113	72.6%	★★★★☆
2007	69.6	1391 of 5113	72.8%	★★★★☆
2006	68.2	1426 of 4818	70.4%	★★★★☆
2005	60.2	1729 of 4822	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	55.3	1910 of 4809	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.0	5309 of 5597	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	43.1	2812 of 5609	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.1	2313 of 5635	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.9	741 of 1267	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.2	2784 of 5492	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.5	2565 of 5413	52.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	18.4	4552 of 5107	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.5	4851 of 5107	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	38.8	2996 of 5087	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.7	3472 of 5084	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.7	3713 of 4963	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	49.7	2241 of 4830	53.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.3	5216 of 5460	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	3864 of 5517	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.8	3081 of 5363	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.6	702 of 1110	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.7	2921 of 5173	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.8	2768 of 5084	45.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.6	3075 of 5628	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.1	2209 of 5643	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.5	2652 of 5638	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.1	3449 of 5663	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.0	790 of 1272	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.1	2907 of 5510	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.2	2159 of 5431	60.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2025)45th percentile+14 vs school

Hispanic (2025)11th percentile-21 vs school

Female (2025)5th percentile-27 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)4th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy34%-15 vs state

Mathematics29%-8 vs state

Science18%-15 vs state

5.0

2 ratings

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Rachel Carson Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)					CSA Spanish Listening (2025)					CSA Spanish Writing (2025)					CSA Spanish Reading (2025)					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 (2024)
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	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	CAST Science 5th 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 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 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
Rachel Carson Elementary	Public	K-5	4245 Meg Dr.	San Jose	95136	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6287	199	12	16.4	47.2%	36 (18.1%)	10 (5.0%)	95 (47.7%)	38 (19.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (10.1%)	29.5	4002^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	31.7%		45.4	2835^th of 5869 public elementary schools	51.7%	1167																					17.9	17.9	20.7	42.3	39.3		33.7	24.1	38.5	25.0		28.9	85.7	92.9		89.3	89.3	89.3	$27,738	$4,021	$23,717
Parkview Elementary	Public	K-6	330 Bluefield Dr.	San Jose	95136	Santa Clara County	Oak Grove Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 226-4655	549	21	26.1	64.5%	25 (4.6%)	15 (2.7%)	391 (71.2%)	96 (17.5%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.5%)	36	3490^th of 5857 public elementary schools	40.4%		33.6	3631^st of 5869 public elementary schools	38.1%	141																					25.0	25.0	31.8	36.9	37.2	31.2	34.4	34.8	47.0	28.8	27.2	34.5							$15,532	$1,098	$14,434
Terrell Elementary	Public	K-5	3925 Pearl Ave.	San Jose	95136	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6255	255	15	17.2	54.1%	40 (15.7%)	20 (7.8%)	148 (58.0%)	28 (11.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	17 (6.7%)	20.1	4817^th of 5857 public elementary schools	17.8%		21	4770^th of 5869 public elementary schools	18.7%	47																					17.1	17.1	33.3	10.0	27.8		24.2	29.4	16.7	22.2		23.0	92.2			94.1	94.1	94.1	$25,848	$3,505	$22,343
Del Roble Elementary	Public	K-6	5345 Avenida Almendros	San Jose	95123	Santa Clara County	Oak Grove Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 225-5675	420	18	23.3	41.9%	30 (7.1%)	8 (1.9%)	339 (80.7%)	16 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.4%)	51	2548^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.5%		54.7	2298^th of 5869 public elementary schools	60.8%	250	17.5	10.2	10.9	15.9	13.7	54.4	14.3	36.4	22.7	33.2	21.1	26.5	13.0	43.2	25.0	12.3	14.3	5.6	20.5	12.8	30.9	30.9	41.8	44.9	41.8	56.1	46.7	40.4	42.6	30.9	41.5	38.8	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	$17,170	$910	$16,260
Captain Jason M. Dahl Elementary	Public	K-6	3200 Water St.	San Jose	95111	Santa Clara County	Franklin-McKinley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 363-5650	396	17	23.9	85.6%	6 (1.5%)	6 (1.5%)	302 (76.3%)	76 (19.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	18.4	4981^st of 5857 public elementary schools	15.0%		15.6	5243^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	10.7%	262																					19.3	19.3	20.0	25.6	32.7	31.2	27.8	15.1	20.9	15.8	14.8	16.4							$24,175	$3,526	$20,649
Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet	Public	K-5	1290 Kimberly Dr.	San Jose	95118	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6259	622	23	27.5	22.3%	189 (30.4%)	21 (3.4%)	195 (31.4%)	134 (21.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	80 (12.9%)	88.6	736^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.4%		81.2	1102^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	81.2%	366																					56.4	56.4	68.6	63.8	76.2		69.6	70.5	69.5	60.6		66.8	98.1						$19,440	$702	$18,738
Canoas Elementary	Public	K-5	880 Wren Dr.	San Jose	95125	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6391	282	17	16.8	71.6%	15 (5.3%)	23 (8.2%)	204 (72.3%)	25 (8.9%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (3.9%)	33.5	3679^th of 5857 public elementary schools	37.2%		37.1	3366^th of 5869 public elementary schools	42.6%	313																					20.7	20.7	37.5	22.7	50.0		34.8	47.5	17.4	31.0		31.3							$34,389	$10,403	$23,986
Hayes Elementary	Public	K-6	5035 Poston Dr.	San Jose	95136	Santa Clara County	Oak Grove Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 227-0424	470	18	26.1	56.4%	27 (5.7%)	14 (3.0%)	308 (65.5%)	89 (18.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.2%)	39.5	3257^th of 5857 public elementary schools	44.4%		44	2924^th of 5869 public elementary schools	50.2%	333																					29.0	29.0	25.3	39.0	31.2	52.5	35.9	41.2	33.3	21.7	45.9	36.1	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	94.2	$16,619	$1,677	$14,942
Allen at Steinbeck	Public	K-5	820 Steinbeck Dr.	San Jose	95123	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6205	406	23	17.9	69.0%	50 (12.3%)	6 (1.5%)	282 (69.5%)	39 (9.6%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (2.0%)	20 (4.9%)	20.9	4745^th of 5857 public elementary schools	19.0%		17.5	5070^th of 5869 public elementary schools	13.6%	325																					18.5	18.5	26.5	23.3	32.1		26.8	29.4	20.6	22.2		24.1	97.2			97.2	97.2	97.2	$25,081	$2,434	$22,647
Los Arboles Literacy and Technology Academy	Public	K-3	455 Los Arboles St.	San Jose	95111	Santa Clara County	Franklin-McKinley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 363-5675	185	15	12.3	78.9%	4 (2.2%)	2 (1.1%)	151 (81.6%)	25 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)								(n/a)																							33.3				33.3	23.8				23.8							$32,184	$5,606	$26,578

Frequently Asked Questions about Rachel Carson Elementary

Is Rachel Carson Elementary a good school?

Rachel Carson Elementary ranks 4002^nd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Rachel Carson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Rachel Carson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : John Muir Middle
High : Gunderson High

What district is Rachel Carson Elementary in?

San Jose Unified

What is the racial makeup of Rachel Carson Elementary?

Students at Rachel Carson Elementary are 48% Hispanic, 19% Asian, 18% White, 10% Two or more races, 5% African American.

How many students attend Rachel Carson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 199 students attended Rachel Carson Elementary.

Rate Rachel Carson Elementary!

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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.