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La Joya Elementary

Public Grades K-5

4646^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of California elementary schools

Summary

La Joya Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 498 students in Salinas, California, operating within the Santa Rita Union Elementary district, which faces significant challenges across the region.

While La Joya's overall academic performance is below state averages, it holds a middle position within its own district, generally outperforming nearby McKinnon and Santa Rita Elementary in English and Math, though it trails New Republic Elementary. The school shows notable strengths, including a dramatic 65% reduction in chronic absenteeism over three years and particularly effective support for vulnerable student groups like homeless students and English learners, where its ratings are much higher than the school's overall score.

Key areas for attention include science proficiency, which is low compared to peers, and overall academic improvement. Compared to schools in other local districts like Salinas City Elementary and Alisal Union, La Joya is competitive, often outperforming schools such as Loma Vista Elementary and Creekside Elementary. The school's increased per-student spending appears to be supporting positive trends in attendance and targeted student support.

498

Students ?

22.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,790

Per pupil spending ?

88.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

55 Rogge Rd.
Salinas, CA 93906-1301

(831) 443-7216

District: Santa Rita Union Elementary

Students who attend La Joya Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	John Gutierrez Middle
High:	Everett Alvarez High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

92.2%

White:

5.6%

African American:

0.8%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 14th percentile in 2013 → 21st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (25% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!Science scores 21 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg23%

California avg41%

4,646^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

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

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Santa Rita Union Elementary

1331^st of 1,543Santa Rita Union 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	22.3	4646 of 5857	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.5	4716 of 5869	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	4790 of 5859	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	4747 of 5883	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.6	4055 of 5789	30.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.1	4228 of 5662	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	19.3	4757 of 5692	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	21.6	4462 of 5614	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.4	3834 of 5611	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	20.0	4733 of 5530	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	17.9	4788 of 5390	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	35.0	3621 of 5377	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	46.7	2759 of 5314	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	31.4	3597 of 5193	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	29.6	3622 of 5113	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	38.4	3017 of 5113	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	34.0	3052 of 4818	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	39.0	2780 of 4822	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	26.0	3492 of 4809	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	64.5	614 of 2585	76.2%	★★★★☆
2018	39.5	1053 of 2128	50.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	40.4	1786 of 3162	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.0	1893 of 3245	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.9	2619 of 3311	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.3	2917 of 3275	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.0	1501 of 3246	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.9	4683 of 5597	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.3	4577 of 5612	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	4632 of 5609	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	4685 of 5635	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.8	4089 of 5492	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.5	3725 of 5413	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	29.7	3776 of 5107	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.8	3814 of 5107	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.2	4091 of 5087	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.3	4007 of 5084	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.2	2950 of 4963	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.1	3262 of 4830	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	186 of 429	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.7	72 of 364	80.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.6	4312 of 5460	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.3	4279 of 5517	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.8	4317 of 5363	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.7	4443 of 5264	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.5	3163 of 5173	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.6	3431 of 5084	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.7	4132 of 5628	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	4448 of 5643	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.3	4508 of 5638	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.1	4423 of 5663	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.7	3652 of 5510	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.3	4352 of 5431	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.2	1591 of 2847	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	17.9	2273 of 2420	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)76th percentile+46 vs school

Homeless (2025)57th percentile+36 vs school

Special Education (2025)44th percentile+23 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)44th percentile+24 vs school

Male (2025)27th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)26th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)21st percentile~ school

Female (2025)16th percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy32%-17 vs state

Mathematics23%-14 vs state

Science12%-21 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Monday, March 13, 2017

I volunteer at this school and both my kids attended this school. This school is filled with caring and talented staff who work hard to serve this diverse community. Parents are encouraged and welcome to participate in their child's education & school events. The office staff is friendly and accommodating. Love this school! Close Quote

Schools Near La Joya 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)				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 (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	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th 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
La Joya Elementary	Public	K-5	55 Rogge Rd.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Santa Rita Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 443-7216	498	22	22.6	88.8%	28 (5.6%)	4 (0.8%)	459 (92.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	22.3	4646^th of 5857 public elementary schools	20.7%		21.5	4716^th of 5869 public elementary schools	19.6%	70																	11.8	11.8	24.4	27.9	43.4		31.7	30.4	22.1	15.8		22.8							$11,790	$10,142	$1,648
McKinnon	Public	K-5	2100 McKinnon	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Santa Rita Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 443-7224	439	21	20.9	85.4%	12 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	407 (92.7%)	14 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.1%)	22.4	4644^th of 5857 public elementary schools	20.7%		16	5211^th of 5869 public elementary schools	11.2%	567																	21.0	21.0	21.3	28.6	39.3		29.7	34.4	14.1	16.1		21.1							$10,977	$9,320	$1,657
Santa Rita Elementary	Public	K-5	2014 Santa Rita St.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Santa Rita Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 443-7221	545	24	22.7	97.2%	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	540 (99.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7.1	5777^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.4%		8	5770^th of 5869 public elementary schools	1.7%	7																	7.2	7.2	9.5	6.8	15.5		10.9	14.7	5.3	9.3		10.1	95.2	98.1		96.1	97.1	98.1	$10,604	$8,722	$1,882
New Republic Elementary	Public	K-5	636 Arcadia Way	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Santa Rita Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 443-7246	482	23	20.9	78.6%	26 (5.4%)	3 (0.6%)	400 (83.0%)	38 (7.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.9%)	30.6	3909^th of 5857 public elementary schools	33.3%		33.1	3673^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	37.4%	236																	31.7	31.7	19.1	28.2	47.4		31.0	14.3	27.9	36.7		26.1	95.4	97.3	97.3	97.3	96.3	98.2	$11,421	$10,004	$1,417
Loma Vista Elementary	Public	K-6	757 Sausal Dr.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Salinas City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 753-5670	445	19	23.4	73.0%	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	427 (96.0%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	5.6	5823^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	0.6%		8.2	5763^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	1.8%	60																	1.8	1.8	8.2	5.6	8.8	16.9	10.3	8.2	7.4	1.8	7.0	6.2							$20,015	$19,122	$893
John E. Steinbeck Elementary	Public	K-6	1714 Burlington Dr.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Alisal Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 753-5780	486	20	24.9	78.0%	12 (2.5%)	2 (0.4%)	438 (90.1%)	18 (3.7%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.7%)	31.5	3841^st of 5857 public elementary schools	34.4%		25.2	4348^th of 5869 public elementary schools	25.9%	507																	31.3	31.3	28.2	24.7	52.5	36.2	35.6	39.4	17.3	28.8	8.7	23.6	96.3				96.3		$16,369	$14,070	$2,299
Natividad Elementary	Public	K-6	1465 Modoc Ave.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Salinas City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 753-5675	705	31	23.1	78.9%	9 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	651 (92.3%)	21 (3.0%)	14 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	12.5	5465^th of 5857 public elementary schools	6.7%		9.3	5715^th of 5869 public elementary schools	2.6%	250	8.9	5.1	2.1	5.3	35.6	5.1	31.9	25.2	20.0	15.4	2.1	12.2	6.7	5.1	2.1	4.6	6.5	6.5	21.7	14.3	14.0	30.8	19.4	24.2	8.4	4.7	24.4	14.6							$19,141	$18,246	$895
El Gabilan Elementary	Public	K-6	1256 Linwood Dr.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Salinas City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 753-5660	548	24	22.8	78.3%	20 (3.6%)	2 (0.4%)	497 (90.7%)	8 (1.5%)	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.5%)	12 (2.2%)	14.8	5278^th of 5857 public elementary schools	9.9%		16.8	5147^th of 5869 public elementary schools	12.3%	131																	15.1	15.1	7.9	21.4	25.9	30.4	21.2	6.6	22.6	9.3	20.5	15.4	92.9	96.4	96.4	95.5	96.4	98.2	$20,849	$19,936	$913
Creekside Elementary	Public	K-6	1770 Kittery St.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Alisal Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 753-5252	534	21	25.4	75.7%	15 (2.8%)	2 (0.4%)	484 (90.6%)	21 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	10 (1.9%)	20.7	4771^st of 5857 public elementary schools	18.5%		23	4580^th of 5869 public elementary schools	22.0%	191																	26.6	26.6	15.5	17.8	46.8	24.7	26.7	15.5	14.9	26.6	2.7	15.2							$16,830	$14,528	$2,302
Alisal Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	1-6	1770 Kittery St.	Salinas	93906	Monterey County	Alisal Union	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(831) 753-5700	22	3	7.3	81.8%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (90.9%)	2 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																							6.3					0.0							$55,456	$52,934	$2,522

Frequently Asked Questions about La Joya Elementary

What schools do graduates of La Joya Elementary attend?

Students who attend La Joya Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : John Gutierrez Middle
High : Everett Alvarez High

What district is La Joya Elementary in?

Santa Rita Union Elementary

What is the racial makeup of La Joya Elementary?

Students at La Joya Elementary are 92% Hispanic, 6% White.

How many students attend La Joya Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 498 students attended La Joya Elementary.

Is La Joya Elementary a good school?

La Joya Elementary ranks in the bottom 20.7% of California elementary schools.

Rate La Joya 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.