Summary
Central Elementary is a K–6 school with 350 students in Imperial Beach, served by the South Bay Union district. Its 2025–2026 results were below district and state levels in English, math and science: 22% in English versus 38% districtwide and 49% statewide, and 15% in math versus 25% and 38%. Among Central and 10 nearby schools, it ranked lowest in English and third-lowest in math. The clearest concern is that Central’s English and math results are near the bottom of its local comparison group as well as below district and state results.
Science is Central’s strongest subject compared with nearby schools, though it still trails the state. Its 21% result was close to the district’s 22%, above the nearby-school average of 19%, and fourth-highest among the 11 schools; the state result was 36%. English is its weakest local comparison: the nearby average was 35%, and Central was the only school below 23%. In math, Central’s 15% result was below the nearby average of 24%, but above two nearby schools. These comparisons show that science is a relative bright spot, while English and math remain challenges.
Science has improved substantially, while English has fluctuated and math has risen more gradually. From 2022–2023 to 2025–2026, science increased 17 percentage points, including a 15-point rise in the latest year; English fell 2 points overall, and math rose 5 points. Central’s science gap with the state narrowed from 25 points to 15, but the latest results remain below state levels in every subject. SchoolDigger placed Central at the 8th percentile with 0 stars in 2025–2026, tied for the lowest percentile among nearby schools. Its student-teacher ratio was 26.9 in 2024–2025, the highest in the local group, whose average was 24.4. Central reported 74% free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025, close to the nearby average of 72%. SchoolDigger’s special-education subgroup ranking was 8th percentile in 2025–2026, after 47th and 42nd in the two previous years; its English-learner ranking reached the 44th percentile in 2023–2024, while the school overall was at the 8th percentile that year.
Thank you for your feedback!