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Sunshine Gardens Elementary

Q: Is Sunshine Gardens Elementary a good school?

Sunshine Gardens Elementary ranks 3503 rd of 5817 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

3503^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,817 California Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of California elementary schools

Summary

Sunshine Gardens Elementary is a K–5 school in South San Francisco, California, with 329 students, and is part of South San Francisco Unified. In 2025–26, students’ proficiency rates were below state and district averages in English language arts (ELA), math and science. The most important finding is that the school trails all three benchmarks in every reported subject, with its largest nearby-school gap in math.

Science is the school’s strongest subject relative to nearby schools: 32% of students were proficient, compared with a nearby-school average of 36%, a 4-point gap. ELA was 39% versus a 47% nearby average, and math was 29% versus 44%—gaps of 8 and 15 points. The same pattern holds against the state and district: ELA was about 10 points below both, math was 9 points below the state and 11 below the district, and science was 4 and 6 points below, respectively. Grade results vary: third-grade math was 27%, 20 points below the state and 21 below the district, and second-lowest among the ten schools; only Los Cerritos Elementary was lower. Fifth-grade ELA was a relative bright spot at 52%, 3 points above the state and 1 below the district.

Scores have improved since 2022–23, especially in science, but remain below the state. ELA rose 5 percentage points, math 6 and science 15; the state gaps narrowed in all three subjects. SchoolDigger places the school at the 40th percentile statewide with 2 stars, fourth-lowest among the ten nearby schools. Its 2024–25 student–teacher ratio was 19.3, the second-lowest in that group, while 48% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year, compared with a nearby average of 46%. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking for English Language Learner students improved from the 1st percentile in 2021–22 to the 29th percentile in 2023–24, indicating a much stronger standing in how the school serves this group, though still below the school’s overall 42nd percentile that year.

329

Students ?

19.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,076

Per pupil spending ?

48.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

≥ 98%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

1200 Miller Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080-1221

(650) 877-8784

District: South San Francisco Unified

Students who attend Sunshine Gardens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

Parkway Heights Middle

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

59.0%

Asian:

22.5%

Two or more races:

9.7%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Sunshine Gardens Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 31st percentile in 2023 → 40th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 40th (2026) from a 31st-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (34% vs 42% meeting standards)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg43%

California avg42%

3,503^rd of 5,817

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 9Elementary Schools in the South San Francisco Unified

680^th of 1,530South San Francisco 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
2026	36.0	3503 of 5817	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.5	3311 of 5857	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.1	3431 of 5869	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.2	4039 of 5859	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.4	3425 of 5883	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.1	724 of 1417	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.2	3176 of 5789	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.8	3482 of 5662	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	34.6	3465 of 5692	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	46.4	2688 of 5614	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	48.1	2550 of 5611	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	51.2	2615 of 5530	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.5	2178 of 5390	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	44.5	2926 of 5377	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	56.6	2182 of 5314	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	44.8	2762 of 5193	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	57.1	1996 of 5113	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	44.5	2648 of 5113	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.4	2297 of 4818	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	37.1	2886 of 4822	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	43.0	2502 of 4809	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	33.9	2259 of 3162	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.3	2795 of 3245	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.3	3281 of 3311	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.8	578 of 602	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	53.6	1066 of 3275	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.6	1053 of 3246	67.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	44.2	2880 of 5581	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.8	2709 of 5597	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.7	2879 of 5612	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.4	3380 of 5609	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.4	2395 of 5635	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.9	605 of 1267	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.7	2512 of 5492	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.7	2910 of 5413	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	31.3	3632 of 5094	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.9	3315 of 5107	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.7	3530 of 5107	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.4	3912 of 5087	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.3	3346 of 5084	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.5	3280 of 4963	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.6	3576 of 4830	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	41.6	3073 of 5423	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.9	3588 of 5460	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.8	3877 of 5517	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.1	4891 of 5363	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	44.1	2674 of 5264	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.2	519 of 1110	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.7	2697 of 5173	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.4	4307 of 5084	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	29.5	3915 of 5603	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.9	3635 of 5628	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.0	3915 of 5643	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.0	4527 of 5638	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.4	4574 of 5663	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	40.5	696 of 1272	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.5	3582 of 5510	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.6	3730 of 5431	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.9	1844 of 2847	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.3	1644 of 2635	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.0	1853 of 2420	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2026)48th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)43rd percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2025)35th percentile-8 vs school

Male (2026)30th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)29th percentile-11 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)29th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy39%-10 vs state

Science32%-4 vs state

Mathematics29%-9 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, February 8, 2019

This school is rundown, has oversize classrooms, not much is done for kids who are ahead and get excellent grades. They are left to fend for themselves while those that need help get the attention. Everyone needs to be included in all aspects. Lack of Spirit Day for kids to have Fun. They used to have a Fun Run every month but since this new Principal started, she took everything away. Most of the teachers are involved with the students expect about 2 or 3. Sunshine Gardens needs improvements as soon as possible. The kids suffer if things are not fixed. Close Quote

Schools Near Sunshine Gardens 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)				Vaccination (2024-25)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	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 All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sunshine Gardens Elementary	Public	K-5	1200 Miller Ave.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8784	329	17	19.3	48.3%	14 (4.3%)	5 (1.5%)	194 (59.0%)	74 (22.5%)	6 (1.8%)	4 (1.2%)	32 (9.7%)	36	3503^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	39.8%		38.5	3311^th of 5857 public elementary schools	43.5%	192	31.9	31.9	30.0	35.6	52.0	39.3	26.5	34.8	26.5	29.2	≥ 98%		$26,076	$22,478	$3,598
Hillside Elementary	Public	K-5	1400 Hillside Blvd.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8720	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)													$1,158	$00	$1,158
Buri Buri Elementary	Public	K-5	325 Del Monte Ave.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8776	584	26	22.4	28.3%	77 (13.2%)	1 (0.2%)	219 (37.5%)	217 (37.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.2%)	63 (10.8%)	85.5	890^th of 5817 public elementary schools	84.7%		85.9	885^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.9%	5	54.4	54.4	69.6	57.5	69.6	65.5	64.6	69.0	64.1	65.9	≥ 99%		$22,217	$20,140	$2,077
Los Cerritos Elementary	Public	K-5	210 West Orange Ave.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8841	304	17	18.4	62.2%	14 (4.6%)	8 (2.6%)	204 (67.1%)	37 (12.2%)	6 (2.0%)	13 (4.3%)	22 (7.2%)	12.4	5442^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	6.4%		10	5635^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.8%	193	10.5	10.5	18.4	25.6	15.8	20.0	18.4	25.6	5.4	17.1	≥ 98%		$27,440	$23,208	$4,232
Spruce Elementary	Public	K-5	501 Spruce Ave.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8780	384	17	22.5	61.2%	14 (3.6%)	8 (2.1%)	303 (78.9%)	43 (11.2%)	4 (1.0%)	6 (1.6%)	6 (1.6%)	17.4	5027^th of 5817 public elementary schools	13.6%		17.6	5039^th of 5857 public elementary schools	14.0%	12	13.6	13.6	24.6	23.9	24.6	24.4	33.3	19.6	15.4	23.2	95%	0%	$25,347	$22,752	$2,595
Ponderosa Elementary	Public	K-5	295 Ponderosa Rd.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8825	359	16	22.4	35.4%	50 (13.9%)	1 (0.3%)	167 (46.5%)	102 (28.4%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	35 (9.7%)	66.6	1746^th of 5817 public elementary schools	70.0%		66.6	1760^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.0%	14	51.8	51.8	41.9	50.8	57.1	50.6	46.5	55.7	48.2	50.6	97%	0%	$24,503	$21,088	$3,415
Martin Elementary	Public	K-5	35 School St.	South San Francisco	94080	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-3955	370	17	22.4	69.7%	9 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	309 (83.5%)	22 (5.9%)	11 (3.0%)	5 (1.4%)	14 (3.8%)	13.1	5386^th of 5817 public elementary schools	7.4%		11.2	5556^th of 5857 public elementary schools	5.1%	170	12.7	12.7	24.6	20.7	15.9	20.5	28.6	12.1	10.0	17.6	94%	0%	$22,984	$20,298	$2,686
Junipero Serra Elementary	Public	K-5	151 Victoria St.	Daly City	94015	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8853	286	15	19.7	40.9%	14 (4.9%)	3 (1.0%)	67 (23.4%)	175 (61.2%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	24 (8.4%)	71.2	1523^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	73.8%		78.2	1233^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	78.9%	290	52.3	52.3	37.3	63.6	72.7	56.8	47.1	56.8	56.8	53.2	≥ 95%		$28,010	$23,910	$4,100
Skyline Elementary	Public	K-5	55 Christen Ave.	Daly City	94015	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8941	366	16	22.8	39.3%	23 (6.3%)	4 (1.1%)	78 (21.3%)	212 (57.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.2%)	41 (11.2%)	66.7	1742^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	70.1%		77.5	1264^th of 5857 public elementary schools	78.4%	478	33.9	33.9	55.1	50.0	60.7	55.4	57.1	51.9	48.2	52.2	97%	0%	$24,403	$22,000	$2,403
Susan B. Anthony Elementary	Public	K-5	575 Abbot Ave.	Daly City	94014	San Mateo County	Jefferson Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 997-7880	407	17	24.6	51.8%	23 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	226 (55.5%)	136 (33.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	19 (4.7%)	47.5	2744^th of 5817 public elementary schools	52.8%		53.5	2393^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	59.1%	351	23.3	23.3	47.6	54.0	45.0	48.9	50.0	36.9	25.0	37.6	≥ 98%		$25,378	$24,104	$1,274

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunshine Gardens Elementary

What schools do graduates of Sunshine Gardens Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sunshine Gardens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Parkway Heights Middle

What is the racial makeup of Sunshine Gardens Elementary?

Students at Sunshine Gardens Elementary are 59% Hispanic, 22% Asian, 10% Two or more races, 4% White, 2% American Indian, 2% African American, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is Sunshine Gardens Elementary in?

South San Francisco Unified

How many students attend Sunshine Gardens Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 329 students attended Sunshine Gardens Elementary.

Is Sunshine Gardens Elementary a good school?

Sunshine Gardens Elementary ranks 3503^rd of 5817 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Sunshine Gardens Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

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.