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Albert A. Michelson Elementary

Q: Is Albert A. Michelson Elementary a good school?

Albert A. Michelson Elementary ranks 1583 rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1583^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 73% of California elementary schools

Summary

Albert A. Michelson Elementary is a well-regarded K-5 public school serving 226 students in the rural community of Murphys, within the Vallecito Union School District.

The school consistently ranks in the top 30% of California elementary schools, with particular strength in mathematics where it outperforms both the state average and all nearby schools by a significant margin. It is notably effective in supporting economically disadvantaged students, achieving results for this group that rank in the 85th percentile statewide. Compared to its sister school, Hazel Fischer Elementary, which has very similar demographics, Michelson shows much higher proficiency rates, especially in math.

While the school's chronic absenteeism rate is improving, it remains an area of focus. Michelson invests more per student than most neighboring schools, which appears to correlate with its strong outcomes. For families in the area, Albert A. Michelson Elementary stands out as the clear academic leader among local options, offering a particularly robust program in mathematics and effective support for a diverse student population.

226

Students ?

18.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,106

Per pupil spending ?

46.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

196 Pennsylvania Gulch Rd.
Murphys, CA 95247-9521

(209) 728-3441

District: Vallecito Union

Students who attend Albert A. Michelson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Avery Middle
High:	Bret Harte Union High

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.1%

Hispanic:

16.4%

Two or more races:

6.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Albert A. Michelson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 76th percentile in 2015 → 73rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (52% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Above the California median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg51%

California avg41%

1,583^rd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 27%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Vallecito Union

364^th of 1,543Vallecito Union 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	70.5	1583 of 5857	73.0%	★★★★☆
2024	75.6	1349 of 5869	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	1210 of 5859	79.3%	★★★★☆
2022	68.3	1678 of 5883	71.5%	★★★★☆
2021	62.9	474 of 1417	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.8	1564 of 5789	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	67.8	1692 of 5662	70.1%	★★★★☆
2017	75.9	1298 of 5692	77.2%	★★★★☆
2016	72.4	1421 of 5614	74.7%	★★★★☆
2015	74.0	1353 of 5611	75.9%	★★★★☆
2013	75.7	1281 of 5530	76.8%	★★★★☆
2012	68.7	1593 of 5390	70.4%	★★★★☆
2011	67.4	1617 of 5377	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	69.5	1489 of 5314	72.0%	★★★★☆
2009	75.8	1171 of 5193	77.5%	★★★★☆
2008	66.5	1565 of 5113	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	59.3	1862 of 5113	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	72.4	1240 of 4818	74.3%	★★★★☆
2005	67.4	1442 of 4822	70.1%	★★★★☆
2004	70.3	1291 of 4809	73.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	63.5	1806 of 5597	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.0	1495 of 5612	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	69.2	1536 of 5609	72.6%	★★★★☆
2022	76.8	1255 of 5635	77.7%	★★★★☆
2021	62.7	416 of 1267	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.1	1691 of 5492	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.7	2050 of 5413	62.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.0	817 of 5460	85.0%	★★★★☆
2024	80.4	810 of 5517	85.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.0	1172 of 5363	78.1%	★★★★☆
2022	82.3	657 of 5264	87.5%	★★★★☆
2021	41.7	614 of 1110	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.9	1416 of 5173	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	62.3	1615 of 5084	68.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	72.8	1395 of 5628	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	75.1	1274 of 5643	77.4%	★★★★☆
2023	81.0	1044 of 5638	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	56.1	2141 of 5663	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.6	563 of 1272	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.0	1385 of 5510	74.9%	★★★★☆
2018	69.9	1486 of 5431	72.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.1	1778 of 2598	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	1458 of 2651	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.2	921 of 2661	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.8	1614 of 2726	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.7	1680 of 2834	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.1	1789 of 2737	34.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)75th percentile~ school

Female (2025)68th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)32nd percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy57%+8 vs state

Mathematics51%+14 vs state

Science42%+9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Albert A. Michelson 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 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	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
Albert A. Michelson Elementary	Public	K-5	196 Pennsylvania Gulch Rd.	Murphys	95247	Calaveras County	Vallecito Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 728-3441	226	12	18.8	46.5%	163 (72.1%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (16.4%)	4 (1.8%)	7 (3.1%)	1 (0.4%)	14 (6.2%)	70.5	1583^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	73.0%		75.6	1349^th of 5869 public elementary schools	77.0%	234																	42.1		42.1	50.0	53.5	65.8				57.0	53.9	53.5	47.4				51.4							$24,106	$23,152	$954
Mark Twain Elementary	Public	K-8	646 Stanislaus Ave.	Angels Camp	95222	Calaveras County	Mark Twain Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 736-6533	507	24	21.1	68.2%	359 (70.8%)	4 (0.8%)	100 (19.7%)	3 (0.6%)	15 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.1%)	16.8	5119^th of 5857 public elementary schools	12.6%		9.3	5712^th of 5869 public elementary schools	2.7%	593																	12.5	13.6	13.3	31.3	31.6	22.5	20.8	38.6	42.5	33.0	30.3	17.5	2.5	15.1	15.7	15.9	15.8							$22,353	$21,652	$701
Columbia Elementary	Public	K-8	22540 Parrotts Ferry Rd.	Columbia	95310	Tuolumne County	Columbia Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 533-7700	464	27	17.2	65.3%	322 (69.4%)	5 (1.1%)	95 (20.5%)	4 (0.9%)	12 (2.6%)	2 (0.4%)	23 (5.0%)	31.4	3846^th of 5857 public elementary schools	34.3%		33.1	3680^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.3%	166																	17.4	48.8	32.6	30.4	47.6	26.1	40.5	55.3	51.2	41.8	17.4	46.0	10.9	18.9	39.5	44.2	30.4	50.8	79.1	88.1	79.1	62.7	89.6	$29,322	$28,804	$518
Hazel Fischer Elementary	Public	K-5	1605 Blagen Rd.	Arnold	95223	Calaveras County	Vallecito Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 795-8030	172	8	22.6	45.3%	133 (77.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (14.5%)	2 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.4%)	55.8	2255^th of 5857 public elementary schools	61.5%		62.2	1974^th of 5869 public elementary schools	66.4%	281																	35.7		35.7	50.0	52.4	69.0				57.9	50.0	23.8	26.7				33.8	93.3	93.3			93.3		$23,642	$22,688	$954
Sonora Elementary	Public	K-8	830 Greenley Rd.	Sonora	95370	Tuolumne County	Sonora Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 532-5491	643	32	20.0	48.2%	462 (71.9%)	5 (0.8%)	113 (17.6%)	15 (2.3%)	18 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (4.5%)	40.3	3199^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.4%		37.5	3334^th of 5869 public elementary schools	43.2%	135																	30.9	43.1	37.1	55.9	39.1	35.3	39.2	57.1	55.6	46.8	44.1	34.9	25.4	21.3	28.6	38.9	31.6	96.1	96.1	96.1	96.1	96.1	96.1	$32,387	$31,650	$737
Belleview Elementary	Public	K-8	22736 Kuien Mill Rd.	Sonora	95370	Tuolumne County	Belleview Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 586-5510	148	9	16.4	48.6%	101 (68.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (24.3%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.8%)	53.2	2409^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.9%		78	1240^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.9%	1169																	38.1	28.6	34.3	21.4	40.0	57.1	55.0	64.3	28.6	45.9	50.0	31.3	33.3	45.0	50.0	28.6	39.4							$39,173	$38,478	$695
Jamestown Elementary	Public	K-8	18299 Fifth Ave.	Jamestown	95327	Tuolumne County	Jamestown Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 984-4058	409	20	20.4	71.6%	264 (64.5%)	3 (0.7%)	111 (27.1%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.9%)	25.6	4347^th of 5857 public elementary schools	25.8%		25.3	4336^th of 5869 public elementary schools	26.1%	11	4.6	0.0	0.0	1.7	4.6	7.1	7.1	8.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.6	0.0	0.0	1.7	5.4	25.0	16.1	44.2	17.9	24.3	26.8	31.0	42.2	32.2	46.5	22.2	5.4	26.8	31.0	27.3	27.4							$36,971	$35,806	$1,165
San Andreas Elementary	Public	K-8	255 Lewis Ave.	San Andreas	95249	Calaveras County	Calaveras Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 754-2365	334	13	25.5	69.8%	223 (66.8%)	3 (0.9%)	72 (21.6%)	4 (1.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.7%)	18.4	4979^th of 5857 public elementary schools	15.0%		18.4	4991^st of 5869 public elementary schools	15.0%	12																	26.9		26.9	29.0	22.2	19.2	23.4			22.9	32.3	17.8	9.8	14.9			17.2	91.9	91.9			91.9		$27,134	$25,538	$1,596
Twain Harte	Public	K-8	18815 Manzanita Dr.	Twain Harte	95383	Tuolumne County	Twain Harte	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 586-3266	258	13	19.1	65.1%	169 (65.5%)	2 (0.8%)	62 (24.0%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.3%)	2 (0.8%)	16 (6.2%)	52.4	2473^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	57.8%		55.6	2257^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.5%	216																	28.6	41.9	35.6	60.0	34.6	53.6	50.0	28.6	51.6	45.7	60.0	42.3	17.9	35.7	17.7	41.9	34.9	92.0				92.0		$33,811	$33,350	$461
Curtis Creek Elementary	Public	K-8	18755 Standard Rd.	Sonora	95370	Tuolumne County	Curtis Creek Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 532-1428	410	20	20.3	51.7%	305 (74.4%)	6 (1.5%)	66 (16.1%)	7 (1.7%)	6 (1.5%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.4%)	44.2	2936^th of 5857 public elementary schools	49.9%		31.3	3827^th of 5869 public elementary schools	34.8%	891																	51.1	23.3	37.5	56.5	20.0	33.3	12.1	30.6	38.1	33.2	52.2	20.0	51.1	6.1	22.5	16.7	29.6	95.2				95.2		$36,021	$33,864	$2,157

Frequently Asked Questions about Albert A. Michelson Elementary

How many students attend Albert A. Michelson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 226 students attended Albert A. Michelson Elementary.

Is Albert A. Michelson Elementary a good school?

Albert A. Michelson Elementary ranks 1583^rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Albert A. Michelson Elementary?

Students at Albert A. Michelson Elementary are 72% White, 16% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% American Indian, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Albert A. Michelson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Albert A. Michelson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Avery Middle
High : Bret Harte Union High

What district is Albert A. Michelson Elementary in?

Vallecito Union

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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.