Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools serving grades K-5 (with one K-8) in San Diego's 92116 zip code, all of which serve predominantly economically disadvantaged student populations but show significant variation in performance and resources.
Among these schools, San Diego Global Vision Academy stands out as the top performer, with the highest test scores and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 8.4%, alongside the highest per-student spending. Garfield Elementary also excels academically, achieving the highest ELA and math scores among the traditional district schools despite having a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. In contrast, Franklin Elementary faces notable challenges, with the lowest test scores and ranking, coupled with the highest student-teacher ratio and lowest per-student spending in the San Diego Unified group.
Key findings for parents include that all schools exceed state averages in English Language Arts, and four of five exceed them in Math. However, several schools show dramatic drops in math proficiency between 4th and 5th grades, suggesting a potential area of focus. Attendance appears strongly linked to success, as the school with the lowest absenteeism also performs the best. While resources vary, they do not solely determine outcomes, as some schools with moderate spending still struggle. Normal Heights Elementary saw its statewide ranking drop significantly from the previous year, which may be worth investigating.
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