Summary:
Zip code 92257 in Niland, California, contains one public elementary school, Grace Smith Elementary, serving grades K-4 within the Calipatria Unified district.
Grace Smith Elementary is a very small school of about 65 students, which allows for a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. The school serves a community with significant economic need, with over 92% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Its academic performance has shown notable fluctuation in recent years, with its statewide ranking dropping from the 61st percentile to the 40th percentile between the 2024 and 2025 school years. However, the school demonstrates a relative strength in mathematics, where its students outperform the Calipatria Unified district average.
The school's chronic absenteeism rate is higher than the state average, and it operates with a very high level of per-student funding, reported at over $29,500 per pupil. This combination of high resources, a small and high-need student population, and variable academic results presents a unique profile. For parents, the school offers a close-knit environment with the potential for individualized attention, but its performance trends and the broader challenges faced by the Calipatria Unified district are important factors to consider.
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