Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools serving grades K-6 in the 92831 zip code of Fullerton, CA, revealing a diverse educational landscape with significant performance differences between schools in the same area.
Acacia Elementary stands out as the clear top performer, ranking in the state's top 5% with exceptionally high test scores and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 2.2%. Raymond Elementary shows strong and improving performance, while Topaz Elementary and Commonwealth Elementary face greater academic challenges. Interestingly, higher per-student spending does not correlate with better outcomes here; Commonwealth spends nearly twice per student as Acacia but has the lowest proficiency rates.
All four schools operate within two districts: three belong to the Fullerton Elementary district, which shows wide internal variation, while Topaz is part of the generally higher-performing Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified district. A strong connection exists between attendance and achievement, with the best-performing schools also having the fewest chronically absent students. For parents, this zip code offers a range of school environments, from the consistently high-achieving Acacia to schools like Raymond that are demonstrating positive improvement trends.
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