Summary:
This analysis examines 10 elementary schools (grades K-6, with one K-only center) within the Los Banos Unified district in zip code 93635, a high-need area where the district ranks in the bottom 18th percentile statewide.
Performance varies widely across these schools. Grasslands Elementary is the clear academic leader, ranking in the 56th percentile statewide and the only school to meet or exceed state averages in math, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism and per-student spending. Westside Union Elementary and Charleston Elementary are also strong performers, with Charleston notably having a very low 10.3% absenteeism rate. In contrast, R. M. Miano Elementary and Henry Miller Elementary are in the bottom 8th percentile with very low proficiency and high absenteeism.
Key findings for parents include a troubling "fifth-grade slump" in math across most schools, where scores drop sharply from earlier grades. Chronic absenteeism is a major district-wide challenge, most severe at the Transitional Kindergarten Center (53.1%). Interestingly, higher spending does not guarantee better results here, as the top-performing school spends the least per student. The data shows that even within a struggling district, some schools are achieving significantly better outcomes for students.
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