Summary:
This analysis covers five public schools in zip code 94540 (Hayward, CA), all part of the Hayward Unified district, including three elementary schools (K-6) and two middle schools (7-8), serving a total of over 2,500 students in a predominantly low-income area.
When comparing schools, Bret Harte Middle stands out as the top performer, with the highest academic proficiency rates and the most favorable student-teacher ratio. In contrast, Park Elementary faces significant challenges, including the lowest ranking and a critical need in 5th-grade math. Ruus Elementary shows notable improvement, especially in 4th-grade English. A key finding is that middle schools in this area generally outperform the elementary schools.
Overall, no school in this zip code meets California state averages in core subjects, and all struggle with chronic absenteeism rates above the state average. There is extreme variance in science performance between schools, and per-student spending does not show a clear link to better outcomes. Despite being in a lower-performing district, Bret Harte Middle demonstrates that stronger results are possible within this community, highlighting opportunities for targeted improvements in attendance and curriculum support across all schools.
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