Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 94804

This analysis examines nine elementary schools serving grades K-5 and K-8 in the 94804 zip code of Richmond, CA, a community where all schools serve student populations with high economic need.

Richmond College Preparatory stands out as the top performer, with test scores above state averages and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (15.3%), despite having large class sizes. In contrast, schools like Grant Elementary and Martin Luther King Junior Elementary face significant challenges, ranking in the state's bottom percentile with very low proficiency rates and high chronic absenteeism above 40%. Most schools in the area, particularly those in the West Contra Costa Unified district, struggle with attendance, with seven of the nine schools exceeding the state's average chronic absenteeism rate.

There is wide variation in resources and outcomes; for example, Richmond Charter Elementary-Benito Juarez spends over $22,000 per student but achieves only moderate results, while higher-performing Richmond College Prep operates with far less funding per student. The data shows a strong connection between attendance and achievement, and no clear link between per-student spending and academic success in this group of schools, highlighting that factors like school culture and instructional quality are critical for student outcomes in this community.