Best Public Schools in Zip Code 95121

This analysis covers eight public schools in San Jose's 95121 zip code, including one high school and seven elementary schools, serving over 5,200 students across the Evergreen Elementary, Franklin-McKinley Elementary, and East Side Union High districts.

The standout school is James Franklin Smith Elementary in the Evergreen district, ranking in the top 4% of California elementary schools with exceptional test scores and very low chronic absenteeism. Other strong performers include Silver Creek High, with a graduation rate far above its district average, and Cadwallader Elementary. In contrast, O. B. Whaley Elementary and Stonegate Elementary face significant challenges, with much lower statewide rankings and higher rates of chronic absenteeism.

There is a notable performance gap between the two elementary districts; schools in the Evergreen Elementary district generally outperform those in the Franklin-McKinley Elementary district, despite Evergreen spending significantly less per student. A clear pattern across all schools is that lower chronic absenteeism correlates strongly with higher academic performance, making it a key factor for school success in this community.