Summary:
This analysis examines seven elementary schools in San Jose's 95121 zip code, serving grades K-8 across two main districts, and reveals a landscape of stark contrasts in performance, resources, and student demographics.
Standout schools include James Franklin Smith Elementary, which is the top performer with exceptional test scores and very low chronic absenteeism, and Cadwallader Elementary, a consistently strong school. Both are part of the Evergreen Elementary district, which generally sees higher academic results. On the other end, O. B. Whaley Elementary faces significant challenges with the lowest academic scores and highest absenteeism rate in the group.
A key finding is the wide disparity in per-student spending between districts, with Franklin-McKinley Elementary schools like Windmill Springs Elementary and Stonegate Elementary spending roughly double the amount of Evergreen schools, yet not achieving proportionally higher academic outcomes. This suggests factors beyond funding significantly influence success. Parents should note that chronic absenteeism is a strong indicator of school performance, and science proficiency varies widely, often lagging behind English and math at several schools.
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