Summary:
Zip code 95313 in the Crows Landing/Turlock area of California's Central Valley is served by two public schools: Mountain View Middle (grades 6-8) and Bonita Elementary (grades 4-5), which together enroll about 300 students from predominantly low-income families.
Comparing the two schools reveals significant differences in academic performance despite their similar student demographics. Bonita Elementary stands out for its strong results, outperforming both its Newman-Crows Landing Unified district and the state average in all subjects for the 2024-2025 school year, especially in science where 47% of students were proficient. The school has shown impressive improvement, jumping to the 61st percentile in statewide rankings. In contrast, Mountain View Middle, part of the Chatom Union district, performs below state averages in English, math, and science, and its statewide ranking has declined over recent years.
Key insights for parents include that Bonita Elementary demonstrates a school can overcome economic challenges to achieve above-average results, showing particular strength in science instruction. While Mountain View Middle has a very low chronic absenteeism rate, this has not translated to higher academic achievement, and the school receives more funding per student than its higher-performing neighbor. The data suggests that school-level practices, rather than just district policies or resources, are crucial drivers of student success in this area.
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