Summary:
This analysis examines nine elementary schools in Santa Rosa's 95407 zip code, serving grades K-6 or K-8 across four districts and predominantly high-need student populations.
Overall, schools in this area face significant academic challenges, performing well below state averages in English, math, and science. However, there is notable variation among them. Robert L. Stevens Elementary stands out as the clear top performer, achieving strong test scores and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate despite its high-poverty student body. In contrast, Roseland Creek Elementary ranks lowest in the group. Cesar Chavez Language Academy shows the most improvement, moving up in state rankings while maintaining a low absentee rate.
Key findings for parents include the lack of a clear link between per-student spending and performance, and that schools with better attendance, like Robert L. Stevens, tend to have stronger academics. Science scores are particularly low across all schools. The success of Robert L. Stevens within the Wright Elementary district, which also contains a lower-performing school, suggests that individual school practices are crucial for student success in this community.
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