How strong are the public elementary schools in San Diego?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — which include comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year and those that lead their peers.
Ibarra Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in San Diego, rising from a C+ to a B, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 4877 Orange Ave., enrolls 505 students. Ibarra Elementary School serves a diverse population: 56% of students identify as Hispanic, 20% identify as black and 15% identify as Asian. Niche graded the school a B- for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 34% of Ibarra Elementary School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 38% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 54% in math and 57% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 45% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Baker Elementary School saw its overall rating go from a C to a B-. The school is located at 4041 T St. and currently serves 437 students, of whom 84% identify as Hispanic.
Niche graded Baker Elementary School a C+ for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 32%, and reading proficiency was 32%. It also serves a less-affluent population, with 97% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Normal Heights Elementary School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from C+ to B. The school is located at 3750 Ward Road and has 330 students currently enrolled, of whom 77% identify as Hispanic and 11% identify as black.
Niche graded Normal Heights Elementary School a B for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 42%, and reading proficiency was 52%. The school also serves a less-affluent community, with 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public elementary schools in San Diego are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Monterey Ridge Elementary School, with an overall rating of A+.
- Stone Ranch Elementary School, with an A+ rating overall.
- Westwood Elementary School, rated A+ overall.
Want more of the latest intel on San Diego schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public high schools.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
