New rankings show Santa Ana's top-rated and most-improved public elementary schools

New rankings show Santa Ana's top-rated and most-improved public elementary schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 21, 2019

How strong are the public elementary schools in Santa Ana?

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.

Madison Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Santa Ana, rising from a C to a C+, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 1124 E. Hobart St., enrolls 1,078 students. Niche graded the school a C 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, 28% of Madison Elementary School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 27% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 32% in math and 34% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 91% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 12% more than the city average.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Jim Thorpe Fundamental saw its overall rating go from a B to a B+. The school is located at 2450 W. Alton and currently serves 1,007 students, of whom 88% identify as Hispanic.

Niche graded Jim Thorpe Fundamental a B+ for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 53%, and reading proficiency was 62%.

John Muir Fundamental Elementary School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from B- to B. The school is located at 1951 N. Mabury and has 992 students currently enrolled.

Niche graded John Muir Fundamental Elementary School a B for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 45%, and reading proficiency was 51%.

While some public elementary schools in Santa Ana are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Arroyo Elementary School, with an overall rating of A.
  • Tustin Memorial Elementary School, with an A rating overall.
  • Red Hill Elementary School, rated A overall.

Want more of the latest intel on Santa Ana 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.