How strong are the public elementary schools in San Jose?
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.
Thomas P. Ryan Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in San Jose, rising from a C- to a C+, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 1241 McGinness Ave., enrolls 385 students. Thomas P. Ryan Elementary School serves a fairly diverse population: 82% of students identify as Hispanic and 12% 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, 31% of Thomas P. Ryan Elementary School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 41% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 48% in math and 52% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 86% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 39% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Silver Oak Elementary School saw its overall rating improve from an A- to an A. The school is located at 5000 Farnsworth Drive and is a bit larger, currently serving 628 students, of whom 59% identify as Asian, 25% identify as white and 11% identify as multiracial.
Niche graded Silver Oak Elementary School an A for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 82%, and reading proficiency was 84%.
Alex Anderson Elementary School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from B- to B. The school is located at 5800 Calpine Drive and has 553 students currently enrolled, of whom 51% identify as Hispanic, 27% identify as Asian and 13% identify as white.
Niche graded Alex Anderson Elementary School a B for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 41%, and reading proficiency was 45%.
While some public elementary schools in San Jose are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- R.I. Meyerholz Elementary School, with an overall rating of A.
- Carlton Elementary School, with an A rating overall.
- Country Lane Elementary School, rated A overall.
Want more of the latest intel on San Jose schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's charter 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.
