Elementary Schools in Modesto, California
Below Average2024–25 data60 schools · avg 38.5/100
Modesto, California has 60 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 38.5/100 — 5.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Paradise Charter at 68/100, where 51.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Modesto schools average 13.5% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 17.7% (near the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Avg Scope Score
38.5
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
50.8
17.6 – 68.4
Schools Ranked
60
With Scope Scores
How Modesto schools compare
Modesto's 60 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 38.5 — 5.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 17.6 to 68.4, a 50.8-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Paradise Charter with a Scope Score of 68 and 51.6% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in Modesto averages 17.7%, which is near the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
School archetypes in Modesto
10 Culture First1 Strong All-Around49 Building Momentum
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in Modesto ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paradise Charter Paradise Elementary Strong All-Around | 51.6% | Solid 68/100 |
| 2 | James C. Enochs High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 22.8% | Solid 62/100 |
| 3 | Lakewood Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 35.4% | Solid 57/100 |
| 4 | Fred C. Beyer High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 21.7% | Solid 57/100 |
| 5 | Joseph A. Gregori High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 13.4% | Solid 56/100 |
| 6 | Enslen Elementary Modesto City Elementary Culture First | 27.4% | Solid 55/100 |
| 7 | Stanislaus Elementary Stanislaus Union Elementary Culture First | 25.5% | Solid 52/100 |
| 8 | Elizabeth Ustach Middle Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 22.3% | Developing 49/100 |
| 9 | Thomas Downey High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 14.4% | Developing 49/100 |
| 10 | Peter Johansen High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 9.5% | Developing 47/100 |
| 11 | Mary Ann Sanders Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Culture First | 22.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 12 | Grace M. Davis High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 8.4% | Developing 47/100 |
| 13 | Hart-Ransom Elementary Hart-Ransom Union Elementary Building Momentum | 20.5% | Developing 47/100 |
| 14 | Agnes M. Baptist Elementary Stanislaus Union Elementary Building Momentum | 24.5% | Developing 47/100 |
| 15 | Sonoma Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 23.3% | Developing 46/100 |
| 16 | Mary Lou Dieterich Elementary Stanislaus Union Elementary Culture First | 15.0% | Developing 44/100 |
| 17 | Fairview Elementary Modesto City Elementary Culture First | 10.2% | Developing 44/100 |
| 18 | Hart-Ransom Academic Charter Hart-Ransom Union Elementary Culture First | 8.9% | Developing 43/100 |
| 19 | Modesto High Modesto City High Building Momentum | 14.1% | Developing 43/100 |
| 20 | Freedom Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 17.8% | Developing 42/100 |
| 21 | Elihu Beard Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 12.8% | Developing 42/100 |
| 22 | Alberta Martone Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 16.4% | Developing 41/100 |
| 23 | M. Robert Adkison Elementary Ceres Unified Culture First | 12.4% | Developing 40/100 |
| 24 | Shiloh Charter Shiloh Elementary Building Momentum | 9.9% | Developing 39/100 |
| 25 | Standiford Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 26.3% | Developing 39/100 |
| 26 | Orchard Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 14.0% | Developing 39/100 |
| 27 | El Vista Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 10.6% | Developing 38/100 |
| 28 | Daniel J. Savage Middle Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 17.6% | Developing 38/100 |
| 29 | Stockard Coffee Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 14.3% | Developing 38/100 |
| 30 | Bernard L. Hughes Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 11.8% | Developing 37/100 |
| 31 | Mildred Perkins Elementary Salida Union Elementary Culture First | 17.7% | Developing 36/100 |
| 32 | Catherine Everett Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 8.3% | Developing 36/100 |
| 33 | Shackelford Elementary Modesto City Elementary Culture First | 12.1% | Developing 36/100 |
| 34 | Franklin Elementary Modesto City Elementary Culture First | 8.9% | Developing 36/100 |
| 35 | Sylvan Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 7.1% | Developing 35/100 |
| 36 | Sherwood Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 12.4% | Developing 34/100 |
| 37 | Rose Avenue Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 9.8% | Developing 34/100 |
| 38 | Virginia Parks Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 11.6% | Developing 34/100 |
| 39 | John Fremont Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 10.9% | Developing 33/100 |
| 40 | Christine Sipherd Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 18.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 41 | Robertson Road Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 12.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 42 | Bret Harte Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 8.6% | Developing 33/100 |
| 43 | Somerset Middle Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 12.4% | Developing 33/100 |
| 44 | John Muir Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 9.9% | Developing 32/100 |
| 45 | Westport Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 11.1% | Developing 32/100 |
| 46 | William Garrison Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 6.5% | Developing 31/100 |
| 47 | Woodrow Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 10.6% | Developing 31/100 |
| 48 | Coleman F. Brown Elementary Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum | 5.8% | Developing 30/100 |
| 49 | Harriette Kirschen Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 4.5% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 50 | Capistrano Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 7.2% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 51 | Wilson Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 7.0% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 52 | Burbank Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 6.0% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 53 | Alice N. Stroud Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 54 | Josephine Chrysler Elementary Stanislaus Union Elementary Building Momentum | 3.7% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 55 | Robert Elliott Alternative Education Center Modesto City High Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 56 | Tuolumne Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 4.6% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 57 | George Eisenhut Elementary Stanislaus Union Elementary Building Momentum | 8.0% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 58 | James Marshall Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 3.4% | Needs Support 23/100 |
| 59 | Orville Wright Elementary Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum | 4.1% | Needs Support 21/100 |
| 60 | Stanislaus County Special Education Stanislaus County Office of Education Building Momentum | 6.3% | Needs Support 18/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in Modesto
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
Central Catholic High School
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 379 students
17:1Private
Modesto Christian School
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-12 · 247 students
10:1Private
St. Stanislaus Catholic School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 208 students
13:1Private
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 144 students
13:1Private
Sierra Vista Kirk Baucher School
Nonsectarian · Grades 1-8 · 67 students
11:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Modesto
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology
Frequently asked questions
Are the schools in Modesto good?
Modesto's 60 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 38.5/100, which is 5.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. 13.5% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Modesto?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Modesto is Paradise Charter with a Scope Score of 68/100 and 51.6% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Modesto schools compare to the state average?
Modesto elementary schools average a Scope Score of 38.5 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (5.3 points below). The exceeded rate averages 13.5% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 17.7% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 17.6 to 68.4, a 50.8-point spread.
How many schools are in Modesto?
Modesto has 60 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.
Related
All California SchoolsTop Schools in ModestoParadise ElementaryModesto City HighModesto City ElementaryStanislaus Union ElementarySylvan Union ElementaryHart-Ransom Union ElementaryCeres UnifiedShiloh ElementaryEmpire Union ElementarySalida Union ElementaryStanislaus County Office of Education
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