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Don Callejon · Santa Clara

Don Callejon: More than half of kids exceed the standard. But suspensions run the state rate.

Don Callejon has real strengths and one number that complicates them. Most rating sites show you one or the other. Both belong on the same page.

4176 Lick Mill Boulevard, 95054 (opens in new tab)·Santa Clara Unified·Santa Clara·Grades TK-8·568 students·21% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(408) 423-3300·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope7045
% Exceeded51%21%
% Met+72%43%
Growth+0.4-2.9
Absence15.8%17.9%
Suspension3.9%1.6%
Scope Score
70
⭐ High Ceiling · Strong
ranked #462 statewide · #4 of 19 in Santa Clara Unified

Don Callejon scores 70 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 92nd percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

⭐ High Ceiling — Ask what happens for a kid who shows up behind — a high ceiling for the top can sit right next to thin support at the bottom, and the score alone won't show you which.

Most rating sites would stop at “72% proficient” and call it done. Don Callejon deserves a closer read. It sits at the 92nd percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

The headline number: 50.9% of students scored in the top band on the state test. The California average is 21.3%.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 5,744 elementary schools statewide

Has held the 92nd-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathGreen(Increased)

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 72% meet the standard today, versus 81% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 374%71%65%76%68%
Grade 488%72%67%64%84%
Grade 588%80%70%67%75%
Grade 662%72%68%69%60%
Grade 737%38%54%56%56%
Grade 847%51%33%42%50%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 380%70%62%78%69%
Grade 482%69%59%65%72%
Grade 577%77%60%53%63%
Grade 642%63%70%62%53%
Grade 725%29%39%49%49%
Grade 829%32%19%39%41%

The story this school is actually telling

The ceiling · exceeded standard
50.9%

of students scored in the top band on the state test. The California average is 21.3%.

↑ what most “best schools” lists are measuring
The catch · suspensions
3.9%

of students were suspended, versus 1.6% statewide — the data can't say why.

↓ the part no ranking site shows you

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.

48%
19%
33%
Grade 3 · 67% proficient
51%
33%
16%
Grade 4 · 84% proficient
53%
22%
25%
Grade 5 · 75% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding rises 4.5pp across grades; the floor rises 6.8pp. The state average rises 4.5pp over the same span. Kids here gain ground the longer they stay — the pattern you want to see. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

The 6 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
50.9%
State 21.3%
29.6pp above state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
+0.4pp
State -2.9pp
Scores improve across grades
Met or exceeded
71.7%
State 42.7%
29.0pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
15.8%
State 17.9%
2.1pp below state avg
Suspension rate
3.9%
State 1.6%
2.3pp above state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
26.6%
State 18.0%
8.6pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask about the discipline philosophy and what a typical suspension is for. Numbers can't tell you whether a campus feels strict or chaotic — a visit can.

  • Ask what typically leads to a suspension, and what happens before it gets there.
  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Don Callejon in Santa Clara, 40.4% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 37.0% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Don Callejon outperforms its district average for low-income students by 3.3 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (23.7% Math proficient); Asian students (76.6% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 30.3 percentage points for low-income students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 57 students tested.

All students at this school: 61% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 61%, district —, state 43%61%
FemaleFemale: this school 63%, district 57%, state 44%63% · +2 vs school
MaleMale: this school 59%, district 53%, state 42%59% · −2 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 76%, district 77%, state 72%76% · +15 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 33%, district 30%, state 32%33% · −28 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 32%, district 31%, state 32%32% · −29 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 28%, district 13%, state 11%28% · −33 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 86%, district 69%, state 56%86% · +25 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 13%, district 20%, state 15%13% · −48 vs school
FilipinoFilipino: too few students to report‹11
Black/African AmericanBlack/African American: too few students to report‹11
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: too few students to report‹11
HomelessHomeless: too few students to report‹11
this school district, same group California, same group
Subgroup growth by grade

Change in proficiency from the lowest tested grade — which groups gain ground the longer they stay. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 15.8%, district 17.3%, state 17.9%15.8% · −2.1pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 3.9%, district —, state 1.6%3.9% · +2.3pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–614.0%
Grades 7–818.7%
TK/K19.8%

Where the path goes

The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.

K-12 Feeder Path
Elementary
Don Callejon
70/100
This school

Estimated path based on proximity within the same district. Contact your school district for official feeder information.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 16:1, district 20:116:1
Teaching staff38 teachers
Avg. experience11.7 years
Fully credentialed95%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$95,734 – $171,568
Principal salary$219,111 – $234,952
Superintendent salary$338,130

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $34,973, CA average $14,815$34,973 · spent at this school
District current expense · FY 2024–25$32,023 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction62%
Instruction support14%
Student services7%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance9%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$20,344 per pupil
2019$18,925 per pupil
2018$19,279 per pupil
2017$17,223 per pupil
2016$15,125 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Asian44.4%
District 31.1% · CA 10.2%
Hispanic24.6%
District 38.1% · CA 56.1%
White13.6%
District 15.9% · CA 19.9%
Other12.0%
District 12.4% · CA 9.0%
Black5.5%
District 2.4% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 21.3% (43pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$208K · CA $85K
Median home value$1.49M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+69% · CA 35%
ZIP population25,704
Median age34 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

Transitional kindergarten is offered here — confirmed by actual Census Day enrollment, not just the listed grade span.

On the state's science test (CAST), 46% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Don Callejon a good elementary school?

Don Callejon has a Scope Score of 70 out of 100, placing it in the 92nd percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #462 statewide. 50.9% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 29.6 percentage points above the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Don Callejon's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 71.7% of students at Don Callejon met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 50.9% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 20.8% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 50.9% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 319 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Don Callejon rank in California?

Don Callejon ranks #462 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 92nd percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

Is Don Callejon getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Don Callejon increases by 0.4 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 growth. This upward trajectory suggests the school is adding measurable value — students leave with higher proficiency rates than they entered with. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the elementary Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Don Callejon?

15.8% of students at Don Callejon are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 3.9%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Don Callejon compare to other schools in Santa Clara?

Don Callejon scores 70/100 (92nd percentile) among California elementary schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 568 students. Use the schools in Santa Clara page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.

How does Don Callejon serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Don Callejon in Santa Clara, 40.4% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 37.0% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Don Callejon outperforms its district average for low-income students by 3.3 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (23.7% Math proficient); Asian students (76.6% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 30.3 percentage points for low-income students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 57 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.


For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Exceeded standard · 38%
50.9%
↑ vs CA 21.3% · 79th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 27%
+0.4pp
↑ vs CA -2.9pp · 63th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
71.7%
↑ vs CA 42.7% · 72th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
15.8%
↑ vs CA 17.9% · 53th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
3.9%
↓ vs CA 1.6% · 31th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
26.6%
↑ vs CA 18.0% · 62th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 36248%19%23%10%68%+24
Grade 44551%33%11%4%84%+40
Grade 55153%22%10%16%75%+27
Grade 65840%21%26%14%60%+14
Grade 76633%23%23%21%56%+8
Grade 85217%33%19%31%50%+4
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 36452%17%17%14%69%+23
Grade 44654%17%17%11%72%+30
Grade 55147%16%22%16%63%+27
Grade 65840%14%22%24%53%+18
Grade 76942%7%30%20%49%+15
Grade 85625%16%16%43%41%+9
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/1110923%23%40%14%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged5740.4%+3+2
Asian13776.6%−2+2
Hispanic/Latino6437.5%+0−1
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Don Callejon ←7050.9%71.7%+0.43.9%
Anthony Spangler Elementary2.8 mi7346.3%65.6%+10.80.3%
Pearl Zanker Elementary2.3 mi6541.5%63.5%−13.30.6%
Abram Agnew Elementary0.8 mi6032.1%53.9%−10.92.0%
California average4521.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20197896#23957.4%81.4%6.8%4.1%+4.9pp
20227195#30247.5%73.2%17.5%2.7%+7.8pp
20236589#62840.9%63.9%19.1%3.8%+1.3pp
20246082#103149.7%66.9%16.6%3.7%-16.8pp
20257092#46250.9%71.7%15.8%3.9%+0.4pp
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
What we can't show
  • — Scored here as an elementary school — other grade spans appear in the data appendix.
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female5.5%17.0%+11.5pp
Male8.1%14.4%+6.3pp
Asian2.9%10.0%+7.1pp
Black/African American10.9%12.5%+1.6pp
White0.0%12.9%+12.9pp
Hispanic/Latino14.5%28.7%+14.2pp
Two or More Races3.9%14.3%+10.4pp
Students with Disabilities13.9%34.4%+20.5pp
English Learners7.4%21.9%+14.5pp
Homeless28.6%
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged12.9%31.8%+18.9pp
All Students6.8%15.6%+8.8pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction