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Elementary Schools in Buena Park, California: Buena Park schools average 3.6 points above the state — but the range is 46.5 points wide.

Near Average2024–25 data10 schools · avg 47.4/100

Buena Park, California has 10 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 47.4/100 — 3.6 points above the state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Buena Terra Elementary at 74/100, where 48.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Buena Park schools average 25.0% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.5% (below the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
47.4
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
46.5
27.8 – 74.3
Avg Exceeded %
25.0%
State avg: 21.6%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
15.5%
State avg: 18.1%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
10
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary10Developing
47.4/100
25.0%+3.6
High1Solid
52.5/100
7.8%+5.0
Middle2Developing
40.5/100
18.0%+0.1

How Buena Park schools compare

Buena Park has 10 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 47.4/100 — 3.6 points above the state average of 43.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Buena Terra Elementary with a Scope Score of 74 and 48.6% of students exceeding standard.

These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Buena Park schools average 25.0% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.6%.

Chronic absenteeism in Buena Park averages 15.5% — below the state average of 18.1%.

How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%

Hidden Gem

Despite a 56% free-or-reduced-lunch rate, Buena Terra Elementary posts a Scope Score of 74 — 94th percentile statewide.

School archetypes in Buena Park

2 Strong All-Around2 Culture First6 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Buena Park

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Buena Terra Elementary
Centralia Elementary Strong All-Around
48.6%Strong
74/100
2Charles G. Emery Elementary
Buena Park Elementary Strong All-Around
41.0%Solid
66/100
3Buena Park High
Fullerton Joint Union High Building Momentum
7.8%Solid
53/100
4Gordon H. Beatty Middle
Buena Park Elementary Building Momentum
28.5%Solid
51/100
5Arthur F. Corey Elementary
Buena Park Elementary Building Momentum
25.6%Solid
50/100
6Holder Elementary
Savanna Elementary Building Momentum
25.7%Developing
48/100
7San Marino Elementary
Centralia Elementary Building Momentum
29.6%Developing
48/100
8Raymond Temple Elementary
Centralia Elementary Culture First
28.0%Developing
48/100
9Glen H. Dysinger Sr. Elementary
Centralia Elementary Culture First
22.1%Developing
45/100
10Mabel L. Pendleton Elementary
Buena Park Elementary Building Momentum
14.0%Developing
35/100
11James A. Whitaker Elementary
Buena Park Elementary Building Momentum
9.3%Developing
32/100
12Buena Park Middle
Buena Park Elementary Building Momentum
7.4%Needs Support
30/100
13Carl E. Gilbert Elementary
Buena Park Elementary Building Momentum
5.8%Needs Support
28/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 13 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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 Buena Park

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.

St. Pius V Catholic School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 305 students
22:1Private
Speech & Language Development Center
Nonsectarian · Grades 1-12 · 155 students
10:1Private
Rossier Park School
Nonsectarian · Grades 9-12 · 90 students
7:1Private
Smart Start Montessori
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K · 12 students
12:1Private
Limai Montessori Academy - Buena Park
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-1 · 6 students
4:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Buena Park

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Buena Park good?
Buena Park's 10 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 47.4/100, which is 3.6 points above the state average. 25.0% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights seven dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC proficiency (5%), suspension rate (5%), and baseline proficiency (3%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Buena Park?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Buena Park is Buena Terra Elementary with a Scope Score of 74/100 and 48.6% 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 Buena Park schools compare to the state average?
Buena Park elementary schools average a Scope Score of 47.4/100 — 3.6 points above the state average of 43.8. The exceeded rate averages 25.0% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.5% vs. 18.1% statewide.
How many schools are in Buena Park?
Buena Park has 10 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 seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline 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 Buena ParkCentralia ElementaryBuena Park ElementaryFullerton Joint Union HighSavanna ElementaryZip 90620Zip 90621

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