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Elementary Schools in Modesto, California: 53 schools. Average score 7.4 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.

2024–25 data53 schools · avg 31.5/100

Modesto, California has 53 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.5/100 — 7.4 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Paradise Charter at 72/100, where 51.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Modesto schools average 13.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Of 53 schools, 1 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.6% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

How Modesto schools compare

Modesto has 53 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.5/100 — 7.4 points below the state average of 38.9 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Paradise Charter with a Scope Score of 72 and 51.6% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Modesto averages 15.6% — below the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

Hidden Gem

Despite a 63% free-or-reduced-lunch rate, Paradise Charter posts a Scope Score of 72 — 95th percentile statewide.

Elementary school archetypes in Modesto

19 On the Rise7 Culture First1 High Ceiling26 Building Momentum1 not compared

Hidden gems: 19 schools in Modesto are classified as On the Rise (19) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

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

For the data nerds

Every school in Modesto

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed

Figures
Score range · elementary15.1 – 72.1
57.0 pts SchoolScope composite
Chronic absenteeismstate avg 17.9% (level-matched)
15.6% CDE Attendance 2025

Elementary Schools (54)

avg 31.5/10053 ranked elementary schools1 verdict withheld22 Developing, 16 Needs Support, +15 more
#SchoolExceededScore
1Paradise Charter
Paradise Elementary High Ceiling
51.6%Strong
72/100
2Lakewood Elementary
Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum
35.4%Strong
51/100
3Enslen Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
27.4%Solid
48/100
4Stanislaus Elementary
Stanislaus Union Elementary Culture First
25.5%Solid
45/100
5Mary Ann Sanders Elementary
Sylvan Union Elementary Culture First
22.0%Solid
43/100
6Fairview Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
10.2%Solid
42/100
7Mary Lou Dieterich Elementary
Stanislaus Union Elementary On the Rise
15.0%Solid
41/100
8Sonoma Elementary
Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum
23.3%Solid
40/100
9Hart-Ransom Elementary
Hart-Ransom Union Elementary On the Rise
20.5%Solid
40/100
10Aspire University Charter
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
15.0%Solid
40/100
11Elihu Beard Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
12.8%Solid
38/100
12Agnes M. Baptist Elementary
Stanislaus Union Elementary Building Momentum
24.5%Solid
38/100
13Alberta Martone Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
16.4%Solid
37/100
14Hart-Ransom Academic Charter
Hart-Ransom Union Elementary Culture First
8.9%Solid
36/100
15Freedom Elementary
Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum
17.8%Solid
36/100
16Bernard L. Hughes Elementary
Empire Union Elementary On the Rise
11.8%Developing
34/100
17Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
9.0%Developing
34/100
18M. Robert Adkison Elementary
Ceres Unified Culture First
12.4%Developing
34/100
19Standiford Elementary
Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum
26.3%Developing
34/100
20El Vista Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
10.6%Developing
34/100
21Catherine Everett Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
8.3%Developing
32/100
22Orchard Elementary
Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum
14.0%Developing
32/100
23Stockard Coffee Elementary
Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum
14.3%Developing
31/100
24Mildred Perkins Elementary
Salida Union Elementary Culture First
17.7%Developing
29/100
25Shackelford Elementary
Modesto City Elementary Culture First
12.1%Developing
29/100
26Shiloh Charter
Shiloh Elementary Building Momentum
9.9%Developing
29/100
27Rose Avenue Elementary
Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum
9.8%Developing
29/100
28Bret Harte Elementary
Modesto City Elementary On the Rise
8.6%Developing
29/100
29Robertson Road Elementary
Modesto City Elementary Building Momentum
12.3%Developing
28/100
30Sylvan Elementary
Sylvan Union Elementary On the Rise
7.1%Developing
28/100

Middle Schools (4)

avg 33.2/1004 ranked middle schools2 Developing, 1 Strong, +1 more
#SchoolExceededScore
1Elizabeth Ustach Middle
Sylvan Union Elementary Growth Engine
22.3%Strong
50/100
2Daniel J. Savage Middle
Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum
17.6%Developing
34/100
3Somerset Middle
Sylvan Union Elementary Building Momentum
12.4%Developing
31/100
4Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy
Modesto City High Building Momentum
4.5%Needs Support
18/100

High Schools (9)

avg 47.2/1008 ranked high schools1 verdict withheld3 Solid, 2 Developing, +3 more
#SchoolExceededScore
1James C. Enochs High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
22.8%Strong
62/100
2Fred C. Beyer High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
21.7%Solid
56/100
3Joseph A. Gregori High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
13.4%Solid
55/100
4Thomas Downey High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
14.4%Developing
47/100
5Peter Johansen High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
9.5%Developing
46/100
6Grace M. Davis High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
8.4%Needs Support
45/100
7Modesto High
Modesto City High Building Momentum
14.1%Needs Support
42/100
8Robert Elliott Alternative Education Center
Modesto City High continuation high school
0.0%Solid
25/100 · 54th in class
Stanislaus County West Campus
Stanislaus County Office of Education court and community school
0.0%Not ranked
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 64 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

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
Christian (no specific denomination) · 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

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 Modesto good?
Modesto's 53 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 31.5/100, which is 7.4 points below the state average. 13.3% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.4%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (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 is the best elementary school in Modesto?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Modesto is Paradise Charter with a Scope Score of 72/100 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 31.5/100 — 7.4 points below the state average of 38.9. The exceeded rate averages 13.3% vs. 21.4% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.6% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Modesto?
Modesto has 53 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 composite rating (0–100), built from publicly available California school data across academic-performance and school-climate signals. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — showing how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Full methodology and weights.

Related

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