Elementary Schools in Salinas, California
Below Average2024–25 data48 schools · avg 34.7/100
Salinas, California has 48 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 34.7/100 — 9.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Salinas High at 61/100, where 23.7% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Salinas schools average 9.0% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.2% (above the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Avg Scope Score
34.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
44.3
16.9 – 61.1
Schools Ranked
48
With Scope Scores
How Salinas schools compare
Salinas's 48 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 34.7 — 9.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 16.9 to 61.1, a 44.3-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Salinas High with a Scope Score of 61 and 23.7% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in Salinas averages 20.2%, which is below 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 Salinas
8 Culture First1 Strong All-Around39 Building Momentum
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in Salinas ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Score | County | Exceeded | Met+ | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas High Salinas Union High Strong All-Around | 61 | Monterey | 23.7% | 51.6% | 13.0% | 2.8% |
| 2 | San Benancio Middle Washington Union Elementary Building Momentum | 57 | Monterey | 30.0% | 60.8% | 7.9% | 4.2% |
| 3 | Rancho San Juan High Salinas Union High Building Momentum | 57 | Monterey | 14.5% | 38.4% | 17.2% | 1.7% |
| 4 | Alisal High Salinas Union High Building Momentum | 53 | Monterey | 14.2% | 38.4% | 12.5% | 3.5% |
| 5 | North Salinas High Salinas Union High Building Momentum | 52 | Monterey | 10.9% | 32.6% | 15.5% | 2.1% |
| 6 | Everett Alvarez High Salinas Union High Building Momentum | 50 | Monterey | 9.9% | 31.3% | 18.4% | 4.7% |
| 7 | Lincoln Elementary Salinas City Elementary Culture First | 50 | Monterey | 18.5% | 45.0% | 14.6% | 1.1% |
| 8 | North Monterey County Center for Independent Study North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum | 50 | Monterey | 11.8% | 33.8% | 32.0% | 1.3% |
| 9 | Buena Vista Middle Spreckels Union Elementary Culture First | 47 | Monterey | 17.2% | 49.8% | 9.5% | 0.8% |
| 10 | Monte Bella Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 43 | Monterey | 14.4% | 35.5% | 16.9% | 0.3% |
| 11 | Boronda Elementary Salinas City Elementary Culture First | 42 | Monterey | 11.7% | 34.4% | 12.2% | 1.1% |
| 12 | Lagunita Elementary Lagunita Elementary Building Momentum | 38 | Monterey | 8.3% | 50.0% | 14.3% | 1.6% |
| 13 | Alisal Community Alisal Union Building Momentum | 38 | Monterey | 13.5% | 32.2% | 11.4% | 1.6% |
| 14 | La Joya Elementary Santa Rita Union Elementary Culture First | 37 | Monterey | 11.7% | 27.3% | 11.5% | 1.1% |
| 15 | Dr. Oscar F. Loya Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 37 | Monterey | 7.3% | 26.9% | 17.8% | 0.8% |
| 16 | New Republic Elementary Santa Rita Union Elementary Building Momentum | 36 | Monterey | 9.7% | 28.9% | 17.1% | 0.3% |
| 17 | Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 36 | Monterey | 7.6% | 23.6% | 12.4% | 1.6% |
| 18 | John E. Steinbeck Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 35 | Monterey | 12.4% | 31.8% | 19.8% | 1.0% |
| 19 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy Alisal Union Culture First | 35 | Monterey | 8.8% | 24.4% | 11.1% | 0.9% |
| 20 | Salinas City Virtual Academy Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 35 | Monterey | 9.8% | 29.7% | 28.7% | 0.4% |
| 21 | Creekside Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 35 | Monterey | 10.1% | 22.9% | 22.7% | 0.8% |
| 22 | Los Padres Elementary Salinas City Elementary Culture First | 34 | Monterey | 7.1% | 19.4% | 10.2% | 1.1% |
| 23 | Cesar E. Chavez Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 34 | Monterey | 9.2% | 28.4% | 17.2% | 2.4% |
| 24 | Mission Park Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 34 | Monterey | 12.4% | 32.7% | 26.1% | 1.3% |
| 25 | Bardin Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 33 | Monterey | 6.1% | 22.4% | 20.1% | 1.6% |
| 26 | McKinnon Santa Rita Union Elementary Building Momentum | 32 | Monterey | 6.8% | 25.6% | 16.3% | 4.1% |
| 27 | Prunedale Elementary North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum | 32 | Monterey | 8.3% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 2.2% |
| 28 | John Gutierrez Middle Santa Rita Union Elementary Building Momentum | 32 | Monterey | 5.8% | 25.4% | 14.6% | 3.4% |
| 29 | Laurel Wood Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 31 | Monterey | 7.9% | 23.8% | 21.1% | 1.0% |
| 30 | Sherwood Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 31 | Monterey | 5.6% | 20.9% | 15.5% | 1.3% |
| 31 | Gavilan View Middle Santa Rita Union Elementary Building Momentum | 30 | Monterey | 5.8% | 24.9% | 13.2% | 6.9% |
| 32 | Central Bay High (Continuation) North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum | 29 | Monterey | 0.0% | 0.0% | 51.7% | 4.4% |
| 33 | Henry F. Kammann Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 29 | Monterey | 6.7% | 16.8% | 22.1% | 1.9% |
| 34 | Echo Valley Elementary North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum | 27 | Monterey | 6.0% | 18.9% | 13.0% | 3.2% |
| 35 | Roosevelt Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 27 | Monterey | 5.0% | 17.1% | 25.3% | 2.4% |
| 36 | Fremont Elementary Alisal Union Culture First | 27 | Monterey | 2.6% | 13.7% | 11.3% | 0.6% |
| 37 | Monterey Park Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 26 | Monterey | 7.6% | 24.0% | 23.5% | 1.3% |
| 38 | Frank Paul Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 26 | Monterey | 5.5% | 16.1% | 18.5% | 1.0% |
| 39 | El Gabilan Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 25 | Monterey | 3.8% | 15.6% | 20.2% | 1.6% |
| 40 | Boronda Meadows Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 25 | Monterey | 4.8% | 16.8% | 17.6% | 2.0% |
| 41 | Salinas Community Monterey County Office of Education Building Momentum | 24 | Monterey | 10.3% | 12.3% | 48.6% | 2.4% |
| 42 | Mount Toro High Salinas Union High Building Momentum | 23 | Monterey | 1.0% | 3.4% | 46.8% | 8.9% |
| 43 | Santa Rita Elementary Santa Rita Union Elementary Culture First | 23 | Monterey | 1.8% | 10.2% | 12.4% | 0.9% |
| 44 | Loma Vista Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 22 | Monterey | 1.4% | 6.7% | 20.1% | 1.1% |
| 45 | El Puente Salinas Union High Building Momentum | 22 | Monterey | 4.3% | 18.3% | 59.8% | 1.0% |
| 46 | Virginia Rocca Barton Elementary Alisal Union Building Momentum | 22 | Monterey | 9.3% | 23.9% | 15.5% | 1.7% |
| 47 | Natividad Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 21 | Monterey | 4.6% | 14.6% | 22.1% | 2.7% |
| 48 | University Park Elementary Salinas City Elementary Building Momentum | 17 | Monterey | 4.9% | 21.2% | 25.5% | 3.7% |
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 Salinas
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.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Salinas
- 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 Salinas good?
Salinas's 48 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 34.7/100, which is 9.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. 9.0% 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 Salinas?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Salinas is Salinas High with a Scope Score of 61/100 and 23.7% 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 Salinas schools compare to the state average?
Salinas elementary schools average a Scope Score of 34.7 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (9.1 points below). The exceeded rate averages 9.0% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.2% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 16.9 to 61.1, a 44.3-point spread.
How many schools are in Salinas?
Salinas has 48 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 SalinasSalinas Union HighWashington Union ElementarySalinas City ElementaryNorth Monterey County UnifiedSpreckels Union ElementaryAlisal UnionLagunita ElementarySanta Rita Union ElementaryMonterey County Office of Education
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