Buena Park Elementary runs schools through 8th grade. Its 5 public elementary schools run from the 20th to the 95th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). High school is run by another district; confirm the school for your address with the district.
K5Elementary
68Middle
912High
Buena Park Elementary · grades K–8
Another district · grades 9–12
Elementary · 5 schools
from 20th to 95th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Charles G. Emery Elementary: 95th percentile, Strong
Arthur F. Corey Elementary: 53rd percentile, Solid
Mabel L. Pendleton Elementary: 41st percentile, Developing
Carl E. Gilbert Elementary: 32nd percentile, Developing
James A. Whitaker Elementary: 20th percentile, Needs Support
1Needs Support
2Developing
1Solid
1Strong
Middle · 2 schools
from 42nd to 68th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Gordon H. Beatty Middle: 68th percentile, Solid
Buena Park Middle: 42nd percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
1Developing
1Solid
0Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level.
The average elementary school in the Buena Park Elementary district had 15 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in the Buena Park Elementary district score highest?
Gordon H. Beatty Middle is highest, at the 68th percentile.
That’s higher than 68 in 100 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in the Buena Park Elementary district
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
Where does Buena Park Elementary’s money go, and what does it plan?
The Buena Park Elementary district spent $22,750 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
The typical California district spent $20,491. About 60 cents of every Buena Park Elementary dollar went to classroom instruction.
Spending by function
Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.
Share by function, 2024–25
Instruction60%
Instruction support9%
Student services8%
Administration9%
Buildings & maintenance8%
Other6%
Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.
What the district plans
$24.1 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 44 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 27% of its $89.0 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.
The plan in short
Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 192 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 45% of the money. The plan itself puts 83% of it toward staff.
District Support Services $7.4 million
Class Size Reduction $1.8 million
Learning Recovery - Tier 3 Reading Intervention $1.6 million
41 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
5 of the plan’s 44 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners
Reading $1.6 million
Math $0.1 million
Catch-up help $2.5 million
English learners under $0.1 million
An action naming two of these appears under both.
Largest of these
Learning Recovery - Tier 3 Reading Intervention$1.6 million
Tier 2 Intervention$917,107
Math Professional Development$70,000
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students
It plans $14.4 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $13.8 million and estimates it spent $14.1 million, $0.3 million (3%) more than planned (our arithmetic).
$14.1 million spent (estimated)$13.8 million planned
What changed
The total is $171,622 (1%) lower than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Transportation, which went from $1.1 million to $1.4 million.
Largest cuts
Continuum of Mental Health Support Staff−$283,454
Specialized Staff−$192,000
District Support Services−$183,541
Largest increases
Transportation+$349,900
Technology+$284,201
Tier 2 Intervention+$280,292
New in the 2026–27 plan
Specialized Support Staff$352,788
Math Professional Development$70,000
What its goals measure
Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.
What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure
2024–25
2025–26
Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 1
43%
45%
up 2 pts
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 1
36%
37%
up 1 pt
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 4
17 in 100
14 in 100
3 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 4
1.4%
1.9%
up 0.5 pts
Goals 2 and 3 aren’t shown because they track other measures.
Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.
not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals
Every goal, in the plan’s order
Goal 1Develop critical competencies in ELA, math, and language proficiency using evidence-based instruction…$3.6 million15% of action budgets
“Develop critical competencies in ELA, math, and language proficiency using evidence-based instruction tailored to increase cognitive engagement for all students while diminishing disparities among subgroups, such as multilingual and multicultural learners, low-income students, students with disabilities, and foster youth” p. 23 ↗
8 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $3.5 million (+$22,193)
Largest funded actions
Learning Recovery - Tier 3 Reading Intervention$1.6 millionaction 1.7 · p. 142 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $77,099 is state funding counted toward those services
Professional Learning Communities$1.2 millionaction 1.10 · p. 143 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Base Materials · $213,000 → $223,000 · p. 142 ↗+$10,000
iReady Diagnostic and Instruction · $148,622 → $136,202 · p. 142 ↗−$12,420
Math Professional Development · $70,000 · p. 143 ↗new or renamed
Middle School Classroom Mathematics Materials · $27,000 → $27,000 · p. 142 ↗unchanged
A reworded title counts as new.
How the plan measures it · 7 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 23 ↗.
Goal 2Highly qualified staff will deliver standards-based instruction and support district systems designed to…$15.3 million63% of action budgets
“Highly qualified staff will deliver standards-based instruction and support district systems designed to increase cognitive engagement for all students, especially those with unique needs, within clean, well-maintained school facilities that foster a positive learning environment” p. 40 ↗
13 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $14.7 million (+$530,215)
Largest funded actions
District Support Services$7.4 millionaction 2.11 · p. 144 ↗
Class Size Reduction$1.8 millionaction 2.3 · p. 143 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Transportation$1.4 millionaction 2.15 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Technology$1.2 millionaction 2.12 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Tier 2 Intervention$0.9 millionaction 2.10 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
8 more funded actions in this goal
Instructional Coaches · action 2.5 · p. 143 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
Elementary PE Teachers · action 2.4 · p. 143 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
Library Media Clerks · action 2.8 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Specialized Support Staff · action 2.1 · p. 143 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Kindergarten Support · action 2.6 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Ed. Services Division · action 2.9 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Systematic and Strategic Use of Data · action 2.13 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Early Learning Department · action 2.14 · p. 144 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Transportation+$0.3 million$1.1 million → $1.4 million · p. 145 ↗
Technology+$0.3 million$0.9 million → $1.2 million · p. 144 ↗
Tier 2 Intervention+$280,292$636,815 → $917,107 · p. 144 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
District Support Services · $7.5 million → $7.4 million · p. 144 ↗−$0.2 million
Class Size Reduction · $1.6 million → $1.8 million · p. 143 ↗+$0.2 million
Instructional Coaches · $530,594 → $528,255 · p. 143 ↗−$2,339
Elementary PE Teachers · $507,362 → $497,563 · p. 143 ↗−$9,799
Library Media Clerks · $436,886 → $394,751 · p. 144 ↗−$42,135
Specialized Support Staff · $352,788 · p. 143 ↗new or renamed
Kindergarten Support · $337,369 → $333,258 · p. 144 ↗−$4,111
Systematic and Strategic Use of Data · $188,791 → $197,568 · p. 144 ↗+$8,777
Early Learning Department · $148,838 → $18,400 · p. 144 ↗−$130,438
A reworded title counts as new.
How the plan measures it · 5 measures · 1 quoted
Access to Standards- aligned Instructional Materialsp. 45 ↗
Baseline
100% per Fall, 2023 Williams
Target for year 3
Maintain 100%of having access to standards-aligned instructional materials
4 more measures in the plan’s table.
Goal 3Increase student outcomes through impactful instruction of core subjects and expand college and career pathway programs$1.2 million5% of action budgets
10 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $1.1 million (+$105,585) · p. 52 ↗
Largest funded actions
Outdoor Science Camp$261,400action 3.2 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
District Passion Programs / CTE Pathways$244,658action 3.4 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Outdoor Wellness Activities$204,353action 3.9 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Educational Programs$203,446action 3.11 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Elementary Music Instruction Teacher$93,940action 3.10 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
5 more funded actions in this goal
Passion Programs /CTE Pathways · action 3.3 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$67,500
STEM Instruction and PD · action 3.1 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$55,800
Alternative Learning Programs · action 3.8 · p. 145 ↗$45,000
GATE Scholar Program · $7,500 → $7,500 · p. 145 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 6 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 52 ↗.
Goal 4Promote emotional engagement and connectedness among students, families, and staff by fostering safe and…$4.0 million17% of action budgets
“Promote emotional engagement and connectedness among students, families, and staff by fostering safe and culturally responsive learning environments” p. 65 ↗
13 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $4.8 million (−$829,615)
Largest funded actions
Continuum of Mental Health Support Staff$939,307action 4.4 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student and Community Services$576,401action 4.1 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Nurses and Health Services$539,814action 4.5 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Enhanced Condition of Learning$475,976action 4.9 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student Engagement and Outreach Clerk$454,929action 4.2 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
8 more funded actions in this goal
Well-Maintained and Welcoming Campus Environment · action 4.16 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$293,656
Translation and Interpreting Services · action 4.8 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$196,846
Middle School Attendance Clerks · action 4.3 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$183,520
Middle School Guidance Specialist · action 4.12 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$168,942
Positive School Climate · action 4.13 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$70,200
All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.
Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends
Student mix
2024–25 · October enrollment count, 3,685 students
1Hispanic or Latino65%
2Asian18%
3White5%
4Filipino4%
5Black or African American3%
6Two or more races3%
7Not reported1%
8Pacific Islander<1%
9American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.
Free or reduced-price meals
80%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 2,952 of 3,675 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.
The district’s state records
Is the state giving the district extra help?
Buena Park Elementary isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
How English learners moved up on the state’s English test
From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 50% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (362 of 719 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
1 school getting state support, 2025–26
Arthur F. Corey Elementary (Extra targeted support)
This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26.
Which public schools in the Buena Park Elementary district rank highest?
Elementary: Charles G. Emery Elementary, 95th percentile (Strong). Middle: Gordon H. Beatty Middle, 68th percentile (Solid). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
Does living in the Buena Park Elementary district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)
Are the public schools in the Buena Park Elementary district good?
Buena Park Elementary’s 5 public elementary schools run from the 20th to the 95th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 1 Solid, 2 Developing and 1 Needs Support. Buena Park Elementary’s 2 public middle schools run from the 42nd to the 68th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 1 Developing. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.
How does chronic absence in the Buena Park Elementary district compare with California?
The average elementary school in the Buena Park Elementary district had 15 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does the Buena Park Elementary district spend per student?
The Buena Park Elementary district spent $22,750 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 60 cents of every Buena Park Elementary dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in the Buena Park Elementary district’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $24.1 million into 44 funded actions in 4 goals, 27% of its $89.0 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $15.3 million, 63% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2026 and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by the Buena Park Elementary district, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.