Is Robert Semple Elementary a good school?

Robert Semple Elementary ranks 1806 th of 5862 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Robert Semple Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 444 students attended Robert Semple Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Robert Semple Elementary?

Students at Robert Semple Elementary are 40% White, 32% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 4% African American.

What schools do graduates of Robert Semple Elementary attend?

Students who attend Robert Semple Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Benicia Middle High : Benicia High

Robert Semple Elementary

Summary:

Robert Semple Elementary is a public elementary school in Benicia, California, serving 444 students in grades K-5 as part of the Benicia Unified School District. While the district is ranked 434 out of 1,568 in California and has a 4-star rating, Robert Semple's performance has been a concern, with lower test scores, higher chronic absenteeism, and uneven performance across student subgroups compared to the district and state averages.

Robert Semple's test scores are generally lower than the Benicia Unified School District and California averages, with only 50.47% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, compared to 52.79% for the district and 47.04% for the state. The school has also experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 6.1% in 2020-2021 to 27.6% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the nearby Matthew Turner Elementary (15.1%) and Joe Henderson Elementary (24.7%). Additionally, while Hispanic students have performed relatively well, White and multi-racial students, as well as special education students, have struggled, ranking in the bottom quartile or bottom half of California elementary schools.

The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Robert Semple Elementary, ranging from 38.28% to 40.09% in recent years, suggests that the school serves a population with a relatively low socioeconomic status, which may contribute to the challenges the school faces. Comparing Robert Semple to its nearby counterparts, such as Matthew Turner Elementary and Joe Henderson Elementary, which have consistently outperformed it, indicates that there may be underlying factors, such as resource allocation, teaching practices, or school culture, that contribute to the differences in performance. Addressing these issues could be crucial for improving student outcomes at Robert Semple Elementary.

Detail:

Public K-5

2015 East Third St.
Benicia, CA 94510-2206

(707) 747-8360

District: Benicia Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
1806^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $5,742

Students who attend Robert Semple Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Benicia Middle
High:	Benicia High

Student/teacher ratio: 21.1

Number of students: 444

Racial breakdown:

White:

39.6%

Hispanic:

31.8%

Two or more races:

16.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 40.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Robert Semple Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Robert Semple Elementary ranks better than 69.2% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks last among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Benicia Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 65.17. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Robert Semple Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (39.6%), Hispanic (31.8%), two or more races (16.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 40.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Benicia Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Robert Semple Elementary is 21.1, which is the lowest among 4 elementary schools in the Benicia Unified School District! (See more...)

Compare Robert Semple Elementary employs 21 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Robert Semple Elementary is $5,742. 2 elementary schools in the Benicia Unified School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Robert Semple Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Robert Semple Elementary 1806^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Robert Semple Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Benicia Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Benicia Unified 434^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Robert Semple Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	71.47	1256^th	4809	73.9%
2005	70.88	1296^th	4822	73.1%
2006	64.28	1567^th	4818	67.5%
2007	66.93	1518^th	5113	70.3%
2008	62.63	1746^th	5113	65.9%
2009	68.04	1532^nd	5193	70.5%
2010	60.12	1979^th	5314	62.8%
2011	67.33	1621^st	5377	69.9%
2012	58.27	2142^nd	5390	60.3%
2013	47.30	2845^th	5530	48.6%
2015	53.75	2252^nd	5611	59.9%
2016	57.05	2129^th	5614	62.1%
2017	66.80	1708^th	5692	70.0%
2018	61.07	1993^rd	5662	64.8%
2019	61.97	1972^nd	5789	65.9%
2022	59.00	2079^th	5883	64.7%
2023	58.26	2127^th	5874	63.8%
2024	65.17	1806^th	5862	69.2%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	30.72	269^th	339	20.6%
2022	20.35	507^th	610	16.9%
2023	7.98	633^rd	669	5.4%
2024	8.07	628^th	669	6.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	22.21	2085^th	2420	13.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	47.92	2494^th	5084	50.9%
2019	49.92	2410^th	5173	53.4%
2022	38.73	3112^th	5264	40.9%
2023	46.20	2612^th	5374	51.4%
2024	61.04	1725^th	5511	68.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	63.30	1830^th	5413	66.2%
2019	66.77	1661^st	5492	69.8%
2022	46.42	2614^th	5635	53.6%
2023	50.44	2385^th	5617	57.5%
2024	66.13	1648^th	5605	70.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	58.52	2004^th	5431	63.1%
2019	55.34	2181^st	5510	60.4%
2022	70.86	1481^st	5663	73.8%
2023	64.82	1735^th	5650	69.3%
2024	61.61	1904^th	5636	66.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	62.78	1500^th	4830	68.9%
2019	72.73	1025^th	4963	79.3%
2022	56.51	1807^th	5084	64.5%
2023	65.50	1381^st	5098	72.9%
2024	77.88	808^th	5102	84.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Robert Semple Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	45.53	1648^th	2737	39.8%
2019	42.72	1768^th	2834	37.6%
2022	45.03	1603^rd	2726	41.2%
2023	40.42	1708^th	2662	35.8%
2024	58.22	1185^th	2647	55.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Robert Semple Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	372	18	14	54	1	n/a	n/a	0	459
1989	405	26	17	49	2	n/a	n/a	0	499
1990	348	26	21	64	2	n/a	n/a	0	461
1991	401	29	29	63	0	n/a	n/a	0	522
1992	412	36	33	65	3	n/a	n/a	0	549
1993	422	37	31	70	0	n/a	n/a	0	560
1994	377	35	23	55	0	n/a	n/a	0	490
1995	324	44	27	50	2	n/a	n/a	0	447
1996	324	44	27	50	2	n/a	n/a	0	447
1997	345	44	25	46	3	n/a	n/a	0	463
1998	321	44	23	57	3	n/a	n/a	0	448
1999	314	46	24	46	5	n/a	n/a	9	444
2000	308	46	27	52	5	n/a	n/a	0	438
2001	306	51	29	44	5	n/a	n/a	0	435
2002	278	63	32	45	3	n/a	n/a	0	421
2003	278	63	32	45	3	n/a	n/a	0	421
2004	227	87	49	53	3	n/a	n/a	0	419
2005	234	66	52	64	4	n/a	n/a	0	420
2006	244	62	43	80	6	n/a	n/a	1	436
2007	230	53	52	97	7	n/a	n/a	10	449
2008	203	50	54	105	4	n/a	n/a	0	416
2009	195	44	45	105	3	15	15	0	422
2010	189	55	42	108	6	12	21	0	433
2011	162	53	24	102	2	5	70	0	418
2012	174	55	25	110	2	3	67	0	436
2013	173	56	25	128	3	4	76	0	465
2014	171	54	25	130	4	3	69	0	456
2015	164	45	24	122	5	2	77	0	439
2016	161	43	28	128	6	1	90	0	457
2017	190	38	30	143	6	1	77	0	485
2018	187	31	26	134	4	1	84	0	467
2019	182	39	30	135	2	1	83	0	472
2020	185	30	29	125	2	1	78	0	450
2021	162	20	36	123	2	0	88	0	431
2022	173	20	38	131	2	0	77	0	441
2023	176	18	35	141	1	0	73	0	444

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Robert Semple Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	459	19.5	23.5	n/a
1989	499	20.0	24.9	n/a
1990	461	21.5	21.4	n/a
1991	522	23.5	22.2	n/a
1992	549	23.9	22.9	18.9
1993	560	23.5	23.8	16.4
1994	490	20.0	24.5	20.4
1995	447	18.0	24.8	25.3
1996	447	18.0	24.8	25.3
1997	463	19.5	23.7	26.3
1998	448	21.5	20.8	26.6
1999	444	21.5	20.7	22.5
2000	438	21.5	20.4	22.6
2001	435	21.5	20.2	23.7
2002	421	20.5	20.5	27.8
2003	421	20.5	20.5	27.8
2004	419	20.6	20.3	18.6
2005	420	20.6	20.4	27.6
2006	436	22.8	19.1	28.5
2007	449	22.3	20.1	34.6
2008	416	21.5	19.3	30.8
2009	422	21.5	18.8	36.5
2010	433	21.0	20.6	42.7
2011	418	n/a	n/a	47.1
2012	436	17.0	25.6	37.8
2013	465	17.5	26.5	34
2014	456	18.0	25.3	44.1
2015	439	18.0	24.3	44
2016	457	19.0	24.0	40.9
2017	485	19.0	25.5	41.2
2018	467	17.0	27.4	43.9
2019	472	18.0	26.2	42.6
2020	450	n/a	n/a	42
2021	431	18.0	23.9	38.3
2022	441	20.2	21.7	39
2023	444	21.0	21.1	40.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Robert Semple Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	459	19.5	23.5	n/a
1989	499	20.0	24.9	n/a
1990	461	21.5	21.4	n/a
1991	522	23.5	22.2	n/a
1992	549	23.9	22.9	18.9
1993	560	23.5	23.8	16.4
1994	490	20.0	24.5	20.4
1995	447	18.0	24.8	25.3
1996	447	18.0	24.8	25.3
1997	463	19.5	23.7	26.3
1998	448	21.5	20.8	26.6
1999	444	21.5	20.7	22.5
2000	438	21.5	20.4	22.6
2001	435	21.5	20.2	23.7
2002	421	20.5	20.5	27.8
2003	421	20.5	20.5	27.8
2004	419	20.6	20.3	18.6
2005	420	20.6	20.4	27.6
2006	436	22.8	19.1	28.5
2007	449	22.3	20.1	34.6
2008	416	21.5	19.3	30.8
2009	422	21.5	18.8	36.5
2010	433	21.0	20.6	42.7
2011	418	n/a	n/a	47.1
2012	436	17.0	25.6	37.8
2013	465	17.5	26.5	34
2014	456	18.0	25.3	44.1
2015	439	18.0	24.3	44
2016	457	19.0	24.0	40.9
2017	485	19.0	25.5	41.2
2018	467	17.0	27.4	43.9
2019	472	18.0	26.2	42.6
2020	450	n/a	n/a	42
2021	431	18.0	23.9	38.3
2022	441	20.2	21.7	39
2023	444	21.0	21.1	40.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

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