Central Elementary

Summary:

Central Elementary is a public elementary school in San Diego, California, serving 533 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the San Diego Unified School District, which is ranked 604 out of 1,568 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of California elementary schools over the past decade, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is among the lowest-performing schools in the state. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, only 29.06% of Central Elementary students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 54.22% in the district and 47.04% statewide. The school has also experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 20.3% in 2017-2018 to 43.8% in 2022-2023, which is much higher than the district and state averages.

Compared to nearby schools like Franklin Elementary, Edison Elementary, and Normal Heights Elementary, Central Elementary generally performs worse across academic measures, with lower proficiency rates and higher chronic absenteeism. The school's high rate of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 94.18% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, may be a significant factor contributing to its challenges.


Detail:

Public K-5

 3878 Orange Ave.
       San Diego, CA  92105


(619) 344-6100

District: San Diego Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
4760th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,260 Help


Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Wilson Middle
High:    Hoover High

Student/teacher ratio:  20.9 Help
Number of students:  533

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
73.7%
Asian:
15.0%
African American:
8.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  94.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Central Elementary ranks worse than 81.2% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 98th among 117 ranked elementary schools in the San Diego Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.09. (See more...)
Help
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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (73.7%), Asian (15%), African American (8.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 94.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 20.9, which is the 36th best among 117 elementary schools in the San Diego Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Central Elementary employs 25.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Elementary is $9,260, which is the 39th highest among 117 elementary schools in the San Diego Unified School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Central Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Elementary 4760th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Central Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:


San Diego Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks San Diego Unified 604th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Central Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 34.51 2964th 4809 38.4%
2005 26.03 3552nd 4822 26.3%
2006 23.93 3733rd 4818 22.5%
2007 21.88 4142nd 5113 19.0%
2008 22.48 4160th 5113 18.6%
2009 20.43 4392nd 5193 15.4%
2010 34.84 3499th 5314 34.2%
2011 29.26 4047th 5377 24.7%
2012 32.42 3775th 5390 30.0%
2013 29.88 4050th 5530 26.8%
2015 23.56 4279th 5611 23.7%
2016 18.61 4740th 5614 15.6%
2017 12.81 5298th 5692 6.9%
2018 12.12 5313th 5662 6.2%
2019 17.19 5060th 5789 12.6%
2022 24.33 4416th 5883 24.9%
2023 22.36 4625th 5874 21.3%
2024 21.09 4760th 5862 18.8%
See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.72 2669th 3246 17.8%
2019 32.77 2288th 3275 30.1%
2022 28.05 2750th 3311 16.9%
2023 34.77 2184th 3250 32.8%
2024 38.94 1899th 3160 39.9%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 26.63 2026th 2634 23.1%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.09 4658th 5084 8.4%
2019 23.85 4308th 5173 16.7%
2022 34.70 3457th 5264 34.3%
2023 31.72 3757th 5374 30.1%
2024 28.36 4111th 5511 25.4%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 59.45 103rd 356 71.1%
2023 43.03 185th 336 44.9%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.77 5147th 5413 4.9%
2019 22.11 4452nd 5492 18.9%
2022 25.95 4130th 5635 26.7%
2023 28.36 3924th 5617 30.1%
2024 21.25 4578th 5605 18.3%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.95 1921st 2128 9.7%
2019 20.97 2295th 2585 11.2%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.55 5055th 5431 6.9%
2019 14.96 5055th 5510 8.3%
2022 23.23 4406th 5663 22.2%
2023 18.16 4895th 5650 13.4%
2024 21.95 4534th 5636 19.6%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 2.51 1042nd 1071 2.7%
2019 18.92 992nd 1149 13.7%
2022 12.90 1018th 1154 11.8%
2023 4.30 1121st 1190 5.8%
2024 13.77 1051st 1203 12.6%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Central Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.72 4520th 4830 6.4%
2019 20.25 4356th 4963 12.2%
2022 26.79 3977th 5084 21.8%
2023 25.22 4099th 5098 19.6%
2024 19.72 4468th 5102 12.4%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic 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.

Central Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Central Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 151 176 280 228 3 n/a n/a 0 838
1989 132 162 288 292 3 n/a n/a 0 877
1990 123 216 275 369 1 n/a n/a 0 984
1991 118 187 286 456 2 n/a n/a 0 1049
1992 107 209 270 579 6 n/a n/a 0 1171
1993 77 220 280 630 2 n/a n/a 0 1209
1994 62 235 240 720 5 n/a n/a 0 1262
1995 57 201 258 905 5 n/a n/a 0 1426
1996 57 201 258 905 5 n/a n/a 0 1426
1997 56 225 221 930 3 n/a n/a 0 1435
1998 50 192 202 903 1 n/a n/a 0 1348
1999 36 132 138 843 2 n/a n/a 0 1151
2000 40 152 138 855 2 n/a n/a 0 1187
2001 35 110 134 879 3 n/a n/a 0 1161
2002 21 62 140 685 1 n/a n/a 0 909
2003 21 62 140 685 1 n/a n/a 0 909
2004 17 64 134 667 1 n/a n/a 0 883
2005 15 83 131 642 0 n/a n/a 0 871
2006 14 98 155 645 0 n/a n/a 0 912
2007 20 79 148 602 0 n/a n/a 1 850
2008 16 80 149 603 n/a n/a n/a 0 848
2009 17 76 129 577 0 7 0 0 806
2010 11 68 111 555 1 4 3 0 753
2011 8 51 120 536 0 4 3 0 722
2012 7 52 121 594 0 2 4 0 780
2013 11 67 115 608 0 4 10 0 815
2014 4 50 114 612 0 0 9 0 789
2015 2 39 114 619 0 2 8 0 784
2016 9 42 95 578 1 2 10 0 737
2017 9 47 103 538 0 2 8 0 707
2018 12 55 100 518 3 1 10 0 699
2019 16 49 88 477 2 2 10 0 644
2020 17 47 84 463 1 3 13 0 628
2021 11 51 93 418 1 3 9 0 586
2022 8 46 86 412 1 3 11 0 567
2023 8 43 80 393 1 2 6 0 533

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 Central Elementary

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 838 29.2 28.6 n/a
1989 877 29.1 30.1 n/a
1990 984 30.7 32.0 n/a
1991 1049 34.9 30.0 n/a
1992 1171 35.5 32.9 95
1993 1209 45.2 26.7 95
1994 1262 44.0 28.7 94.9
1995 1426 51.7 27.6 95
1996 1426 51.7 27.6 95
1997 1435 59.2 24.2 95
1998 1348 66.8 20.2 67.2
1999 1151 63.8 18.0 78.2
2000 1187 66.0 18.0 99
2001 1161 66.5 17.5 27.7
2002 909 51.6 17.6 74.4
2003 909 51.6 17.6 74.4
2004 883 56.0 15.8 64.4
2005 871 55.0 15.8 74.4
2006 912 51.0 17.9 99
2007 850 49.5 17.2 98.7
2008 848 51.0 16.6 98.8
2009 806 48.0 15.0 99
2010 753 45.6 16.5 98.9
2011 722 n/a n/a 99
2012 780 43.3 18.0 n/a
2013 815 47.3 17.2 99.6
2014 789 33.0 23.9 95.8
2015 784 31.0 25.2 98.6
2016 737 31.0 23.7 98.1
2017 707 30.3 23.3 97.5
2018 699 28.5 24.5 96.3
2019 644 26.5 24.3 97.2
2020 628 n/a n/a 95.7
2021 586 27.4 21.3 96.6
2022 567 26.6 21.3 94.9
2023 533 25.4 20.9 94.2

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 Central Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 838 29.2 28.6 n/a
1989 877 29.1 30.1 n/a
1990 984 30.7 32.0 n/a
1991 1049 34.9 30.0 n/a
1992 1171 35.5 32.9 95
1993 1209 45.2 26.7 95
1994 1262 44.0 28.7 94.9
1995 1426 51.7 27.6 95
1996 1426 51.7 27.6 95
1997 1435 59.2 24.2 95
1998 1348 66.8 20.2 67.2
1999 1151 63.8 18.0 78.2
2000 1187 66.0 18.0 99
2001 1161 66.5 17.5 27.7
2002 909 51.6 17.6 74.4
2003 909 51.6 17.6 74.4
2004 883 56.0 15.8 64.4
2005 871 55.0 15.8 74.4
2006 912 51.0 17.9 99
2007 850 49.5 17.2 98.7
2008 848 51.0 16.6 98.8
2009 806 48.0 15.0 99
2010 753 45.6 16.5 98.9
2011 722 n/a n/a 99
2012 780 43.3 18.0 n/a
2013 815 47.3 17.2 99.6
2014 789 33.0 23.9 95.8
2015 784 31.0 25.2 98.6
2016 737 31.0 23.7 98.1
2017 707 30.3 23.3 97.5
2018 699 28.5 24.5 96.3
2019 644 26.5 24.3 97.2
2020 628 n/a n/a 95.7
2021 586 27.4 21.3 96.6
2022 567 26.6 21.3 94.9
2023 533 25.4 20.9 94.2

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.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Central Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPolioHepatitis BVaricellaDTPMMR
201297.0%1.0%0.0%2.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%97.0%
201394.0%1.0%0.0%5.0%94.0%94.0%99.0%94.0%94.0%
201498.0%0.0%0.0%2.0%98.0%100.0%100.0%99.0%99.0%
201599.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%
201698.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%98.0%99.0%
201797.0%0.0%0.0%3.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%97.0%≥99.0%
2018≥99.0%≤1.0%≤1.0%≤1.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%
201998.0%0.0%1.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%98.0%≥99.0%
202094.3%0.0%1.6%98.4%97.5%95.1%96.7%98.4%
202193.2%0.0%4.6%96.6%96.6%
202287.2%0.0%8.5%95.7%93.6%91.5%91.5%93.6%

Data source: California Department of Public Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $9,260

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 5060th of 5789 Elementary schoolsRanks 4625th of 5874 Elementary schools
 8.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Central Elementary)26.730.7
 4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (San Diego Unified)56.253.6
 2.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.543
 5.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)28.923.4
 5.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (San Diego Unified)60.455
 5.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (California)50.245.1
 5.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Central Elementary)27.99.9
 18%
   4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (San Diego Unified)56.851.1
 5.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.543.7
 5.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)1814.1
 3.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (San Diego Unified)5550
 5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (California)44.940.8
 4.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Central Elementary)2738.2
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (San Diego Unified)6055.6
 4.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.746.7
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)23.522
 1.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (San Diego Unified)50.742.5
 8.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (California)3833.4
 4.6%
5th Grade Science (Central Elementary)1615.4
 0.6%
   5th Grade Science (San Diego Unified)39.940
 0.2%
   5th Grade Science (California)31.731.9
 0.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students644533
 17.2%
African American4943
 12.2%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian8880
 9.1%
Hispanic477393
 17.6%
Pacific Islander22
White168
 50%
Two or More Races106
 40%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients97.2%94.2%
 3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 533 students attended Central Elementary.

Students at Central Elementary are 74% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 8% African American, 2% White, 1% Two or more races.

Central Elementary ranks in the bottom 18.8% of California elementary schools.

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Wilson Middle
High : Hoover High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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