Is Whitman Elementary a good school?

Whitman Elementary ranks 2596 th of 5862 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Whitman Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 89 students attended Whitman Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Whitman Elementary?

Students at Whitman Elementary are 67% Hispanic, 11% White, 11% Two or more races, 9% Asian, 1% Not Specified.

What schools do graduates of Whitman Elementary attend?

Students who attend Whitman Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Innovation Middle High : Madison High

Whitman Elementary

Summary:

Whitman Elementary is a public elementary school in San Diego, California, serving 89 students in grades K-6. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District, which is ranked 604 out of 1,568 districts in the state.

While Whitman Elementary has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 10.7% in 2018-2019 to 51.8% in 2021-2022, its academic performance lags behind many nearby schools. The school's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are consistently lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, only 37.21% of Whitman Elementary students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 54.22% for the district and 47.04% for the state. Additionally, Whitman Elementary's student subgroups, such as female students, male students, Hispanic students, and low socioeconomic status students, have consistently lower rankings compared to their peers across the state.

Whitman Elementary's performance is notably behind that of nearby schools like Sequoia Elementary, Holmes Elementary, and Curie Elementary, which have higher test scores, lower chronic absenteeism rates, and better student subgroup performance. The school's high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, as well as its small size and low student-teacher ratio, may be contributing factors to its academic challenges. Addressing chronic absenteeism, targeting the needs of underperforming student subgroups, and leveraging the school's unique characteristics could be key to improving educational outcomes for Whitman Elementary's students.

Detail:

Public K-6

4050 Appleton St.
San Diego, CA 92117-1101

(858) 935-2900

District: San Diego Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
2596^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,042

Students who attend Whitman Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Innovation Middle
High:	Madison High

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 89

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

67.4%

White:

11.2%

Two or more races:

11.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 74.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Whitman Elementary ranks better than 55.7% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 73^rd among 117 ranked elementary schools in the San Diego Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 49.12. (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 Whitman Elementary has the smallest elementary school student body size in the San Diego Unified School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (67.4%), two or more races (11.2%), White (11.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 74.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Whitman Elementary is 12.7, which is the 2^nd best among 117 elementary schools in the San Diego Unified School District. (See more...)

Compare Whitman Elementary employs 7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Whitman Elementary is $13,042, which is the 6^th highest among 117 elementary schools in the San Diego Unified School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Whitman Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

San Diego Unified:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Whitman Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Whitman Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	50.21	2151^st	4809	55.3%
2005	50.12	2189^th	4822	54.6%
2006	36.53	2907^th	4818	39.7%
2007	39.58	2927^th	5113	42.8%
2008	40.87	2894^th	5113	43.4%
2009	52.30	2343^rd	5193	54.9%
2010	33.35	3594^th	5314	32.4%
2011	56.61	2210^th	5377	58.9%
2012	45.58	2910^th	5390	46.0%
2013	46.02	2925^th	5530	47.1%
2015	30.20	3684^th	5611	34.3%
2016	38.70	3164^th	5614	43.6%
2017	38.93	3175^th	5692	44.2%
2018	20.15	4666^th	5662	17.6%
2019	25.67	4296^th	5789	25.8%
2022	31.91	3714^th	5883	36.9%
2023	34.50	3541^st	5874	39.7%
2024	49.12	2596^th	5862	55.7%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Whitman Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	20.00	4492^nd	5084	11.6%
2019	23.12	4353^rd	5173	15.9%
2022	45.54	2565^th	5264	51.3%
2023	35.21	3457^th	5374	35.7%

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

Rank History for Female students at Whitman Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	21.67	4396^th	5413	18.8%

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

Rank History for Male students at Whitman Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	20.66	4507^th	5431	17.0%
2019	18.49	4788^th	5510	13.1%
2023	44.68	2760^th	5650	51.2%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Whitman Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	18.74	4329^th	4830	10.4%
2019	9.23	4877^th	4963	1.7%
2023	27.38	3923^rd	5098	23.0%

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.

Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, September 19, 2019

I am an Alumni and I am so proud to be sending my kids here! Staff is amazing and they really take the time to help each student. Super clean and tucked away in a great neighborhood. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 10, 2012

I think that this school is absolutely FANTASTIC!

Students are learning well. I should know my daughter has excelled since she has been there.

The teachers are professional and at the same care about each individual student.

Their recognition programs promote continued success.

The PTA is inviting, involved and active.

Lastly, but a very big point, is that the school is safe!

I should also point out that I love the big windows in the classrooms, allowing the children some sense of weather and life. I don't want my child to be a mushroom, stuck in a stuffy windowless room! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Whitman Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	250	28	35	57	3	n/a	n/a	0	373
1989	242	22	38	61	4	n/a	n/a	0	367
1990	249	22	30	74	3	n/a	n/a	0	378
1991	250	15	32	78	4	n/a	n/a	0	379
1992	281	14	31	80	3	n/a	n/a	0	409
1993	284	27	25	69	2	n/a	n/a	0	407
1994	294	25	38	80	0	n/a	n/a	0	437
1995	280	36	45	115	5	n/a	n/a	0	481
1996	280	36	45	115	5	n/a	n/a	0	481
1997	238	35	38	121	5	n/a	n/a	0	437
1998	211	27	40	119	2	n/a	n/a	0	399
1999	228	36	52	119	1	n/a	n/a	0	436
2000	197	46	49	131	1	n/a	n/a	0	424
2001	180	36	46	154	3	n/a	n/a	0	419
2002	124	33	40	150	1	n/a	n/a	0	348
2003	124	33	40	150	1	n/a	n/a	0	348
2004	128	40	40	152	1	n/a	n/a	0	361
2005	118	38	37	152	1	n/a	n/a	0	346
2006	119	37	49	164	1	n/a	n/a	0	370
2007	91	19	41	172	0	n/a	n/a	34	357
2008	101	28	46	174	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	349
2009	83	39	51	179	1	0	0	0	353
2010	74	23	41	179	2	0	17	0	336
2011	64	26	35	166	1	0	23	0	315
2012	61	19	26	179	0	0	21	0	306
2013	63	15	32	169	0	1	21	0	301
2014	61	12	27	169	0	0	25	0	294
2015	51	10	29	159	0	0	16	0	265
2016	55	7	21	114	0	0	20	0	217
2017	39	5	19	123	0	0	22	0	208
2018	32	9	16	116	0	0	20	0	193
2019	25	2	9	63	0	0	14	0	113
2020	21	0	10	63	0	0	11	0	105
2021	17	3	9	65	0	0	12	0	106
2022	12	1	10	65	0	0	10	0	98
2023	10	0	8	60	0	0	10	1	89

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 Whitman Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	373	16.1	23.1	n/a
1989	367	15.1	24.3	n/a
1990	378	15.1	25.0	n/a
1991	379	15.1	25.0	n/a
1992	409	15.3	26.7	36.7
1993	407	18.1	22.5	39.3
1994	437	18.0	24.3	44.9
1995	481	22.0	21.9	55.3
1996	481	22.0	21.9	55.3
1997	437	22.0	19.9	49.9
1998	399	20.5	19.5	54.6
1999	436	20.0	21.8	54.6
2000	424	21.0	20.2	55.9
2001	419	21.0	20.0	47
2002	348	21.0	16.6	56.6
2003	348	21.0	16.6	56.6
2004	361	20.0	18.1	54.6
2005	346	22.3	15.5	53.2
2006	370	24.2	15.3	65.9
2007	357	23.5	15.2	76.8
2008	349	25.5	13.7	70.8
2009	353	23.5	14.3	73.9
2010	336	24.0	14.0	77.7
2011	315	n/a	n/a	80.3
2012	306	26.0	11.7	n/a
2013	301	23.0	13.0	72.4
2014	294	16.0	18.3	74.5
2015	265	15.0	17.6	73.2
2016	217	11.0	19.7	74.7
2017	208	8.0	26.0	69.7
2018	193	9.0	21.4	71
2019	113	5.0	22.6	68.1
2020	105	n/a	n/a	66.7
2021	106	5.0	21.2	78.3
2022	98	5.0	19.6	77.6
2023	89	7.0	12.7	74.2

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 Whitman Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	373	16.1	23.1	n/a
1989	367	15.1	24.3	n/a
1990	378	15.1	25.0	n/a
1991	379	15.1	25.0	n/a
1992	409	15.3	26.7	36.7
1993	407	18.1	22.5	39.3
1994	437	18.0	24.3	44.9
1995	481	22.0	21.9	55.3
1996	481	22.0	21.9	55.3
1997	437	22.0	19.9	49.9
1998	399	20.5	19.5	54.6
1999	436	20.0	21.8	54.6
2000	424	21.0	20.2	55.9
2001	419	21.0	20.0	47
2002	348	21.0	16.6	56.6
2003	348	21.0	16.6	56.6
2004	361	20.0	18.1	54.6
2005	346	22.3	15.5	53.2
2006	370	24.2	15.3	65.9
2007	357	23.5	15.2	76.8
2008	349	25.5	13.7	70.8
2009	353	23.5	14.3	73.9
2010	336	24.0	14.0	77.7
2011	315	n/a	n/a	80.3
2012	306	26.0	11.7	n/a
2013	301	23.0	13.0	72.4
2014	294	16.0	18.3	74.5
2015	265	15.0	17.6	73.2
2016	217	11.0	19.7	74.7
2017	208	8.0	26.0	69.7
2018	193	9.0	21.4	71
2019	113	5.0	22.6	68.1
2020	105	n/a	n/a	66.7
2021	106	5.0	21.2	78.3
2022	98	5.0	19.6	77.6
2023	89	7.0	12.7	74.2

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.

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