The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mccabe Elementary
McCabe Elementary is a regular public school serving grades two through six in Mendota, a small agricultural city in western Fresno County. The school is one of two elementary schools in the Mendota Unified School District and sits within a community whose economy is rooted in farm production, with cantaloupe as a historic signature crop. Most families here work in agriculture or related industries, and the city itself is compact and car-dependent, with farmland stretching beyond its developed center.
McCabe's student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic reality of the agricultural workforce families the school serves. The overall enrollment is moderate for an elementary school spanning five grades. Spanish is likely a home language for most families, though English learner data was not available to confirm this directly.
The school is currently undergoing modernization. The district has committed to upgrades including a renovated music room and adjacent classroom, conversion of an existing facility into a dedicated special education building, and planned improvements to athletic fields. These facilities changes signal investment in both arts programming and support services for students with identified disabilities.
Academically, McCabe's performance on California's Smarter Balanced assessment (CAASPP) shows proficiency rates that are low across grades and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from roughly one-fifth to just under three-tenths of students across grades three through six, with slightly higher rates in grades three and six and lower rates in grade five. Mathematics proficiency is lower still, ranging from roughly one-sixth in grades five and six to about two-fifths in grade three, with a notable drop by grade four. Science proficiency, measured only in grade five via the state's science test (CAST), falls below all other subjects at near single digits. Overall proficiency across tested subjects sits below the midpoint among Fresno County's school districts.
These results reflect the educational challenges facing a school serving a highly economically disadvantaged population with likely significant English learner representation. A parent should understand that McCabe is not tracking at or above state proficiency benchmarks and that academic support will be essential if a student enrolls here. At the same time, this is a public school committed to serving the community it sits in, not a school that has abandoned that mission. The modernization underway, including dedicated special education space, suggests the district recognizes the needs present and is investing to meet them.
The housing market around Mendota is affordable relative to much of California, though the data reflects substantial price-to-income ratios that would stretch many agricultural workers' budgets. Newer projects like La Colonia are adding homes to the local market. The city itself offers basic amenities including a library, city parks with athletic fields, and a farmers market, anchoring daily community life around these central gathering spaces.
This is a school for families committed to the Mendota area who need affordable elementary education, who have children with intensive support needs or who benefit from dedicated special education services, and who understand that the school's population faces systemic educational challenges and that strong academic outcomes cannot be taken for granted. McCabe is not a school that will deliver strong test scores as a baseline, but it is a school where the district is investing in facilities and services, and where families should engage directly with teachers and administrators to understand what classroom-level instruction and family support look like.
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