The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Math. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Madison Elementary
Madison Elementary sits on Harrison Street in North Highlands, an unincorporated community in Sacramento County that grew up around the former McClellan Air Force Base after World War II. The neighborhood is predominantly residential, with mid-century single-family homes arranged in cul-de-sac streets, commercial activity concentrated along Watt Avenue and Elkhorn Boulevard, and no traditional walkable downtown. The area is car-dependent for most trips, though publicly reported improvements to Watt Avenue have added sidewalks, bike lanes, and upgraded pedestrian crossings along the main corridor. North Highlands is one of the more affordable parts of the Sacramento region; home values here sit well below the California statewide benchmark, and rents have been rising modestly. The area is actively targeted for infill growth, with Sacramento County advancing a specific plan for the Watt Avenue corridor that envisions transit-oriented development and thousands of new residential units over the coming years.
The school serves kindergarten through sixth grade and draws a sizable student body for that grade band. Its population is highly diverse, with Hispanic students making up the largest share, followed by Asian students, white students, Black students, and smaller populations of other backgrounds. The economic picture is pronounced: the vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, one of the clearest indicators of concentrated economic need in a school community. Data on English learner rates and students with IEPs was not available in the materials reviewed.
On California's state assessments, proficiency rates across grades and subjects are low relative to the state. In English language arts, rates range from the low twenties in third grade up to the mid-twenties in fourth and sixth grade, with fifth grade falling back toward the mid-teens. Math tells a similar story: third and fourth grade results are in the low thirties, while fifth and sixth grade drop into the teens. Science proficiency at the fifth grade level, measured by the CAST, is in the single digits. Placed against districts in Sacramento County, the school's overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile of the comparison set. These are the reported numbers, and a parent considering Madison Elementary would reasonably want to ask the school directly about its instructional approach, any targeted intervention programs in place, and how it tracks individual student progress over time.
The school operates as a regular public school within Twin Rivers Unified. That district has been through a turbulent stretch: teachers held the district's first-ever strike in early 2026, which publicly reported accounts indicate lasted nearly two weeks and substantially disrupted classroom instruction before a two-year contract was reached. The settlement includes salary increases and expanded health benefits, and the union cited a staffing and retention crisis as a core issue. Separately, Measures J and K, two facilities bond measures approved by voters in late 2022, authorize borrowing for school modernization, including elementary schools. That investment carries a new long-term property-tax obligation for district homeowners but reflects an explicit commitment to upgrading aging buildings.
Information on specific programs at Madison Elementary, including any enrichment offerings, after-school programming, or bilingual supports, was not available in the materials reviewed. Chronic absenteeism data was also not included. Given the high share of students from lower-income households and the academic proficiency picture, a parent would do well to visit the school, speak with current staff about what support structures exist for students who are below grade level, and ask how the district's new labor agreement is affecting teacher continuity at this specific campus.
North Highlands itself offers neighborhood parks managed by the local recreation district, light rail access via the Blue Line at the Watt/I-80 station, and the Aerospace Museum of California nearby. It is a community in transition, with genuine investment activity underway and a housing market that remains accessible compared to most of the state.
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