Rocketship Mosaic Elementary, San Jose CA

Original Research by School Decision on Rocketship Mosaic Elementary

Rocketship Mosaic Elementary is a charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in San Jose, housed in a single-school district operating under a charter authorization from Franklin-McKinley School District. The school's enrollment is modest, with a student population drawn heavily from the surrounding community, where a substantial majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is majority Asian, with a large Hispanic population; together these two groups comprise most of the enrollment.

The school's defining feature is its instructional approach. Rather than a traditional grade-level classroom model, Rocketship uses personalized, project-based learning in which students progress at their own pace through content tailored to their level, with daily small-group instruction grouped by learning level rather than age. This pedagogy shapes the entire student experience and distinguishes the school from neighboring district schools. A parent choosing Rocketship is intentionally selecting this learning model.

On the most recent state assessments, the school shows a pattern of uneven performance across grade levels. In third grade, students perform at a solid level in math, with the majority demonstrating proficiency. Fourth grade holds similar ground in both subjects. However, fifth grade shows a steep drop in both math and literacy, with fewer than half of students meeting proficiency standards. Science results in fifth grade are notably weak. The school-wide averages across all tested grades sit below the midpoint when compared with other schools in Santa Clara County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly if considering enrollment for an older student in the upper elementary range.

The neighborhood around the school is part of West San Jose, a sprawling residential area with modest single-family housing built largely in the mid-twentieth century. Housing values in the zip code are well above the state median. Rents have ticked upward in recent months. The area is car-dependent, and while the city maintains a network of light rail and a Guadalupe River Trail for biking and walking, most daily errands require a vehicle.

One consideration for families is the charter's operating status. Rocketship Mosaic's authorization runs in fixed terms that require periodic renewal with the authorizing district. The school's current authorized term extends through 2026, meaning the charter that determines whether the school continues operating will be up for renewal within this window. For families investing years in a school, this renewal cycle is a recurring, high-stakes event. The school's survival is not guaranteed and depends on the authorizer's approval, which is a structural reality distinct from enrollment at a traditional public school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 373%

School 73% · district not reported

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 469%

School 69% · district not reported

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 536%

School 36% · district not reported

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 358%

School 58% · district not reported

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 470%

School 70% · district not reported

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 536%

School 36% · district not reported

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Science

Grade 520%

School 20% · district not reported

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income51%Higher-income76%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income64%Higher-income85%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income68%Higher-income83%16 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income65%Higher-income78%12 pp gap