J. W. Oakley Elementary, Brawley CA

Original Research by School Decision on J. W. Oakley Elementary

J. W. Oakley Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Brawley, a mixed-use agricultural city in Imperial County's Imperial Valley. The school sits on a separate campus away from Brawley's historic downtown, which centers on Plaza Park and City Hall along Main Street. Brawley itself is rooted in farming and agribusiness, with a historic downtown core that has a walkable character, though much of daily life in the city is auto-oriented, and residents generally drive alone to work.

The school's enrollment is about what you would expect for an elementary school serving this area, with a strong concentration of Hispanic students and a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of Brawley's families. The student body is predominantly from Spanish-speaking households, though English learner enrollment counts were not available in the data.

State test results show below-midpoint academic performance relative to districts in Imperial County. In English language arts, proficiency varies across grades, with third-grade students showing stronger results than those in fourth and fifth grades. Mathematics results are notably lower across all tested grades, with proficiency declining sharply in fifth grade. Science results at fifth grade are also quite low. These patterns suggest that students are struggling most with math and science content as they progress through upper elementary grades, and that foundational skills in both areas may need closer attention.

The school is part of the Brawley Elementary School District, which manages elementary education for the city. No recent parent-relevant changes to the district were documented in publicly available sources, and the district's strategic priorities were not clearly articulated in available materials. Parents interested in understanding the school's current priorities and any initiatives to address the academic performance data may want to ask the school directly about its approach to math intervention and support.

Brawley itself is in the early stages of economic repositioning around the "Lithium Valley" initiative, with new state funding supporting workforce training at SDSU Imperial Valley to prepare residents for geothermal and lithium jobs. That growth remains largely prospective; for now, the city's employment base remains anchored in healthcare, agriculture, and public administration. Housing is modestly priced relative to the state benchmark, and rental costs are stable, making Brawley affordable for families compared to much of California.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 331%

School 31% · District 35% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 36% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 20% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 340%

School 40% · District 34% · ▲ 6 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 37% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 33% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 17% · ▼ 5 pts below district

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

This schoolBrawley Elementary, 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-income38%Higher-income54%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income31%Higher-income31%1 pp gap