C. W. Dillard Elementary, Wilton CA

Original Research by School Decision on C. W. Dillard Elementary

C. W. Dillard Elementary sits in a rural, low-density corner of Sacramento County where large-lot homes, ranches, and farmland dominate the landscape. Wilton itself has no downtown and little commercial core; it is structured around two main roads with residents spread across acreage rather than compact blocks. The community is affluent, older, and tight-knit, with strong local ties and deliberate resistance to suburban sprawl. The school feeds into Elk Grove Unified, the larger district that anchors the region.

The enrollment at C. W. Dillard is modest, serving kindergarten through sixth grade. Roughly one-third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly White and Hispanic in roughly equal shares, with smaller Asian, multiracial, and other populations represented. Data on English learner and special education enrollment were not available.

In English language arts, the school's performance shows uneven strength across grades. Third grade sits notably lower than upper grades; fourth and fifth grades show clear proficiency; sixth grade dips somewhat but remains solid. Overall across all tested grades in ELA, the school is positioned above the median among Sacramento County's schools. In mathematics, performance is more consistent but lower. Proficiency rates across third through sixth grades cluster in the low-to-mid range, with sixth grade slightly ahead. Across all tested grades in math, the school's overall index places it in the top quartile countywide, though this reflects both the school's results and the fact that only a few county schools have comparative state test data. In science, only fifth grade is assessed; that result sits at about half proficiency.

The pattern here is ELA strength relative to math, particularly in the upper elementary grades. A parent might want to ask the school directly about the gap between ELA and math performance, what supports are in place for third grade, and how the school is working to build math proficiency in the upper grades.

Housing in the area is expensive relative to the national benchmark, with a weighted home value notably above both state and national medians. The area is a horse-property and ranch community where most parcels exceed a few acres; families living here have chosen rural land ownership as their lifestyle. Mortgage costs are steep; rent-to-income ratios suggest housing remains tight on family budgets despite the community's overall affluence. Property-tax bases are stable.

The school itself appears well-positioned within its rural setting. It is a straightforward public elementary school with no charter or magnet designation. Class sizes and staffing information were not available. The Wilton community values its schools as civic anchors; the Dillard School (a different school in the Dillard area) was rebuilt to replicate its original Spanish-style architecture at residents' request, signaling community investment in local institutions. Day-to-day activities center on school, volunteer fire service, community fairs, and access to nearby outdoor recreation like the Cosumnes River Ecological Preserve. There is no public library or fixed-route transit in Wilton itself; families rely on the car for most purposes beyond school and nearby neighbors.

C. W. Dillard serves a population that chose this place for its rural character and land. Families sending children here are typically homeowners on larger parcels, with stable local ties and modest but real economic means. The school's curriculum and teaching staff were not described in available data. For families in this geography, the tradeoffs are clear: tight-knit community identity and open space in exchange for a long commute to Sacramento, limited commercial amenities, and reliance on the car. Academic performance is competent, particularly in reading; math is an area worth watching and discussing with the school directly.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 53% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 453%

School 53% · District 49% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 39% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 654%

School 54% · District 46% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 355%

School 55% · District 51% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 475%

School 75% · District 53% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 573%

School 73% · District 54% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 667%

School 67% · District 58% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Science

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 34% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

This schoolElk Grove Unified, 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-income50%Higher-income60%10 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income65%Higher-income81%16 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income69%Higher-income78%9 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income59%Higher-income72%13 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income47%Higher-income47%0 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income40%Higher-income60%20 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income49%Higher-income52%3 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income46%Higher-income60%15 pp gap