The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Alta Mesa Elementary
Alta Mesa Elementary is a small K-5 school in Redding, California, serving about that size of enrollment spread across six grade levels. The school sits in a growing but uneven regional economy, where new suburban subdivisions and downtown mixed-use development are spreading out from a revitalized core, while recovery from the 2018 Carr Fire continues to shape the housing and labor markets.
Redding itself is the county seat and regional hub for far Northern California, anchored by healthcare employers and a walkable downtown with civic institutions, parks tied to the Sacramento River, and a cycle of new family subdivisions moving outward. The city functions as a trade center for smaller surrounding communities. The wider region is in an active building phase, though approved lot supplies have tightened since 2021, and housing values have edged down slightly from their peak.
On academics, Alta Mesa's state test results from spring 2025 show performance well below where most California schools operate. In English language arts across tested grades, proficiency ranges from the low forties to the low fifties, with one grade at roughly half proficient. Math proficiency is considerably weaker, dropping to the low forties in two grade levels and falling sharply to about one in six students proficient in the upper elementary. Science data is available only for fifth grade, where about two in five students reached proficiency. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint among the county's districts, but that position reflects the fact that many Shasta County schools also show modest proficiency levels. A parent may want to look into what instruction and supports the school is using to address the math weakness, particularly the sharp drop in fifth grade.
The school population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, Asian, and American Indian students. A substantial share of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic need across the enrollment. State-level data on special education and English learner enrollment was not reported.
The school is part of Enterprise Elementary School District, a K-8 system with nine schools. A notable feature of the district is that its charter school, Redding Collegiate Academy, now serves grades K-12 and is the only high school within the district, allowing families to stay within Enterprise Elementary rather than transfer to the separate Shasta Union High School District in high school. The charter reportedly maintains graduation rates well above the state average. In 2018, district voters approved a major bond to build and improve infrastructure, and facility upgrades continue.
Housing in the Redding zip code is moderately priced relative to California and the nation, with single-family homes valued around the state median or slightly below. Rental availability is tighter, and rent has been rising modestly. For renters, housing costs run roughly one-quarter of income; for buyers, the mortgage-to-income ratio is above the national benchmark, reflecting local conditions. The area is experiencing steady new residential construction, with developments ranging from modest to market-rate across subdivisions on the west and outer edges of town.
Alta Mesa is a school serving a working-to-middle-income community in a regional city, with test results that flag math as a significant area of focus. The school itself operates within a district that offers families a pathway through high school within the same system, a structural feature many family consider valuable.
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