Gratton Charter, Denair CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Gratton Charter

Gratton Charter is a small public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Denair, a rural unincorporated community in Stanislaus County surrounded by farmland and set apart from adjacent Turlock. The school enrolls just over a hundred students, with a largely white student body, a modest share of students from Hispanic backgrounds, and a below-average free-or-reduced-price lunch rate for the region.

The school's academic standing is mixed. On state standardized tests in English language arts and math, Gratton Charter sits in the top quartile among the county's districts on overall proficiency, which reflects strength relative to peers. However, performance varies considerably by grade level. In the upper elementary grades, proficiency runs solid, particularly in grade five where students show strong results across both tested subjects. In math, grade four stands out as notably weaker, and both eighth-grade math and English language arts show below-average performance, suggesting students may need additional support as they transition toward high school. Science testing data is limited to grades five and eight; grade five science proficiency is respectable while grade eight science is weaker. Grade-level fluctuations of this kind warrant a conversation with the school about instruction consistency and support for older students, especially those heading into secondary school.

The school's small size creates an intimate environment where every student is known and individual needs can be addressed directly. This is a meaningful asset for families seeking a tight-knit setting. The trade-off is limited program breadth; at a school this small serving only through eighth grade, the range of electives, team sports, and specialized pathways is constrained compared to larger districts. State testing data for social studies dates only to 2013 and is suppressed, so no current picture of performance in that subject is available.

Denair itself is a quiet, agricultural community with single-family homes dating largely from the 1960s through 2000s, and newer subdivisions arriving now. Housing values are accessible relative to state and national benchmarks, and most residents own their homes. The terrain is flat and bike-friendly; schools and grocery stores sit within walkable reach of residential areas. Street life and events tend to center in nearby Turlock, a short distance away. The area is on a modest growth trajectory, with new single-family subdivisions underway. The local economy rests on agriculture—dairy farming, almonds, food processing—and the school district itself is a significant employer.

Gratton Charter draws families who value small-school personalization and rural community character over program variety. Parents should understand that the school's strength sits in the intermediate grades, and have a direct conversation with school leadership about how older students, particularly in eighth grade, are prepared for the transition to high school.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 367%

School 67% · District 56% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 38% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 583%

School 83% · District 85% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 53 pts above state median · ▲ 61 pts above county median

Grade 671%

School 71% · District 71%

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 47 pts above county median

Grade 775%

School 75% · District 69% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 49 pts above county median

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 42%

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

English language arts

Grade 367%

School 67% · District 56% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 31%

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 575%

School 75% · District 77% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 30 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Grade 679%

School 79% · District 79%

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Grade 767%

School 67% · District 63% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

Grade 858%

School 58% · District 58%

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Science

Grade 567%

School 67% · District 69% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 39 pts above state median · ▲ 47 pts above county median

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 50%

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

This schoolGratton 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.