Mary Chapa Academy, Greenfield CA

Original Research by School Decision on Mary Chapa Academy

Mary Chapa Academy is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Greenfield, California, a small agricultural city in the Salinas Valley. The school enrolls students across a range of grade levels from early childhood through the cusp of middle school, making it a full-service K-6 institution within the Greenfield Union Elementary district.

The student body reflects the local community's composition. The vast majority of students are Hispanic, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the working-class agricultural region. The enrollment spans across grades, with larger groups in kindergarten and the upper elementary years. Data on the percentage of English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available.

On California's state assessments, Mary Chapa Academy's proficiency results show considerable room for growth. In English language arts, performance varies notably by grade. Sixth-grade students showed the strongest results, with a meaningful share meeting proficiency standards. Third and fourth graders showed lower proficiency, while fifth-grade students had the lowest ELA proficiency of the tested grades. In mathematics, proficiency is comparatively low across all tested grades, with fifth-grade students performing especially low. Science assessment data, available only for fifth grade, also showed low proficiency. The school's overall proficiency index placed it below the midpoint among the county's districts.

Greenfield itself is a car-dependent city centered on El Camino Real, where commercial life and civic anchors cluster. The city grew rapidly in the 2000s before a wastewater capacity constraint led to a building moratorium in 2026, which has paused much new residential development. The community is anchored by agriculture, particularly broccoli and wine grapes, with major regional employers in farming and agricultural operations. Housing values in the area are relatively moderate compared to much of California, though still a significant financial commitment for households in the region.

Given the school's low proficiency rates and below-midpoint performance relative to other district schools in the county, a parent may want to look into further detail with the school about its academic support strategies, intervention programs, and any planned improvements in literacy and mathematics instruction. The school's grade configuration and full K-6 span make it accessible to families with children across early elementary through the final year before middle school, which is a practical advantage for multi-child households.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 333%

School 33% · District 31% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 19% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 59%

School 9% · District 17% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 24% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 319%

School 19% · District 26% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 25% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 25% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 646%

School 46% · District 34% · ▲ 12 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 15% · ▼ 5 pts below district

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

This schoolGreenfield Union 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.