Joseph M. Simas, Hanford CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Joseph M. Simas

Joseph M. Simas serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Hanford, a mid-sized agricultural and regional center city in Kings County in California's San Joaquin Valley. The school enrolls a substantial student population that is predominantly Hispanic, with a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The composition reflects the economic landscape of the central valley and Hanford itself, where health care, government, retail, and agriculture-linked manufacturing are primary employers.

On state assessments in English language arts, the school shows stronger performance in the elementary grades. Third and fourth graders achieve proficiency at a consistent rate, while fifth grade shows a notable dip. Sixth graders rebound somewhat, though still below the third-grade level. In mathematics, the picture is more uneven. Third and fourth graders reach proficiency at a similar rate to their ELA peers, but fifth grade performance drops sharply, with only a modest fraction of students proficient. Sixth grade recovers somewhat but remains well below the upper elementary baseline. Science proficiency in fifth grade is low. Across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Kings County.

The uneven pattern across grades, particularly the sharp drop in fifth grade, points to a transition challenge in the upper elementary band that a parent may want to look into further with the school. The strength in early grades and recovery in sixth grade suggests the foundation is there, but something shifts in the middle of the elementary years that warrants understanding.

The school is part of the Hanford Elementary school district and sits in a city actively growing through new single-family housing developments, particularly in south and northwest Hanford on formerly agricultural land. Hanford itself is steady-paced, with a preserved historic downtown anchored by locally owned shops and restaurants, an Amtrak station connecting to regional transit, and a Civic Center Park bordered by historic civic buildings. Beyond the walkable core, the wider city is car-dependent. Housing values have risen modestly, and the area supports a range of family incomes, though a substantial share of students here qualify for lunch assistance, reflecting broader economic conditions in the region.

No trend data across multiple years was available, so the school's trajectory over time could not be assessed. District-level priorities and recent changes were not found in available sources. Special education and English learner enrollment counts were not reported.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 361%

School 61% · District 47% · ▲ 14 pts above district

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

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 44% · ▲ 16 pts above district

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

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 37% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Grade 646%

School 46% · District 40% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 368%

School 68% · District 48% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 49% · ▲ 19 pts above district

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

Grade 552%

School 52% · District 51%

▲ 6 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 55% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 528%

School 28% · District 27% · ▲ 1 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

This schoolHanford 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-income60%Higher-income77%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income68%Higher-income69%1 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income48%Higher-income58%10 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income46%Higher-income72%26 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income44%Higher-income81%36 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income54%Higher-income69%15 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income19%Higher-income27%8 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income32%Higher-income72%40 pp gap