John J. Pershing Elementary, Madera CA

Original Research by School Decision on John J. Pershing Elementary

John J. Pershing Elementary is a public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Madera, a Central Valley city rooted in agriculture and manufacturing. The school sits in a community where Spanish is widely spoken and downtown neighborhoods are made up of tightly packed single-family homes and small apartment buildings. Madera itself is growing rapidly, and Pershing's enrollment of roughly eight hundred students reflects that pattern.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, and a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a school where family economic need is widespread and language diversity is present in the building.

On state testing, Pershing's proficiency rates are below the midpoint among the districts in Madera County. In mathematics, proficiency across grades three through six averages in the low-to-mid range, with slightly higher results in sixth grade than in the middle grades. In English language arts, the school shows a similar pattern, with fifth and sixth graders posting higher rates than younger students. Science proficiency, measured in fifth grade, is notably lower. These results suggest that early elementary students need additional academic support, and that science instruction may warrant attention. A parent may want to look into what supports the school offers in these areas and how the district approaches reading and math instruction in kindergarten through second grade, which are not tested but set foundations for later grades.

The school's most recent testing results are from the current school year, so prior-year comparisons are not available to track whether performance is moving. Only one full year of data exists in the system at present.

Pershing is part of Madera Unified, a district where policy changes are currently reshaping what students learn and how graduation works. Starting with the class of 2025, all seniors must complete a capstone project that includes a digital portfolio and an oral presentation before a panel, in addition to standard credits. This Graduate Profile requirement is built into instruction across all grade levels and emphasizes critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and adaptation. For families with younger students, this means the pathway toward graduation is already embedded in classroom practice.

The district is also expanding capacity with new schools. King Husein School, a new TK-through-eighth-grade campus with a dedicated STEM building, is set to open in the southwest part of town in coming months, adding options for families in that area.

Housing in the zip code where Pershing sits is relatively affordable compared to the state, though prices have risen modestly year-over-year. Rental affordability is roughly at the national average. The broader Madera County region is experiencing rapid housing growth as families move into large master-planned communities, which may bring new enrollment to the district and shifts in the neighborhoods surrounding the school.

Pershing offers a traditional public school program. No specialized magnet or charter pathway data was available. The school's profile is that of a neighborhood elementary serving a community with substantial economic need and language diversity, where performance on state tests is below county average and where foundational skills in early grades and science comprehension are areas a parent should discuss directly with teachers and school leaders.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 33% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 24% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 19% · ▲ 7 pts above district

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

Grade 635%

School 35% · District 23% · ▲ 11 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 328%

School 28% · District 29% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 434%

School 34% · District 29% · ▲ 5 pts above district

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

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 32% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 644%

School 44% · District 34% · ▲ 10 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Science

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 17% · ▲ 5 pts above district

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

This schoolMadera 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-income26%Higher-income43%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income33%Higher-income54%21 pp gap