John Muir Elementary, Modesto CA

Original Research by School Decision on John Muir Elementary

John Muir Elementary is a kindergarten through sixth-grade school in Modesto, California, serving a student population concentrated in the lower income bracket of the region. The school sits in a mid-sized Central Valley city anchored by agriculture and food processing, where the local economy includes major employers such as Gallo Winery, Save Mart Supermarkets, and healthcare systems.

The school's academic performance data from California's most recent testing cycle shows proficiency rates that fall in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts across Stanislaus County. In mathematics, proficiency ranges from around a low point in the sixth grade to a higher mark in third grade, with overall math proficiency across the tested grades sitting in the lower range. English language arts results show more stability across grade levels, with third, fifth, and sixth grades clustering at similar levels, and fourth grade notably lower. Science testing was administered only in fifth grade, where results were similarly low. Across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index positions it below the median for its county. The state testing data available covers only the current school year, so trends over time cannot be assessed.

The school's student composition is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial white enrollment and smaller Asian, Black, and multiracial populations. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families the school serves. Complete data on English learner enrollment and students receiving special education services was not available. The school is a regular public school and operates within the Modesto City Elementary school district.

Modesto itself is a car-dependent city where walkability varies sharply by neighborhood. Downtown is highly walkable with pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, parks, and cultural anchors like the Gallo Center for the Arts, while most residential areas require a car for daily errands. The city has experienced minimal residential construction in recent years relative to its population, contributing to a tight housing market; median home values in the area are substantial, and rental availability is similarly constrained. Major development projects including The Crossings and the planned Tivoli Specific Plan are underway, designed to add housing capacity.

The district recently adopted a new sex education curriculum for eighth grade ('Teen Talk Middle School') in June 2024, a decision that passed narrowly and may be a factor families weigh when considering schools. The district has also benefited from facilities bond measures approved by voters in 2022 and earlier, with funds directed toward campus construction and repairs across school sites, supporting infrastructure improvements.

The school's proficiency rates suggest a parent may want to look into further with the school what academic supports are in place, what factors may be contributing to the performance levels seen in testing, and what resources or partnerships the school is leveraging to address student needs in core subjects.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 343%

School 43% · District 32% · ▲ 11 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 419%

School 19% · District 25% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 21% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 615%

School 15% · District 23% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 29% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

Grade 419%

School 19% · District 31% · ▼ 12 pts below district

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

Grade 538%

School 38% · District 35% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 37% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 515%

School 15% · District 17% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

This schoolModesto City 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-income32%Higher-income75%43 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income16%Higher-income33%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income43%Higher-income42%1 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income16%Higher-income33%17 pp gap