The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Westmont Elementary
Westmont Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Westminster, California, as part of the Ocean View School District. The school sits in a heavily immigrant and working-class neighborhood where the vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals and about two-thirds of the student body is Hispanic, with a substantial share Asian and a smaller presence of white students. The school's enrollment is small but stable across its grade band, with slightly larger cohorts in kindergarten and the primary grades.
State assessment data from 2024-25 shows proficiency levels that fall in the bottom quartile relative to other district schools tested in Orange County. In English language arts across tested grades, about one-third of students showed proficiency overall, with fifth graders performing better than fourth graders, and third graders performing better still. Mathematics proficiency was also in the low range, at roughly one-third across the tested grades, with a notable decline as students progress: third graders performed substantially better than fourth graders, and fifth graders scored lowest. Science proficiency in fifth grade stands at roughly one-fifth. These results reflect limited academic progress in core subjects and suggest that students may not be meeting grade-level standards at rates typical for the county.
Westmont underwent modernization in recent years as part of the Ocean View School District's Measure R bond program, which has rebuilt and updated school facilities across the district. The school now has refreshed buildings and security systems, though the district continues to carry the long-term property tax obligation that voters approved when they passed the bonds.
The district has invested in broader programming: a Spanish Dual Language Immersion pathway that began at Harbour View Elementary and continues through middle school at Mesa View offers a bilingual education option for families seeking it, and starting in 2025-26, the district began providing free after-school childcare for all TK through sixth grade students until 6:00 p.m., a substantial support for working families. The district is also transitioning to by-trustee-area board elections beginning in November 2026, shifting from an at-large system.
Westminster itself is a mid-sized suburban city anchored culturally by Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese American enclave outside Vietnam, centered on Bolsa Avenue and the Asian Garden Mall. The city is predominantly car-dependent, though weekend foot traffic in Little Saigon brings the broader regional Vietnamese American community into the neighborhood. Housing values in the 92683 zip code are substantial for Orange County, and rental costs are significant as well, reflecting the overall county market. The city is in the midst of redevelopment centered on the former Westminster Mall site, which is being reimagined as a mixed-use district with new housing, retail, and public space. This growth context may affect the neighborhood over the coming years as demolition and construction begin.
Families considering Westmont should understand that the school is serving a student population facing clear academic challenges, with proficiency rates well below county midpoints. State testing data alone cannot explain why, and a parent may want to look into the school's approaches to reading and mathematics instruction, staffing, and family engagement directly with the principal. The school's modernized facilities are an asset, and the district's recent commitment to free after-school childcare and bilingual pathway options signal investment in student support. For families in Westminster seeking a neighborhood elementary school, Westmont represents an anchor institution in a working-class immigrant community undergoing physical change.
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