The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Crafton Elementary
Crafton Elementary is a regular public school in Redlands serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school has an enrollment that spans roughly from early childhood through upper elementary, with roughly similar cohort sizes across grades, reflecting a stable baseline for the grade band.
The student body is diverse, with a significant Hispanic plurality, a substantial white enrollment, and smaller Black and Asian populations. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, pointing to economic circumstances where many families draw on school meal support. The school's enrollment is distributed across a full K-5 span, with slightly larger classes at kindergarten and fourth grade.
On California's state assessments for 2024-25, Crafton's proficiency rates sit below midline across the tested subjects. In English language arts, about half of fifth graders met proficiency, but fourth and third graders came in lower. Math proficiency was lower still, with third grade performing best of the three tested grades, while fourth and fifth graders showed proficiency rates in the low-to-mid range. Science testing, which occurs only in fifth grade, also showed proficiency below a threshold that would suggest widespread mastery. Across the spectrum of tested subjects and grades, Crafton's overall proficiency index places it above the median among schools within San Bernardino County, placing it in the top quartile of county schools on this measure. This means that while absolute proficiency rates are modest, they are notably stronger than a typical county school, a distinction that matters when considering peer schools in the region.
Redlands itself is a city of stable population anchored by a walkable downtown with civic anchors including the A.K. Smiley Public Library, parks, and cultural spaces. Tree-lined streets and historic architecture define much of the residential character, though the city has been home to slow-growth zoning policies that are now shifting. Housing values in the Redlands area are above the national median but below the California statewide benchmark. Rents are rising modestly and rent-to-income ratios suggest rental housing is reasonably affordable, though purchase-price-to-income ratios indicate that buying remains a stretch for median-income households. The local economy draws on service sectors, education, and health care; major employers include the school district itself, Esri (a GIS software company headquartered locally), Loma Linda University, and regional health systems.
The Redlands Unified School District has experienced notable recent governance shifts. In November 2024, voters approved a large facilities bond that will fund campus modernization and safety upgrades across district schools, financed through a new property tax on homeowners, making it a material financial consideration for families relocating to the area. More recently, in July and August 2025, the board passed policies limiting flag displays on school grounds and revising the library materials complaint process in ways that have led to the removal or restriction of specific titles from school libraries. These policies reflect broader alignment shifts on identity and parental-rights issues that families may want to understand before enrolling. For parents and students who value open collections and inclusive civic expression, these district decisions represent a material context.
Crafton Elementary itself has no additional data on attendance, discipline, special education identification, English learner services, or staffing levels, so those dimensions of school environment remain unavailable. The proficiency picture suggests that students are progressing, but at rates where extra support or attention to math and science readiness may benefit many learners. The school sits within a city that is incrementally changing demographically and economically, with new housing projects underway and the district navigating recent contentious decisions about materials and symbols. For a family considering Crafton, the academic trajectory and peer composition are reasonably transparent; the broader district and community context is one to explore further with school staff and families already there.
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