David Lubin Elementary, Sacramento CA

Original Research by School Decision on David Lubin Elementary

David Lubin Elementary is a public school in Sacramento serving kindergarten through sixth grade, located near the center of the city on M Street. The school has a student population of about mid-size for its grade span, with fairly balanced enrollment across all grades.

The student body is diverse and economically mixed. White and Hispanic students each represent a substantial portion of the enrollment, with meaningful representation from Asian and multiracial students. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing this as a school where economic diversity exists but poverty is not the dominant condition.

On California's state assessments in 2024-25, David Lubin's performance shows a split profile. In English language arts, the school performed solidly, with proficiency rising through the grade levels, reaching strong outcomes by sixth grade. Math proficiency is lower overall and also more variable by grade. Third and sixth grades showed moderate proficiency in math, while fourth and fifth grades fell notably lower. Fifth-grade science proficiency, the only science grade tested at the school, came in at a modest level. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Sacramento County, a meaningful strength on this county-based comparison.

The school is part of Sacramento City Unified, which is currently navigating serious financial strain. The district approved a Fiscal Solvency Plan in November 2025 to address a growing deficit, with publicly reported warnings from state oversight that cash reserves could be depleted and that spending cuts are underway. These cuts include delayed purchases of curriculum materials and technology, as well as workforce reductions. A family considering this school should be aware that district-level budget pressures are likely to constrain classroom supplies, staffing levels, and program offerings in coming years. The district also approved a school facilities bond in 2024 that adds property tax for homeowners while the debt is active, though it funds long-term campus modernization and new construction.

Beyond these financial headwinds, the district experienced an eight-day teacher and staff strike in spring 2022 that disrupted instruction, and the district has since adjusted school calendars to make up lost time, shifting start dates earlier into August. This history of labor tension and scheduling shifts is relevant context for families weighing stability and continuity.

David Lubin's English language arts trajectory is its clearer asset, while math proficiency, especially in the upper elementary grades, shows room for improvement. The school operates within a district facing real constraints, and a parent or prospective household would be wise to ask the school directly about current staffing, supply availability, and how budget cuts are affecting classroom instruction and support services.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 364%

School 64% · District 39% · ▲ 25 pts above district

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

Grade 457%

School 57% · District 35% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 28% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 661%

School 61% · District 36% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 358%

School 58% · District 37% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 466%

School 66% · District 39% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 570%

School 70% · District 39% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 29 pts above county median

Grade 680%

School 80% · District 44% · ▲ 36 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Science

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 28% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

This schoolSacramento City 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-income54%Higher-income62%8 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income52%Higher-income75%23 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income55%Higher-income81%26 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income72%Higher-income83%11 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income46%Higher-income77%31 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income37%Higher-income68%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income32%Higher-income59%28 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income33%Higher-income73%40 pp gap