John D. Sloat Elementary, Sacramento CA

Original Research by School Decision on John D. Sloat Elementary

John D. Sloat Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Sacramento. The school enrolls a small student body, drawing from a neighborhood that is economically stressed and diverse. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student population is roughly split between Hispanic and Asian students, with meaningful shares of Black and other students represented.

Reading and math proficiency on state assessments is very low across all tested grades. In third through sixth grade English language arts, proficiency ranges from a small fraction in the lower grades up to a more substantial share in sixth grade. Math proficiency is lower still, with minimal proportions of students meeting the state standard in grades three through six. Science proficiency in grade five is also minimal. Overall, proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school in the bottom tier when compared against other districts in Sacramento County.

The school sits in a housing market where homes are moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks. Monthly rents are modest, and the affordability calculus for the zip code leans toward renting over buying. The area has been stable in recent months, with home prices slightly lower than a year prior and rents edging up gradually.

Sacramento City Unified, Sloat's parent district, is navigating serious fiscal and operational challenges that ripple into schools. The district faced a budget crisis severe enough to trigger state oversight and the threat of takeover. Layoff notices went to hundreds of employees in spring 2026, and the district has delayed purchasing updated curriculum materials and technology. These pressures directly affect classroom resources and staffing stability. The district also completed an eight-day strike in spring 2022 that disrupted instruction and prompted multi-year calendar adjustments. Voters approved a school facilities bond in fall 2024 that will fund modernization and upgrades across the district, but this carries a lasting property tax increase for homeowners.

A parent considering Sloat should weigh these realities: the school's test results are markedly below the county norm, the district is under fiscal stress that constrains spending, and recent labor and scheduling disruptions have been substantial. The neighborhood itself is working-class and heavily immigrant. None of this determines whether a particular family will choose this school, but these are the conditions on the ground.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 38%

School 8% · District 39% · ▼ 30 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 40%

School 0% · District 35% · ▼ 35 pts below district

▼ 37 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 28% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 615%

School 15% · District 36% · ▼ 21 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 34%

School 4% · District 37% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 46%

School 6% · District 39% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Grade 515%

School 15% · District 39% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 637%

School 37% · District 44% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Science

Grade 55%

School 5% · District 28% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below 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.