Carver Elementary, San Diego CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Carver Elementary

Carver Elementary is a small public school in San Diego serving kindergarten through fifth grade. Its enrollment is roughly in the low hundreds, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with meaningful representation of Black and Asian students.

State testing results show low proficiency across all tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from around low to mid teens in grades three and four, rising to about half of students in grade five. Math proficiency is much lower, with one grade showing single-digit performance, while others fall in the low twenties. Fifth-grade science proficiency sits at roughly one-third of students. Overall, Carver's proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among elementary schools tested in San Diego County, indicating substantially below-average achievement on state assessments.

Grade-level variation suggests some improvement as students progress, particularly visible in grade five performance on language arts. However, the pattern of low performance in grade four across both subjects may point to a transition year that warrants attention, and a parent may want to look into what support systems the school has in place around that point.

The school lacks data on English learner enrollment rates and special education identification, which means a reader cannot assess what proportion of students are receiving language support services or how the school approaches students with individualized education plans. These data gaps are common for elementary schools and do not necessarily reflect inadequate services, but families should ask the school directly about language support and special education services if those areas are relevant to their child.

Carver is situated in the 92105 zip code, which has a housing market characteristic of San Diego County: home values have declined slightly year over year, and rental costs remain a significant share of household income. The neighborhood context and school facilities data were not available through the sources reviewed, so a family considering this school may want to visit and speak with current families about the physical environment and community feel.

The parent district, San Diego Unified, has made several system-wide changes in recent years. Beginning in 2021-22, the district implemented standards-based grading for secondary grades, removing non-academic factors like late work from academic grades and emphasizing demonstrated mastery. While this applies primarily to middle and high school, it signals a district-wide shift toward competency-based assessment that may eventually shape how elementary students are assessed and reported on. The district also approved voter-backed facility bonds and made ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2024.

For a family considering Carver Elementary, the central question is whether the current academic proficiency level aligns with their expectations and whether they see evidence or a plan for improvement. Low state test results warrant direct conversation with school leadership about curriculum, instruction, and intervention programs. The school's small size could mean closer relationships and individualized attention, or it could reflect resource constraints, depending on how the school is staffed and supported. A visit and conversation with the principal about grade-four performance dips and fifth-grade gains would give clearer context.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 319%

School 19% · District 55% · ▼ 36 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 44%

School 4% · District 50% · ▼ 47 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 45% · ▼ 20 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 314%

School 14% · District 53% · ▼ 39 pts below district

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

Grade 416%

School 16% · District 54% · ▼ 38 pts below district

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

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 58% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median · even with county median

Science

Grade 530%

School 30% · District 42% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 57% · ▼ 44 pts below district

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 40 pts below county median

This schoolSan Diego 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.