Williams Elementary, San Jose CA

Original Research by School Decision on Williams Elementary

Williams Elementary is a public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in San Jose's Almaden Valley area. The school enrolls students across a modest size typical for its grade band, with the largest concentration in fourth grade. The student body is predominantly Asian, with substantial representation from white families, a smaller Hispanic population, and very limited enrollment of Black students or other underrepresented groups. Only a small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a relatively affluent school community.

Academically, Williams performs well on California's state assessments. In both math and English language arts, the school's overall proficiency sits above the median for elementary schools countywide in Santa Clara County. Math proficiency ranges from strong performance in third grade down to solid results by fifth grade, while English language arts proficiency is consistent across tested grades. Fifth-grade science proficiency, the only grade level where science is assessed, is moderate. The school has only one year of state testing data available, so trend comparisons are not yet possible.

The community surrounding Williams reflects San Jose's character as a patchwork of distinct neighborhoods. Almaden Valley, where the school is located, is known for spacious homes and a suburban lifestyle with rolling hills and modern developments. Housing values in the area are very high, placing homeownership well beyond reach for many families without substantial resources. The broader San Jose housing market has seen modest appreciation in recent months. Rents in the zipcode are also steep, with monthly rent consuming a large share of median household income. The local economy is dominated by technology employment through major firms like Cisco, Google, Apple, and Intel, alongside traditional corporate and retail sectors.

Parents considering Williams should be aware of a significant recent district decision. In March 2026, the San Jose Unified board voted to close five elementary schools and relocate a Montessori program effective the 2026-27 school year, driven by declining districtwide enrollment since 2017-18. Williams itself was not closed, but this consolidation has redrawn attendance boundaries across the district and reassigned many students to different schools. Any family moving into the area should verify current boundaries with the district directly. Additionally, the district approved Measure R, a major facilities bond, in November 2024 that increases local property tax rates for roughly four decades to fund building renovations, classroom upgrades, and teacher and staff housing. This is a long-term tax obligation embedded in any purchase decision in the district.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 390%

School 90% · District 48% · ▲ 42 pts above district

▲ 47 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 485%

School 85% · District 46% · ▲ 40 pts above district

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

Grade 584%

School 84% · District 42% · ▲ 42 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 386%

School 86% · District 44% · ▲ 42 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 484%

School 84% · District 47% · ▲ 37 pts above district

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

Grade 585%

School 85% · District 52% · ▲ 33 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 575%

School 75% · District 38% · ▲ 36 pts above district

▲ 47 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

This schoolSan Jose 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.