The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 65% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Simonds Elementary
Simonds Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in south San Jose, near the 95120 zip code, and sits in a neighborhood with strong housing value and a diverse, affluent student body. The school's academic performance is solid across math and English language arts, with math proficiency across grades three through five in the mid-to-upper range and English proficiency rising from grade three to grade five. Science proficiency in grade five is somewhat lower. Overall, Simonds' proficiency profile places it above the midpoint among elementary schools in Santa Clara County.
The enrollment is small, with roughly that size distributed across six grades from kindergarten through fifth. The student population is notably affluent and racially diverse. Fewer than one in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is roughly evenly split across Asian, White, and multiracial enrollment, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Black students, and very few Native American or Native Hawaiian students. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.
The neighborhood where Simonds sits reflects broader patterns in San Jose: tree-lined residential streets, single-family homes typical of suburban development, and a car-dependent character outside downtown. Home values in the 95120 area are high relative to state benchmarks and far above national medians, reflecting San Jose's position within Silicon Valley and the Bay Area housing market. Renting is also expensive, with monthly rents well above mortgage payments when measured against median household income. A parent evaluating this school would be anchoring to a neighborhood where housing costs are substantial and the population is predominantly professional and college-educated.
San Jose Unified, the district serving Simonds, recently passed a major facilities bond in November 2024 aimed at classroom upgrades, building renovations, and teacher and staff housing. This represents a long-term property tax increase that homebuyers in the district assume.
More significantly, the district approved a consolidation plan in March 2026 closing five elementary schools and relocating another, taking effect for the 2026-27 school year. Simonds was not among the schools slated for closure, but the broader enrollment decline driving these decisions reflects demographic and housing-cost pressures affecting the district. Simonds itself remains open and is not directly affected by these changes.
In terms of classroom experience, the school offers a traditional public elementary structure serving its grade span. No magnet status, charter designation, or special program information was available. The school's website was not provided, so details on specific instructional approaches, enrichment offerings, or community partnerships could not be drawn from the data.
For a parent in this neighborhood, Simonds represents a neighborhood school in an affluent, diverse area with solid mainstream academic performance, particularly in math. The high housing costs and educated demographic shape the peer environment and family resources at the school. Any family considering this school should verify current enrollment capacity and the district's attendance boundaries, given the recent consolidation announcements, and should reach out to the school directly for information on programs, curriculum, and school culture.
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