The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Math. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Elementary
Franklin Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Santa Ana, an urban core area of Orange County marked by dense residential and commercial zones, historic neighborhoods, and significant industrial and logistics activity. The school is located at 210 West Cubbon in the 92701 zip code.
The school enrolls a small student body for its grade band, with enrollment distributed across all six grades. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families served. The student population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with the remainder split between Asian and white students; the racial composition is heavily skewed toward one group.
State assessment results from the 2024-25 school year show proficiency across math, English language arts, and science at Franklin. In mathematics across grades three through five, proficiency rates are low, with grade four performing somewhat better than grades three and five. In English language arts, results follow a similar pattern: grade four shows the highest proficiency, while grades three and five score considerably lower. Science results, measured only in grade five, show proficiency rates among the lowest on the assessment. Overall proficiency across tested subjects sits in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Orange County, indicating that Franklin's academic outcomes are significantly below the median performance in the county.
The school serves a neighborhood with particular economic realities. Housing values in the surrounding zip code reflect a moderately expensive coastal California market, though not the highest tier of Orange County. Median rents are substantial, and the cost of housing relative to median income is steep, placing significant pressure on family budgets. This economic context aligns with the high concentration of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch at Franklin.
Santa Ana as a place combines working-class residential neighborhoods, downtown civic and commercial life, and substantial industrial zones. The city has been in active redevelopment, with major new housing and mixed-use projects under way. Transit infrastructure, including the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and the planned OC Streetcar, is anchoring the downtown area. Parks, libraries, and public services form the backbone of daily life for residents.
The Santa Ana Unified School District recently passed a school facilities bond authorized by voters, aimed at repair and modernization of aging schools over a period of years. The district was also an early adopter of ethnic studies as a graduation requirement but in 2025 agreed to discontinue three high school ethnic studies courses after a lawsuit and to rebuild them with renewed public input. These district-level developments shape the landscape within which Franklin Elementary operates.
A parent considering Franklin would be evaluating a small elementary school serving a predominantly Hispanic, economically stretched community with very low state proficiency results. The school's academic outcomes, whether viewed against county benchmarks or in absolute terms, represent a significant area of concern and would warrant direct conversation with school staff about curriculum, instructional approach, support services, and any specialized programming or interventions in place to address the proficiency gap. The school's role within a district undergoing facilities investment and curriculum recalibration adds context to decisions about fit and trajectory.
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