Rose Ferrero Elementary, Soledad CA

Original Research by School Decision on Rose Ferrero Elementary

Rose Ferrero Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Soledad, a small agricultural city in the Salinas Valley where most residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. The school enrollment is small, with students distributed across seven grades, and a substantial majority of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly Hispanic/Latino, reflecting the community.

On state assessments, Rose Ferrero's performance shows a mixed academic profile. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from about half of third-grade students meeting standard on the lower end to most sixth-graders doing so. Mathematics is weaker, with proficiency in the mid-range across grades three through four and notably lower in grades five and six. In science, proficiency in grade five is quite low. Overall proficiency at the school sits above the midpoint among Monterey County districts, but it is worth noting that the school's average across all tested subjects and grades is below where many county peers land. The performance pattern suggests particular concentration in the upper elementary grades for language arts relative to math, and potential challenges in both subjects as students reach grade five and beyond. A parent may want to look into what support structures the school has in place for upper elementary students, particularly in mathematics and science.

Soledad itself is undergoing substantial residential growth. The city approved a major housing annexation that could double the population, and new infrastructure including parks, a community college satellite campus, and retail development are coming online. Housing values are moderate relative to the broader Bay Area but have appreciated, and mortgage payments would be a significant proportion of household income. The local economy centers on government employment (chiefly the two state correctional facilities) and agriculture tied to the surrounding Salinas Valley produce region. Most residents drive alone with modest commute times. The historic downtown along Front Street has been the focus of revitalization efforts, though the built environment remains car-oriented overall.

In November 2024, the district passed a school bond measure that will fund renovations and repairs across schools, ADA accessibility upgrades, and a new track and field at Soledad High School. This represents a long-term property-tax increase that families moving into the district will see reflected in their property taxes for years to come.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 343%

School 43% · District 31% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 443%

School 43% · District 33% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 21% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 23% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 351%

School 51% · District 35% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 36% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 31% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 660%

School 60% · District 42% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Science

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 17% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

This schoolSoledad 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income49%Higher-income58%9 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income40%Higher-income73%33 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income46%Higher-income31%15 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income38%Higher-income67%29 pp gap