Guin Foss Elementary, Santa Ana CA

Original Research by School Decision on Guin Foss Elementary

Guin Foss Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Santa Ana, a dense urban neighborhood that is the county seat of Orange County and the industrial and civic heart of the region. The school sits in a community marked by significant Mexican-American and Vietnamese populations, working commercial zones, and active redevelopment. Housing in the zip code is expensive by most measures, and just over half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic diversity of the neighborhood.

The school's recent test results show a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, students in third grade performed closer to proficiency standards, while fourth and fifth graders showed lower rates. Math performance follows a similar pattern: third graders performed well, but proficiency dropped noticeably by fourth grade and declined further in fifth grade. Science proficiency in fifth grade was the lowest result across all subjects. Overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects stands above the midpoint compared to other elementary schools in Orange County, but the downward trend as students move into the upper grades is a real concern. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what support is available for students in grades four and five and how the school is addressing this pattern.

The district, Tustin Unified, is undergoing significant change. In late 2024 voters approved a major facilities bond to address aging infrastructure at schools across the system, with many buildings over decades old. The district is also in the midst of a multi-year overhaul of math instruction, starting in 2024 with what it calls a "learning year" in which teachers spent months building shared teaching practices before adopting new materials. This signals that math pedagogy is in active flux district-wide, which may create both opportunity and transition challenges in classrooms.

Enrollment at Guin Foss is small to moderate for an elementary school, with a balanced spread across grades. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller white population and smaller Asian population; other racial groups are represented minimally. No data was available on the rate of English learners or students with individualized education plans, which is typical for schools reporting at the level this school does.

Santa Ana itself is in an active growth phase. The city is building housing at a rapid rate, with multiple mixed-use and residential projects underway, and assessed property values are rising. Downtown Santa Ana has real street life and walkability, though most of the broader city is car-dependent. Transit includes Metrolink and bus service through the regional transportation center, and the planned OC Streetcar will eventually connect downtown to nearby Garden Grove. The school's location on Vanderlip Avenue places it in a working neighborhood rather than a downtown or historic district.

For families considering this school, the main academic story is that early elementary students are tracking reasonably well, but the drop-off in grades four and five deserves direct conversation with school leadership. The district is investing in both buildings and teaching quality, which signals commitment to long-term improvement. Families should also factor in Santa Ana's urban character, cost of living, and the specific neighborhood context around Vanderlip Avenue when deciding whether this school and community fit their needs.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 383%

School 83% · District 60% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 457%

School 57% · District 59% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 55% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 373%

School 73% · District 55% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 450%

School 50% · District 58% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 63% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 46% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolTustin 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-income63%Higher-income83%21 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income42%Higher-income64%22 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income54%Higher-income57%3 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income79%Higher-income88%8 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income47%Higher-income76%29 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income29%Higher-income57%29 pp gap