Linwood Elementary, Visalia CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Linwood Elementary

Linwood Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Visalia, a mid-sized Central Valley city that serves as Tulare County's seat. The school sits in a neighborhood characterized by mixed homeownership and rentership, with many early-20th-century ranch-style homes. Visalia's economy is anchored in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and distribution, with significant employers including Kaweah Health and food-processing operations. The city is experiencing sustained residential growth through large master-planned neighborhoods.

Linwood's enrollment is small to moderate for its grade band, and the student body reflects Visalia's demographic composition: a substantial majority of students identify as Hispanic, with smaller populations of white, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has not reported its English learner or special education enrollment rates in available data, so a parent may want to look into those details directly with the school.

Academic performance on California state assessments shows a mixed picture across grade levels. In mathematics, proficiency rates range from the low to mid-range, with fifth grade notably lower than third and sixth grades. In English language arts, performance is more consistent, with upper grades (particularly sixth) performing above lower grades. A science assessment was administered to fifth grade only, where proficiency was considerably lower than in math or ELA. Across all tested grades and subjects, Linwood's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Tulare County, a meaningful position that reflects stronger performance than the county median. However, this comparison reflects a countywide landscape where many districts face similar challenges; a parent reviewing these numbers should understand that proficiency in these subjects remains an area where many students do not yet meet grade-level standards.

The district recently adopted a board-approved phonics curriculum for all students in kindergarten through second grade, with an explicit goal of reading proficiency by third grade. This represents a deliberate shift in literacy instruction across elementary schools, including Linwood. The district has also made middle school Math 1 count toward high school credit, allowing students to access advanced mathematics earlier. For families with young children, the district expanded universal transitional kindergarten into a blended, full-day model serving more than a typical cohort across 33 classrooms, emphasizing language development and social-emotional growth.

Visalia itself is growing steadily, with single-family construction ongoing in new master-planned neighborhoods that include reserved school sites. The city's downtown, centered on Main Street, is the most walkable part of the region, with historic architecture, restaurants, and civic anchors like the Visalia Branch Library and parks. Beyond downtown, the city is more suburban and car-dependent. Housing in the zip code where Linwood is located is moderately priced relative to California statewide benchmarks, and rentals are common.

One structural district issue worth noting: Visalia Unified's long-planned fifth comprehensive high school was shelved after state funding did not materialize and project costs rose significantly. As of recent reports, the project remained on hold, meaning existing high schools continue to operate above comfortable capacity. This is not a Linwood-specific issue, but it shapes the district's medium-term trajectory and the pathways available to students as they progress through the system.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 354%

School 54% · District 41% · ▲ 13 pts above district

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

Grade 449%

School 49% · District 35% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 29% · ▲ 12 pts above district

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

Grade 653%

School 53% · District 33% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 29 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 44% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 454%

School 54% · District 42% · ▲ 12 pts above district

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

Grade 545%

School 45% · District 45%

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 661%

School 61% · District 46% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Science

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 28%

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

This schoolVisalia 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-income38%Higher-income70%32 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income44%Higher-income75%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income37%Higher-income69%32 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income51%Higher-income85%34 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income45%Higher-income76%31 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income40%Higher-income66%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income65%32 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income46%Higher-income68%22 pp gap