The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Science. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Guadalupe School
Guadalupe School is a public charter school in Salt Lake City serving children from prekindergarten through sixth grade. It operates as its own single-school district, which means it has independent governance. The school is located in the city’s 84116 zip code, an area with a large and fast-growing Hispanic population, and a substantial share of students in the school qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a figure that stands well above state averages.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with nearly all students identifying as such. The school is a small institution, with enrollment concentrated in the early grades, particularly prekindergarten and kindergarten, and enrollment declining steadily across the elementary grades into sixth grade. The school has a clear focus on younger children and appears to serve as a feeder for families who then move into other schools for the upper grades, though the data does not indicate where students go after sixth grade.
State testing results for elementary-level math, English language arts, and science show proficiency rates that fall below many other schools in the district. When compared against all districts in Salt Lake County, Guadalupe School’s overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. The school’s math proficiency rate is in the single digits, its English language arts rate is somewhat higher but still low, and its science rate is the strongest of the three, though still below typical county averages. A parent reviewing these numbers should note that the school serves a population in which the vast majority of students qualify for income-based meal assistance, and state testing data does not include information on how many students took the tests, which makes it harder to interpret the results fully.
Charter status means the school has its own enrollment, calendar, and mission, independent of the larger Salt Lake City School District. It is not part of a larger district that would offer a standard progression into a district middle or high school, so families enrolling here need to plan for where their child will go after sixth grade. The school’s website and publicly available materials describe it as a community-focused school that emphasizes dual-language immersion and support for immigrant and refugee families, though the data provided does not include details on program specifics or offerings.
The neighborhood around the school, in the western part of Salt Lake City near the Jordan River, is a mix of older residential blocks and newer housing developments, with a housing market that shows home values and rents below the state median but slightly above the national median, reflecting the broader growth of the Salt Lake Valley. Publicly reported information notes that the city has seen steady population and housing growth in recent years, including the construction of new apartments and townhomes, which may affect the school’s enrollment as more families move into the area.
Civil rights and discipline data was not available, and neither were staffing ratios or attendance figures, so a full picture of school climate and resources is incomplete. The school’s graduation rate is not applicable, as it does not serve high school grades. The district brief found no recent major changes such as curriculum overhauls or property tax measures, meaning the school’s operations have been stable in the near term.
Guadalupe School is a small, early-elementary charter serving a high-poverty, predominantly Hispanic community, with academic results that are well below county medians. For a family seeking a neighborhood-embedded, early-grade charter with a specific mission, it may be a good fit, but those looking for a path through middle and high school will need to look ahead.
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