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Best Elementary Schools in Modesto, CA (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Modesto, CA, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Modesto, CA rankings: Elementary Schools
Modesto, CA elementary schools ranked
How Modesto, CA's elementary schools compare
A: 3B: 9C: 12D: 25F: 3
23% of the 52 ranked elementary schools in Modesto, CA earn an A or B (3 A grades, 9 B, 12 C, 25 D, 3 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 35 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (67% here, 70% nationally), and 11 exceed it. On average 30% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 23% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Paradise Elementary (65% against 24%, A), Paradise Charter (49% against 28%, B+), M Robert Adkison Elementary (33% against 14%, C), Enslen Elementary (57% against 39%, A-), Mary Ann Sanders Elementary (44% against 27%, B).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 13): Sylvan Union Elementary (4), Modesto City Elementary (3), Stanislaus Union Elementary (3).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Bret Harte Elementary (852 students, D-, #45), Great Valley Academy (847 students, C, #19), Great Valley Academy Salida (823 students, D+, #32).
Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 4 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Elementary schools in Modesto, CA that are not ranked
1 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Not yet graded (1)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- Shiloh Elementary, Modesto
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Modesto, CA, as grouped on its schools page; the California ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Modesto, CA
What is the best elementary school in Modesto, CA?
Paradise Elementary in Modesto ranks first among the 52 ranked elementary schools in Modesto, CA with a SchoolGrade of A, 65% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 24%.
How are elementary schools in Modesto, CA ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Modesto, CA have?
SchoolGrade grades 53 public elementary schools in Modesto, CA; 52 are ranked here and 1 are listed as not ranked.