Excellent
#799 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 8% in state
Birney Elementary
Elementary School · San Diego Unified
4345 Campus Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
Enrollment
535
Student-Teacher
24.3:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
535
Student-Teacher
24.3:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In San Diego
#23 of 288
public schools
California elementary schools
#586 of 5,817
In district
#17 of 174
San Diego Unified
Equity
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Birney Elementary
Birney Elementary is a public elementary school in San Diego, CA, part of the San Diego Unified. The school serves approximately 535 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 24.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 91.6th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 68% proficiency in math, 28 points above the state average and 74% in reading/language arts, 29 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $96,887, where 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary is 24.3:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Birney Elementary — Students at Birney Elementary score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
45.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.8/10.
How Birney Elementary Compares
See how Birney Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 69% (2019) to 66.39% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 69% (2019) to 74.48% (2024).
Location
4345 Campus Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Birney Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Jefferson Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Garfield Elementary (rated 6.0/10, 0.8 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Florence Elementary (rated 5.7/10, 1.1 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in San Diego, see our San Diego schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Home & Hosp/Transition Support San Diego | 0.1 mi | 7.6 |
| Aseltine School San Diego | 0.3 mi | — |
| ASELTINE SCHOOL San Diego | 0.3 mi | — |
| CHILDREN'S GROWING CENTER-FIRST UNITED METHODIST San Diego | 0.8 mi | — |
| WARREN-WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOL San Diego | 0.9 mi | 6.4 |
| Urban Skills Center San Diego | 0.9 mi | — |
| Garfield Elementary San Diego | 0.8 mi | 6.0 |
| Cook Education Center San Diego | 0.9 mi | — |
| URBAN SKILLS CENTER San Diego | 0.9 mi | — |
| COOK EDUCATION CENTER San Diego | 0.9 mi | 7.3 |
| ALBA San Diego | 0.9 mi | — |
| ACES 2020 LLC DBA: ACES ACADEMY San Diego | 1.0 mi | — |
| ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE San Diego | 1.0 mi | 5.5 |
| Montessori Explorer San Diego | 1.0 mi | — |
| Roosevelt International Middle San Diego | 1.1 mi | 7.4 |
| COMMUNITY TRANSITION ACADEMY San Diego | 1.0 mi | — |
| Jefferson Elementary San Diego | 1.0 mi | 8.0 |
| Florence Elementary San Diego | 1.1 mi | 5.7 |
| ACES 2020 LLC, DBA: Aces Academy San Diego | 1.1 mi | — |
| Children's Creative and Performing Arts Academy San Diego | 1.1 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92103 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$96,887
Median Home Value
$986,800
Median Rent
$2,020/mo
Population
34,817
College Educated
63.3%
Homeownership
35.3%
Avg Commute
21.3 min
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Median Age
41.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Birney Elementary has a median household income of $96,887. It is a well-educated community where 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $986,800, with a median rent of $2,020/month. The local poverty rate of 9.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| A. G. Cook Elementary Garden Grove, CA | 8.4 |
| Arthur F. Corey Elementary Buena Park, CA | 8.4 |
| Bagby Elementary San Jose, CA | 8.4 |
| Barbara Benson Elementary Tustin, CA | 8.4 |
| Buri Buri Elementary South San Francisco, CA | 8.4 |
| C. B. Eaton Elementary Cupertino, CA | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Birney Elementary
What grades does Birney Elementary serve?
Birney Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Birney Elementary?
Birney Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 535 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Birney Elementary is 24.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Birney Elementary rank in CA?
Birney Elementary is ranked #799 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Birney Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Birney Elementary has a composite rating of 8.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Birney Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Birney Elementary has 67.5% math proficiency and 74.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Birney Elementary a charter school?
No, Birney Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Birney Elementary a Title I school?
No, Birney Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Birney Elementary?
45.6% of students at Birney Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 90 Walker's Paradise
- Transit Score
- 54 Good Transit
- Bike Score
- 76 Very Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (2,092/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Diego). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 535
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 24.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 45.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Diego County
- Phone
- (619) 497-3500
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
San Diego Unified- District Enrollment
- 95,492
- Schools in District
- 175
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,828
- District Rank
- #17 of 174
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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