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Below Average

#7882 of 9,539 schools in CA

Empire Gardens Elementary

Elementary School · San Jose Unified

1060 East Empire St., San Jose, CA 95112

Enrollment

226

Student-Teacher

17.4:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#7,882 of 9,539

In San Jose

#180 of 223

public schools

In district

#29 of 41

San Jose Unified

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Empire Gardens Elementary

4.6/10

Elementary School in San Jose · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Ace Inspire Academy

3.7/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Sunrise Middle

6.0/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Empire Gardens Elementary

Empire Gardens Elementary is a public elementary school in San Jose, CA, part of San Jose Unified. Empire Gardens Elementary serves approximately 226 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Empire Gardens Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #7,882 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Empire Gardens Elementary show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.0 pts below district
  • This school 4.6 · Below Average
  • District avg 5.6
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

55% of students at Empire Gardens Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.2Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.69 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics2.1Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency6% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency12.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-39.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-29.9 pts
Overall Proficiency9% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)31% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-22.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile5th
Resources & Environment6.8Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,909
Chronic Absenteeism54.9%

Empire Gardens Elementary — Students at Empire Gardens Elementary score 9% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

76.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 18.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 24.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
39%
ELA
32%
2010
Math
47%
ELA
36%
2011
Math
37%
ELA
32%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
12%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2022
Math
16.9%
ELA
13.6%
2024
Math
5.8%
ELA
13%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.2/10.

How Empire Gardens Elementary Compares

See how Empire Gardens Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
17th percentile in CA
Academic
2.1/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
5.2/10
Average
Environment
6.8/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
76%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
13 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
54.9%

Location

1060 East Empire St., San Jose, CA 95112

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Empire Gardens Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Lrng in an Urban Comm with High Achievement (L.U.C.H.A.) (rated 6.3/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Rocketship Discovery Prep (rated 5.7/10, 0.3 miles away, in nearby Redwood City), which scores notably higher. Additionally, McKinley Elementary (rated 5.5/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in San Jose, see our San Jose schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
ACE Inspire Academy San Jose 0.2 mi 3.7
Sunrise Middle San Jose 0.3 mi 6.0
Rocketship Discovery Prep Redwood City 0.3 mi 5.7
San Jose High San Jose 0.4 mi 7.0
Anne Darling Elementary San Jose 0.6 mi 4.0
Grant Elementary San Jose 0.7 mi 3.5
CRISTO REY SAN JOSE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL San Jose 0.8 mi 4.8
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School San Jose 0.8 mi
ST PATRICK SCHOOL San Jose 1.1 mi 5.3
Horace Mann Elementary San Jose 1.2 mi 4.8
Selma Olinder Elementary San Jose 1.3 mi 4.0
KIPP San Jose Collegiate San Jose 1.3 mi 9.4
Pegasus High San Jose 1.3 mi 4.6
ACE Charter High San Jose 1.3 mi 4.6
Downtown College Prep - Alum Rock San Jose 1.3 mi 5.5
McKinley Elementary San Jose 1.4 mi 5.5
Independence High San Jose 1.4 mi 7.3
San Antonio Elementary San Jose 1.3 mi 4.5
Lrng in an Urban Comm with High Achievement (L.U.C.H.A.) San Jose 1.3 mi 6.3
Muwekma Ohlone Middle San Jose 1.4 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 95112 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$89,649

Median Home Value

$956,300

Median Rent

$2,095/mo

Population

56,766

College Educated

39.2%

Homeownership

27.9%

Avg Commute

24.1 min

Poverty Rate

18.2%

Median Age

32.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Arena Elementary Point Arena, CA 4.6
Chavez Elementary Long Beach, CA 4.6
Fall River Elementary Fall River Mills, CA 4.6
Folsom Cordova K-8 Community Charter Mather, CA 4.6
Fox Road Elementary Hughson, CA 4.6
Grenada Elementary Grenada, CA 4.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Empire Gardens Elementary

What grades does Empire Gardens Elementary serve?

Empire Gardens Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Empire Gardens Elementary?

Empire Gardens Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 226 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Empire Gardens Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Empire Gardens Elementary is 17.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Empire Gardens Elementary rank in CA?

Empire Gardens Elementary ranks #7,882 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Empire Gardens Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Empire Gardens Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Empire Gardens Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Empire Gardens Elementary has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Empire Gardens Elementary a charter school?

No, Empire Gardens Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Empire Gardens Elementary a Title I school?

No, Empire Gardens Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Empire Gardens Elementary?

76.1% of students at Empire Gardens 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
47 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
50 Good Transit
Bike Score
62 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
226
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
13
Free/Reduced Lunch
76.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Santa Clara County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
54.9%

District

San Jose Unified
District Enrollment
25,059
Schools in District
41
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,909
District Rank
#29 of 41

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