Average
#6481 of 9,539 schools in CA
Foster Elementary
Elementary School · San Diego Unified · San Diego, CA
A San Diego Unified elementary school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.
6550 51st St., San Diego, CA 92120
- Math 31% vs CA 39% (2024)
- Reading 31% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Foster Elementary score 31% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 18 points since 2018, to 31% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
53%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Foster Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Diego map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 73Very Walkable
- Transit 31Some Transit
- Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,092/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (San Diego), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$114,579
Median home value
$870,200
Median rent
$2,416/mo
College educated
57.2%
Homeownership
64.3%
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92120; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 549 | Compare → |
| St Therese AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 309 | Compare → |
| Hearst ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 530 | Compare → |
| Nazareth School, San DiegoPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | PK–8 | 1.4 mi | 265 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
San Diego Unified
- Schools in district
- 175
- Rank in district
- #135 of 174
- District spending per student
- $20,828NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Foster Elementary is listed in San Diego Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Foster Elementary
Foster Elementary is a public elementary school in San Diego, CA, part of San Diego Unified, serving approximately 502 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #6,481 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Foster Elementary
What grades does Foster Elementary serve?
Foster Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Foster Elementary?
Foster Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 502 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Foster Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Foster Elementary is 20.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Foster Elementary rank in CA?
Foster Elementary ranks #6,481 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Foster Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Foster Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 Foster Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Foster Elementary has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Foster Elementary a charter school?
No, Foster Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Foster Elementary a Title I school?
No, Foster Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Foster Elementary?
53.0% of students at Foster 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 502
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.7%
- Phone
- (619) 510-4100
- Area population (ZIP 92120)
- 31,797
- Area average commute
- 24.6 min
- Area median age
- 37.1
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92120; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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