Jaime Escalante Elementary

Jaime Escalante Elementary earns a composite score of 9.1 out of 10 — an Exceptional rating that places it among the strongest schools in California. Serving 492 students in kindergarten through sixth grade in Cudahy, this public elementary school ranks 184th out of 9,533 public schools statewide, outperforming 98% of California schools across all levels and grade spans. The data behind that rank is striking.

Academic performance scores 8.9 out of 10, but growth is where Escalante separates itself — a 9.9 out of 10, meaning students here make measurably faster academic progress than their peers at nearly every other school in California. A student-to-teacher ratio of 23.4 to 1 reflects a standard public school class size, which makes those growth results even more notable. Schools with similar ratios rarely post growth scores this high.

Within Cudahy, Escalante holds the second spot among five local public schools. Zoom out to the state's elementary school landscape and it ranks 153rd of 5,817 — a top 3% finish. For families weighing options in the Cudahy area, the school's combination of strong academics and exceptional student growth puts it in a different tier than most neighborhood alternatives.

The student-teacher ratio at Jaime Escalante Elementary is 23.4:1, 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.