Excellent
#853 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 9% in state
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High
Middle School · Davis Joint Unified
2121 Calaveras Ave., Davis, CA 95616
Enrollment
488
Student-Teacher
17.4:1
Score
8.3
Grades
7th – 9th
Enrollment
488
Student-Teacher
17.4:1
Score
8.3
Grades
7th – 9th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Davis
#1 of 16
public schools
California middle schools
#87 of 1,349
In district
#1 of 16
Davis Joint Unified
Equity
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High is a public middle school in Davis, CA, part of the Davis Joint Unified. The school serves approximately 488 students in grades 7th – 9th with a student-teacher ratio of 17.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 91.1th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 70% proficiency in math, 36 points above the state average and 70% in reading/language arts, 23 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $74,758, where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High — Students at Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
12.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 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: 8.1/10.
How Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High Compares
See how Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 66% (2019) to 70.77% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 74% (2019) to 68.77% (2024).
Location
2121 Calaveras Ave., Davis, CA 95616
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High (rated 7.9/10, 2.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Fairfield Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 3.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, North Davis Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 1.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Davis, see our Davis schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Patwin Elementary Davis | 0.2 mi | 7.5 |
| TENDER LEARNING CARE Davis | 0.7 mi | — |
| Robert E. Willett Elementary Davis | 0.6 mi | 6.4 |
| Cesar Chavez Elementary Davis | 1.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Redbud Montessori Davis | 1.2 mi | — |
| Davis Waldorf School Davis | 1.4 mi | — |
| DAVIS WALDORF SCHOOL Davis | 1.4 mi | 6.5 |
| REDBUD MONTESSORI Davis | 1.3 mi | — |
| Grace Valley Christian Academy Davis | 1.4 mi | — |
| Davis Senior High Davis | 1.5 mi | 7.5 |
| ST JAMES SCHOOL Davis | 1.6 mi | 6.3 |
| King (Martin Luther) High (Continuation) Davis | 1.7 mi | 5.1 |
| Davis School for Independent Study Davis | 1.8 mi | 7.1 |
| North Davis Elementary Davis | 1.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High Davis | 2.2 mi | 7.9 |
| Da Vinci Charter Academy Davis | 2.3 mi | 6.2 |
| Birch Lane Elementary Davis | 2.8 mi | 5.8 |
| PEREGRINE SCHOOL Davis | 3.1 mi | 7.1 |
| Marguerite Montgomery Elementary Davis | 3.4 mi | 7.1 |
| Fairfield Elementary Davis | 3.5 mi | 7.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95616 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$74,758
Median Home Value
$856,900
Median Rent
$1,911/mo
Population
51,863
College Educated
75.3%
Homeownership
36.5%
Avg Commute
21.5 min
Poverty Rate
30.2%
Median Age
23.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High has a median household income of $74,758. It is a well-educated community where 75% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $856,900, with a median rent of $1,911/month. The area has a poverty rate of 30.2%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 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 |
|---|---|
| Ardis G. Egan Junior High Los Altos, CA | 8.3 |
| Claremont Middle Oakland, CA | 8.3 |
| Evergreen Middle Cottonwood, CA | 8.3 |
| Rancho Milpitas Middle Milpitas, CA | 8.3 |
| Alder Creek Middle Truckee, CA | 8.4 |
| Brown Jr. (Willie L) Middle San Francisco, CA | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High
What grades does Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High serve?
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High serves students in grades 7th through 9th.
How many students attend Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High?
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High has an enrollment of approximately 488 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High 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 Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High rank in CA?
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High is ranked #853 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High's MySchoolScout rating?
Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High has 69.7% math proficiency and 70.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High a charter school?
No, Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High a Title I school?
No, Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High?
12.9% of students at Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High 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
- 47 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 40 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 88 Very Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (2,437/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Davis). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 7th – 9th
- Enrollment
- 488
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 12.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Yolo County
- Phone
- (530) 757-5430
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Davis Joint Unified- District Enrollment
- 8,361
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,726
- District Rank
- #1 of 16
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
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