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Excellent

#368 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 4% in state

Thomas Paine Elementary

Elementary School · Garden Grove Unified · Garden Grove, CA

A Garden Grove Unified elementary school where students score 41 points above what's typical for similar communities.

15792 Ward St., Garden Grove, CA 92843

  • Math 67% vs CA 38% (2024)
  • Reading 74% vs CA 45% (2024)
  • 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change+0.08 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67.1% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency74.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+21.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+31.4 pts
Overall Proficiency71% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)29% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+41.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment6.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.6:1
District spending per student$20,026
Chronic Absenteeism29.8%

Students at Thomas Paine Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency67%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
38%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency74%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
45%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency has held near 71% across the 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
78%
ELA
59%
2010
Math
80%
ELA
63%
2011
Math
78%
ELA
58%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
59%
2014
Math
50%
ELA
56%
2015
Math
64%
ELA
70%
2016
Math
63%
ELA
69%
2017
Math
65%
ELA
69%
2018
Math
66%
ELA
69%
2019
Math
66%
ELA
69%
2022
Math
64%
ELA
69%
2024
Math
67%
ELA
74%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

79.7%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Thomas Paine 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 Los Angeles map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 50Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 41Some Transit
  • Bike 70Very Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,050/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Garden Grove), 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

$82,009

Median home value

$665,900

Median rent

$1,878/mo

College educated

18.5%

Homeownership

49%

Poverty rate

14.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92843; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian SchoolPrivate · tuition5.3PK–60.5 mi83Compare →
Bethel Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuition7.6PK–120.5 mi83Compare →
St Barbara SchoolPrivate · tuition6.6K–80.5 mi189Compare →
St. Barbara ElementaryPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–80.5 mi162Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Garden Grove Unified

Schools in district
66
Rank in district
#5 of 64
District spending per student
$20,026NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
17.2%Census SAIPE · 2024

Thomas Paine Elementary is listed in Garden Grove Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Thomas Paine Elementary

Thomas Paine Elementary is a public elementary school in Garden Grove, CA, part of Garden Grove Unified, serving approximately 429 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #368 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Thomas Paine Elementary

Sources:School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.Reviewed for accuracy.

Thomas Paine Elementary School is located at 15792 Ward St., Garden Grove, CA 92843, and operates under the GGUSD district 1. The school has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and a California Distinguished School 1. It is also designated as a Special Olympics of Southern California United Champion School 1. Mrs. Charise Santana serves as the principal 1. The school's educational focus aligns with district goals regarding academic skills, personal skills, and lifelong success 1. Recent activities include student performances at the 2025 Winter Concert and a Pancakes with Santa event 1. The school community celebrates events such as Teacher Appreciation Week, trimester awards, and 6th-grade promotions 1. Parents are required to confirm student data via the Parent Portal for returning students 1.
Sources (1)
  1. paine.ggusd.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Thomas Paine Elementary

What grades does Thomas Paine Elementary serve?

Thomas Paine Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Thomas Paine Elementary?

Thomas Paine Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 429 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Paine Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Paine Elementary is 22.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thomas Paine Elementary rank in CA?

Thomas Paine Elementary ranks #368 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Thomas Paine Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Thomas Paine Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Thomas Paine Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas Paine Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Thomas Paine Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Thomas Paine Elementary a Title I school?

No, Thomas Paine Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas Paine Elementary?

79.7% of students at Thomas Paine 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 – 6th
Enrollment
429
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.8%
Area population (ZIP 92843)
46,553
Area average commute
27.6 min
Area median age
38.3
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 92843; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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