James A. Whitaker Elementary School

8401 Montana St.
Buena Park, CA 90621
(School attendance zone shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 639 students in grades Kindergarten-5, James A. Whitaker Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 32% (which is lower than the California state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 27% (which is lower than the California state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 24:1 is higher than the California state level of 22:1.
Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the California state average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 639 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 24:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 96%
  • : Bottom 50% in CA
  • : 32% (Top 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

James A. Whitaker Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

James A. Whitaker Elementary School's student population of 639 students has grown by 23% over five school years.
The teacher population of 27 teachers has grown by 28% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-5
Total Students
639 students
This chart displays total students of James A. Whitaker Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of James A. Whitaker Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
27 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of James A. Whitaker Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of James A. Whitaker Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

James A. Whitaker Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 9,602 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of James A. Whitaker Elementary School is 0.37, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.64. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (CA)
#5749 out of 9602 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of James A. Whitaker Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
32%
33%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
27%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
10-14%
29%
Student : Teacher Ratio
24:1
22:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and percentage of American Indian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Asian
8%
12%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
79%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
3%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
4%
21%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
1%
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of Hawaiian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2009-10 school year data.
Two or more races
4%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in James A. Whitaker Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in California.
0.37
This chart displays the diversity score of James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Free Lunch
77%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
12%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in James A. Whitaker Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is James A. Whitaker Elementary School's ranking?
James A. Whitaker Elementary School is ranked #5749 out of 9,602 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in California.
What schools are James A. Whitaker Elementary School often compared to?
James A. Whitaker Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Mabel L. Pendleton Elementary School, Gordon H. Beatty Middle School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
32% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 33% CA state average), while 27% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).
How many students attend James A. Whitaker Elementary School?
639 students attend James A. Whitaker Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
79% of James A. Whitaker Elementary School students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Asian, 4% of students are White, 4% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Black, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of James A. Whitaker Elementary School?
James A. Whitaker Elementary School has a student ration of 24:1, which is higher than the California state average of 22:1.
What grades does James A. Whitaker Elementary School offer ?
James A. Whitaker Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5
What school district is James A. Whitaker Elementary School part of?
James A. Whitaker Elementary School is part of Buena Park Elementary School District.

School Reviews

2   6/21/2022
this school is safe and nice location teachers are nice and friendly principal so kind I am so happy to choose this school for my kid.
- Posted by Parent - Davann Heng

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 639 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 24:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 96%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 32% (Top 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

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