Whittier Elementary School

1800 Whittier Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(School attendance zone shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 476 students in grades Kindergarten-6, Whittier Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 23% (which is lower than the California state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 30% (which is lower than the California state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is lower than the California state level of 22:1.
Minority enrollment is 99% 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-6
  • Enrollment: 476 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 20:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 99%
  • : Bottom 50% in CA
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 30% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Whittier Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

Whittier Elementary School's student population of 476 students has declined by 23% over five school years.
The teacher population of 24 teachers has declined by 14% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-6
Total Students
476 students
This chart displays total students of Whittier Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Whittier Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
24 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Whittier Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Whittier Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Whittier 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 Whittier Elementary School is 0.06, 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)
#6308 out of 9602 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Whittier Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
23%
33%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Whittier 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.
30%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Whittier 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
20:1
22:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Whittier Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
n/a
12%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Whittier Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Hispanic
97%
55%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Whittier Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
n/a
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Whittier Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in California by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
White
1%
21%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Whittier Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in California by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
2%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Whittier 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 Whittier Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in California.
0.06
This chart displays the diversity score of Whittier 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
81%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Whittier 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
10%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Whittier 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 Whittier Elementary School's ranking?
Whittier Elementary School is ranked #6308 out of 9,602 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in California.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
23% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 33% CA state average), while 30% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).
How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?
476 students attend Whittier Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
97% of Whittier Elementary School students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are White.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Whittier Elementary School?
Whittier Elementary School has a student ration of 20:1, which is lower than the California state average of 22:1.
What grades does Whittier Elementary School offer ?
Whittier Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-6
What school district is Whittier Elementary School part of?
Whittier Elementary School is part of Newport-Mesa Unified School District.
In what neighborhood is Whittier Elementary School located?
Whittier Elementary School is located in the Westside Costa Mesa neighborhood of Costa Mesa, CA. There are 4 other public schools located in Westside Costa Mesa.

School Reviews

Review Whittier Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

College Application Requirement for High School Graduation? DC Weighs Possibility
College Application Requirement for High School Graduation? DC Weighs Possibility
The article discusses a proposal in Washington D.C. to make college applications a requirement for high school graduation. It examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a policy, including its impact on graduation rates and college attendance. The piece also considers similar initiatives in other states and the debate surrounding this approach
Bribing Students to Get Good Grades: The Debate
Bribing Students to Get Good Grades: The Debate
This piece explores the controversial practice of offering monetary rewards to students for good grades. It examines studies conducted in various cities, discussing the effectiveness of such programs and the ethical concerns they raise. The article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of this approach to student motivation.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 476 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 20:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 99%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 30% (Btm 50%)
  • : 10-14% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links