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Email BoardJames A. Whitaker Elementary
8401 Montana Street, Buena Park, CA 90621-3629
Summary
James A. Whitaker Elementary is badly underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 14th percentile among comparable California schools.
Only 23.7% of students met California's reading standard, but it is holding steady.
Math is weaker: 20.8% of students met California's math standard, and it is trending down.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 23.7% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 20.8% |
| Reading State Rank | 4,148/4,657 (11th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 3,897/4,657 (16th percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 18:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 559 |
| Low-Income Students | 517 (92.5%) |
| English Learners | 172 (30.8%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading fell 1.5 points from last year and rose 0.2 points over the full period. Math fell 5.9 points from last year and fell 6.6 points over the full period.
•Math -6.6 percentage points (2024–2026)Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Asian and White students have the strongest results.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the reading standard ranges from 19.1% to 31.0% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank No. 4,148 of 4,657 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
Results for both income groups are unavailable, so a current reading gap cannot be calculated.
•English Learners vs English Native
9.9% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 23.6% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results fell and English-only results fell.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Asian students have the strongest math results at about 50% proficiency. The other reported groups range from about 17% to 38%.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the math standard ranges from 16.0% to 23.8% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank No. 3,897 of 4,657 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
Results for both income groups are unavailable, so a current math gap cannot be calculated.
•English Learners vs English Native
14.1% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 18.6% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results fell and English-only results fell.
•Progress as students move up
2023–2026
How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 1,832 schools for reading and 1,839 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California K–5 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does James A. Whitaker Elementary compare within the district?
James A. Whitaker Elementary is No. 5 in both reading and math proficiency among the 5 K–5 schools in Buena Park Elementary with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does James A. Whitaker Elementary rank in California?
James A. Whitaker Elementary ranks No. 4,148 of 4,657 in reading and No. 3,897 of 4,657 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at James A. Whitaker Elementary compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 5 in both subjects among 5 K–5 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 23.3% meet the reading standard and 19.9% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does James A. Whitaker Elementary compare with other schools in Buena Park?
James A. Whitaker Elementary is No. 5 in both reading and math proficiency among the 5 K–5 schools in Buena Park with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Buena ParkHow does James A. Whitaker Elementary compare with other schools in Orange County?
James A. Whitaker Elementary is No. 115 in reading and No. 112 in math proficiency among the 125 K–5 schools in Orange County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Orange CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving K–5 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| James A. Whitaker ElementaryThis school | 20.8% | 23.7% |
| Arthur F. Corey Elementary | 48.0% | 51.3% |
| Carl E. Gilbert Elementary | 27.2% | 28.6% |
