Is Peggy Heller Elementary a good school?

Peggy Heller Elementary ranks 2509 th of 5862 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Peggy Heller Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 707 students attended Peggy Heller Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Peggy Heller Elementary?

Students at Peggy Heller Elementary are 71% Hispanic, 21% White, 4% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Peggy Heller Elementary attend?

Students who attend Peggy Heller Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Mitchell Intermediate High : Buhach Colony High

Peggy Heller Elementary

Summary:

Peggy Heller Elementary is a public K-8 school in Atwater, California, serving 707 students. The school consistently outperforms the Atwater Elementary School District and the state of California in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency, particularly among its Hispanic and English Language Learner student populations. However, the school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, which could impact its overall academic performance if not addressed.

Compared to other schools in the area, Peggy Heller Elementary generally outperforms the other Atwater Elementary District schools, but the nearby Frank Sparkes Elementary, which is part of the Winton School District, consistently outperforms Peggy Heller and the Atwater district in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. This suggests that factors beyond just the school district, such as school-specific programs and practices, may be contributing to the academic success of Frank Sparkes Elementary.

Peggy Heller Elementary also faces challenges related to its high percentage of students from low-income families, ranging from 62.09% to 64.21% over the past three school years. Implementing targeted programs and strategies to address the unique needs of this population, such as providing access to resources, social-emotional support, and family engagement initiatives, could be beneficial for the school and its students.

Detail:

Public K-8

201 Lake View Dr.
Atwater, CA 95301-4769

(209) 357-6517

District: Atwater Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
2509^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $3,809

Students who attend Peggy Heller Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Mitchell Intermediate
High:	Buhach Colony High

Student/teacher ratio: 22.5

Number of students: 707

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

71.3%

White:

20.5%

Asian:

4.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 65.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Peggy Heller Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Peggy Heller Elementary ranks better than 57.2% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 4^th among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Atwater Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.91. (See more...)

Compare Details Peggy Heller Elementary ranks better than 65.2% of middle schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.73. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Peggy Heller Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Atwater Elementary School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (71.3%), White (20.5%), Asian (4.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 65.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Atwater Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Peggy Heller Elementary is 22.5, which is the 2^nd best among 7 elementary schools in the Atwater Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Peggy Heller Elementary employs 31.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Peggy Heller Elementary is $3,809, which is the lowest among 7 elementary schools in the Atwater Elementary School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Peggy Heller Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Peggy Heller Elementary 2509^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Peggy Heller Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Peggy Heller Elementary 967^th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Peggy Heller Elementary in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Atwater Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Atwater Elementary 737^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Peggy Heller Elementary

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	53.43	1991^st	4809	58.6%
2005	51.78	2104^th	4822	56.4%
2006	55.89	1920^th	4818	60.1%
2007	58.98	1874^th	5113	63.3%
2008	68.32	1485^th	5113	71.0%
2009	61.27	1857^th	5193	64.2%
2010	67.03	1627^th	5314	69.4%
2011	64.79	1762^nd	5377	67.2%
2012	65.85	1740^th	5390	67.7%
2013	69.27	1610^th	5530	70.9%
2015	51.66	2360^th	5611	57.9%
2016	57.27	2118^th	5614	62.3%
2017	66.29	1736^th	5692	69.5%
2018	59.99	2040^th	5662	64.0%
2019	62.59	1936^th	5789	66.6%
2022	66.94	1740^th	5883	70.4%
2023	61.87	1966^th	5874	66.5%
2024	50.91	2509^th	5862	57.2%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school English Language Learner students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	51.06	1203^rd	3246	62.9%
2019	49.93	1254^th	3275	61.7%
2022	57.96	843^rd	3311	74.5%
2023	40.35	1788^th	3250	45.0%
2024	60.76	696^th	3160	78.0%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	68.87	495^th	2420	79.5%
2024	53.03	885^th	2634	66.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	62.85	1579^th	5084	68.9%
2019	62.10	1622^nd	5173	68.6%
2022	66.64	1332^nd	5264	74.7%
2023	63.32	1553^rd	5374	71.1%
2024	53.22	2172^nd	5511	60.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	64.04	1793^rd	5413	66.9%
2019	67.38	1632^nd	5492	70.3%
2022	60.79	1903^rd	5635	66.2%
2023	57.10	2083^rd	5617	62.9%
2024	45.55	2684^th	5605	52.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Disabled students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	34.06	1261^st	2128	40.7%
2019	45.85	1107^th	2585	57.2%
2022	81.43	277^th	2227	87.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	55.07	2169^th	5431	60.1%
2019	57.12	2079^th	5510	62.3%
2022	69.68	1548^th	5663	72.7%
2023	64.73	1739^th	5650	69.2%
2024	55.44	2197^th	5636	61.0%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	71.45	1070^th	4830	77.8%
2019	76.50	857^th	4963	82.7%
2022	74.97	933^rd	5084	81.6%
2023	72.38	1061^st	5098	79.2%
2024	57.80	1796^th	5102	64.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	45.98	1634^th	2737	40.3%
2019	46.29	1670^th	2834	41.1%
2022	60.43	1144^th	2726	58.0%
2023	48.93	1458^th	2662	45.2%
2024	50.27	1398^th	2647	47.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Peggy Heller Elementary

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Rank History for all middle school students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	62.22	861^st	2715	68.3%
2022	64.04	800^th	2740	70.8%
2023	63.90	796^th	2802	71.6%
2024	56.73	967^th	2777	65.2%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	45.78	642^nd	1550	58.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	66.93	567^th	2369	76.1%
2022	63.62	650^th	2458	73.6%
2023	62.89	679^th	2549	73.4%
2024	63.61	670^th	2575	74.0%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	68.43	661^st	2380	72.2%
2022	62.23	772^nd	2509	69.2%
2023	52.38	1003^rd	2547	60.6%
2024	48.31	1108^th	2546	56.5%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	60.37	397^th	1531	74.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	52.45	976^th	2407	59.5%
2022	63.56	739^th	2527	70.8%
2023	72.23	580^th	2558	77.3%
2024	62.32	770^th	2547	69.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	78.85	328^th	2213	85.2%
2022	75.05	395^th	2359	83.3%
2023	67.25	581^st	2391	75.7%
2024	62.83	665^th	2383	72.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Peggy Heller Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	41.74	921^st	1602	42.5%
2022	59.57	593^rd	1555	61.9%
2023	70.03	421^st	1552	72.9%
2024	51.21	726^th	1535	52.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Peggy Heller Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1995	226	27	59	131	0	n/a	n/a	0	443
1996	226	27	59	131	0	n/a	n/a	0	443
1997	259	31	65	176	0	n/a	n/a	0	531
1998	288	32	58	170	0	n/a	n/a	0	548
1999	278	33	57	196	0	n/a	n/a	0	564
2000	290	28	33	189	0	n/a	n/a	0	540
2001	273	17	56	175	0	n/a	n/a	18	539
2002	262	28	44	192	2	n/a	n/a	0	528
2003	262	28	44	192	2	n/a	n/a	0	528
2004	242	39	39	199	2	n/a	n/a	18	539
2005	240	26	43	218	0	n/a	n/a	0	527
2006	246	22	42	232	2	n/a	n/a	1	545
2007	227	24	42	258	3	n/a	n/a	0	554
2008	202	22	31	256	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	511
2009	198	19	24	274	3	5	5	0	528
2010	148	12	21	193	0	0	0	0	374
2011	143	14	22	238	0	0	0	0	417
2012	155	14	16	276	1	0	10	0	472
2013	172	12	24	303	3	0	12	0	526
2014	164	12	24	338	3	0	18	0	559
2015	154	10	24	331	5	1	18	0	543
2016	161	8	26	359	5	0	18	0	577
2017	157	7	28	363	4	0	16	0	575
2018	150	9	27	369	4	0	14	0	573
2019	173	9	32	420	7	0	24	0	665
2020	191	14	37	470	8	2	26	0	748
2021	179	11	32	484	7	3	22	0	738
2022	171	6	29	493	5	0	24	0	728
2023	151	5	31	498	3	0	19	0	707
2024	145	4	30	504	2	0	22	0	707

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Peggy Heller Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	443	16.1	27.5	50.8
1996	443	16.1	27.5	50.8
1997	531	24.0	22.1	45.8
1998	548	25.5	21.5	49.6
1999	564	23.0	24.5	49.6
2000	540	25.5	21.2	43
2001	539	25.6	21.1	39.3
2002	528	27.5	19.2	44.7
2003	528	27.5	19.2	44.7
2004	539	25.4	21.2	44.5
2005	527	26.4	20.0	51.8
2006	545	24.1	22.6	50.2
2007	554	25.0	22.2	53.1
2008	511	26.0	19.7	54
2009	528	23.0	22.0	57.8
2010	374	16.0	23.3	58.6
2011	417	n/a	n/a	65.5
2012	472	18.0	26.2	n/a
2013	526	20.0	26.3	67.9
2014	559	23.0	24.3	62.1
2015	543	21.0	25.8	66.9
2016	577	22.0	26.2	66.6
2017	575	19.0	30.2	61.9
2018	573	23.0	24.9	63.5
2019	665	28.1	23.6	59.4
2020	748	n/a	n/a	61.6
2021	738	33.0	22.3	64.1
2022	728	33.8	21.5	62.1
2023	707	31.9	22.1	64.2
2024	707	31.3	22.5	65.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Peggy Heller Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1995	443	16.1	27.5	50.8
1996	443	16.1	27.5	50.8
1997	531	24.0	22.1	45.8
1998	548	25.5	21.5	49.6
1999	564	23.0	24.5	49.6
2000	540	25.5	21.2	43
2001	539	25.6	21.1	39.3
2002	528	27.5	19.2	44.7
2003	528	27.5	19.2	44.7
2004	539	25.4	21.2	44.5
2005	527	26.4	20.0	51.8
2006	545	24.1	22.6	50.2
2007	554	25.0	22.2	53.1
2008	511	26.0	19.7	54
2009	528	23.0	22.0	57.8
2010	374	16.0	23.3	58.6
2011	417	n/a	n/a	65.5
2012	472	18.0	26.2	n/a
2013	526	20.0	26.3	67.9
2014	559	23.0	24.3	62.1
2015	543	21.0	25.8	66.9
2016	577	22.0	26.2	66.6
2017	575	19.0	30.2	61.9
2018	573	23.0	24.9	63.5
2019	665	28.1	23.6	59.4
2020	748	n/a	n/a	61.6
2021	738	33.0	22.3	64.1
2022	728	33.8	21.5	62.1
2023	707	31.9	22.1	64.2
2024	707	31.3	22.5	65.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates