Best Public Schools in Zip Code 95206

The 95206 zip code area in Stockton, California is home to 28 schools spanning elementary, high school, and alternative education, across three main school districts - Stockton Unified, Manteca Unified, and Venture Academy District. While many schools face challenges, a few standouts demonstrate that high-need student populations can achieve strong academic outcomes with the right approaches.

Venture Academy, a public charter school serving grades K-12, has impressive performance metrics, including an 89.5% 4-year graduation rate and only 7.5% dropout rate. Their test scores also exceed district and state averages in many areas. Similarly, Weston Ranch High in the Manteca Unified district and Edward C. Merlo Institute of Environmental Studies in Stockton Unified both demonstrate strong graduation rates and lower dropout levels compared to their peers.

However, the data also reveals significant challenges and inequities across many of the 95206 schools. Graduation rates range from 23.9% to 98.2%, and dropout rates from 1.8% to 45.6%. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, with rates as high as 57.6%. Academic performance on state assessments is generally low, with most schools falling below state averages in English and Math. These disparities likely stem from the high rates of economic disadvantage, with most schools serving student populations where over 90% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Addressing these systemic challenges will require a multi-faceted approach to improve student support, resource allocation, and instructional quality across the 95206 area.