Empire Union Elementary School District

116 North Mcclure Rd.
Modesto, CA 95357-1329
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 2,217 students in Empire Union Elementary School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Empire Union Elementary School District have an average math proficiency score of 23% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
6 Schools
7,693 Schools
# Students
2,818 Students
3,822,438 Students
# Teachers
125 Teachers
173,961 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
23:1
23:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Empire Union Elementary School District, which is ranked #1409 of all 1,908 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#1420 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
21%
34%
31%
47%
20%
29%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.50
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
5%
12%
% Hispanic
69%
55%
% Black
4%
5%
% White
17%
21%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,465 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,976. The school district revenue/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,188 is less than the state median of $18,397. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
This School District
This State (CA)
Total Revenue
$52 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$43 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,465
$19,976
Spending / Student
$15,188
$18,397

Best Empire Union Elementary School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Alice N. Stroud Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
815 Frazine Rd.
Modesto, CA 95357
(209) 491-0754
Gr: K-6 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Christine Sipherd Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3420 East Orangeburg Ave.
Modesto, CA 95355
(209) 524-4844
Gr: K-6 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #33.
Capistrano Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
400 Capistrano Dr.
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 521-8664
Gr: K-6 | 468 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #44.
Bernard L. Hughes Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
512 North Mcclure Rd.
Modesto, CA 95357
(209) 527-1330
Gr: K-6 | 474 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #55.
Empire Elementary School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5201 First St
Empire, CA 95319
(209) 521-2970
Gr: K-6 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 90%

Recent Articles

Preventing Suicide in Schools: 2026 Guide for Educators
Preventing Suicide in Schools: 2026 Guide for Educators
Learn updated 2026 strategies for preventing suicide in schools, including warning signs, intervention plans, and school-wide mental health support.
The Impact of Social Media on Students (2026 Update)
The Impact of Social Media on Students (2026 Update)
Explore the impact of social media on students in 2026, including academic, mental health, and safety insights for parents and educators.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: K-08
  • Enrollment: 2,818 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 83%
  • : Bottom 50% in CA
  • : 21% (Btm 50%)
  • : 31% (Btm 50%)
  • : 20% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links