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Birney Elementary School

4345 Campus Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103

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10/

Top 10%

Tel: (619) 497-3500

birney.sandiegounified.org

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SAVE SCHOOL

Serving 535 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Birney Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).

The percentage of students achieving is 66% (which is higher than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 77% (which is higher than the California state average of 47%).

The student-teacher ratio of 24:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.

Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 535 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1
Minority Enrollment: 62%
: Top 10% in CA
: 66% (Top 10%)
: 77% (Top 10%)
: 65-69% (Top 5%)
: Birney Elementary serves the southern part of San Diego, CA, covering an area of approximately 2.7 square miles. Families within this zone can typically expect a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with the furthest edge being about 2.3 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

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

School Overview

Birney Elementary School's student population of 535 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 22 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Birney Elementary School
Kind	108
1	88
2	90
3	90
4	91
5	68

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Total Students

535 students

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School
2025	535
2024	535
2023	501
2022	513
2021	538
2020	560
2019	544
2018	538
2017	560
2015	565
2014	566
2013	565
2012	498
2011	457
2010	407
2009	371
2008	338
2007	306
2006	322
2005	472
2004	551
2003	572
2002	645
2001	633
2000	593
1999	737
1998	796
1997	888
1996	846
1995	861
1994	944
1993	885
1992	813
1991	772
1990	719
1989	685
1988	681
1987	642

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Total Classroom Teachers

22 teachers

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Showing 2014–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School
2025	22
2024	22
2023	21
2022	22
2021	22
2019	21
2018	21
2017	23
2015	21
2014	22
2013	25
2012	24
2010	23
2009	26
2008	26
2007	25
2006	26
2005	31
2004	32
2003	35
2002	33
2001	33
2000	31
1999	35
1998	41
1997	37
1996	33
1995	33
1994	34
1993	32
1992	29
1991	28
1990	28
1989	26
1988	25
1987	27

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School Motto

Think globally, learn locally!

School Rankings

Birney Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Birney Elementary School is 0.72, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (CA)

#723 out of 9523 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Birney Elementary School
2023	#723
2022	#628
2019	#1211
2018	#1437
2017	#1174
2016	#1518
2015	#1522
2013	#1564
2012	#1714
2011	#1170
2010	#1751

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66%

34%

View Data

Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2023	66%	34%	43%
2022	69%	33%	41%
2019	69%	40%	48%
2018	66%	39%	47%
2017	64%	38%	43%
2016	61%	37%	44%
2015	52%	34%	41%
2013	78%	59%	63%
2012	81%	59%	60%
2011	82%	58%	58%
2010	72%	56%	56%

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77%

47%

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Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2022	77%	47%	53%
2019	69%	51%	57%
2018	65%	50%	47%
2017	69%	48%	54%
2016	64%	48%	55%
2015	62%	44%	51%
2013	70%	57%	61%
2012	67%	58%	61%
2011	72%	56%	59%
2010	67%	54%	56%

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65-69%

29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

24:1

21:1

View Data

Showing 2014–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	24:1	21:1
2024	24:1	22:1
2023	24:1	22:1	22:1
2022	23:1	22:1	22:1
2021	24:1	22:1	23:1
2019	26:1	23:1	23:1
2018	26:1	23:1	23:1
2017	24:1	23:1	23:1
2015	27:1	24:1	23:1
2014	26:1	24:1	24:1
2013	23:1	24:1	20:1
2012	21:1	23:1	20:1
2010	18:1	21:1	20:1
2009	14:1	20:1	20:1
2008	13:1	18:1	17:1
2007	12:1	21:1	19:1
2006	12:1	20:1	19:1
2005	15:1	21:1	20:1
2004	17:1	21:1	19:1
2003	16:1	20:1	20:1
2002	20:1	20:1	20:1
2001	19:1	20:1	20:1
2000	19:1	21:1	20:1
1999	21:1	21:1	21:1
1998	19:1	21:1	21:1
1997	24:1	23:1	23:1
1996	26:1	25:1	24:1
1995	26:1	25:1	25:1
1994	28:1	25:1	25:1
1993	28:1	25:1	24:1
1992	28:1	24:1	25:1
1991	28:1	24:1	25:1
1990	26:1	24:1	25:1
1989	26:1	24:1	25:1
1988	27:1	24:1	25:1
1987	24:1	24:1	24:1

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American Indian

View Data

Showing 2006–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	1%	1%
2024	1%	1%
2023	1%	1%
2022	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%	1%
2000	1%	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%	1%
1998	1%	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%	1%
1996	1%	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%	1%
1994	1%	1%	1%
1991	1%	1%	1%
1990	1%	1%

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Asian

12%

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	4%	12%
2024	4%	12%
2023	2%	12%	14%
2022	4%	12%	14%
2021	5%	12%	15%
2020	4%	12%	15%
2019	3%	12%	15%
2018	3%	12%	14%
2017	3%	11%	14%
2015	2%	11%	15%
2014	3%	11%	14%
2013	4%	11%	14%
2012	5%	11%	14%
2011	4%	11%	14%
2010	6%	11%	15%
2009	8%	11%	16%
2008	6%	12%	16%
2007	9%	12%	17%
2006	7%	12%	17%
2005	8%	12%	17%
2004	7%	12%	18%
2003	7%	12%	18%
2002	7%	11%	18%
2001	7%	11%	18%
2000	6%	11%	18%
1999	6%	11%	18%
1998	6%	11%	19%
1997	5%	11%	19%
1996	4%	11%	19%
1995	3%	11%	20%
1994	5%	11%	20%
1993	6%	11%	19%
1992	7%	11%	19%
1991	7%	11%	19%
1990	8%	10%	20%
1989	12%	10%	20%
1988	17%	10%	19%

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Hispanic

33%

56%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	33%	56%
2024	36%	56%
2023	38%	55%	46%
2022	36%	56%	46%
2021	37%	56%	45%
2020	35%	55%	45%
2019	33%	55%	45%
2018	34%	54%	48%
2017	37%	54%	48%
2015	40%	54%	47%
2014	41%	53%	47%
2013	42%	53%	47%
2012	42%	52%	46%
2011	45%	51%	46%
2010	46%	50%	46%
2009	46%	49%	45%
2008	51%	50%	44%
2007	53%	49%	44%
2006	57%	48%	44%
2005	65%	47%	43%
2004	65%	46%	42%
2003	62%	45%	41%
2002	58%	44%	40%
2001	54%	43%	39%
2000	55%	42%	37%
1999	55%	41%	36%
1998	52%	40%	35%
1997	44%	40%	35%
1996	42%	39%	33%
1995	43%	38%	32%
1994	37%	37%	31%
1993	35%	36%	30%
1992	34%	35%	29%
1991	29%	34%	27%
1990	25%	33%	25%
1989	26%	31%	23%
1988	23%	30%	22%

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Black

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	9%	5%
2024	9%	5%
2023	10%	5%	9%
2022	10%	5%	9%
2021	9%	5%	9%
2020	9%	5%	9%
2019	12%	5%	9%
2018	13%	5%	9%
2017	14%	6%	9%
2015	15%	6%	10%
2014	14%	6%	10%
2013	16%	6%	10%
2012	15%	6%	11%
2011	16%	7%	11%
2010	16%	7%	12%
2009	21%	7%	13%
2008	18%	8%	14%
2007	17%	8%	13%
2006	15%	8%	13%
2005	12%	8%	14%
2004	12%	8%	14%
2003	15%	8%	15%
2002	19%	9%	16%
2001	21%	9%	16%
2000	19%	9%	17%
1999	19%	9%	17%
1998	22%	9%	17%
1997	26%	9%	17%
1996	24%	9%	17%
1995	23%	9%	17%
1994	24%	9%	17%
1993	23%	9%	16%
1992	21%	9%	16%
1991	21%	8%	16%
1990	20%	9%	16%
1989	15%	9%	16%
1988	13%	9%	16%

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White

38%

20%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	38%	20%
2024	35%	20%
2023	33%	21%	23%
2022	35%	21%	22%
2021	35%	22%	22%
2020	36%	22%	23%
2019	36%	23%	23%
2018	36%	23%	22%
2017	36%	24%	22%
2015	35%	25%	22%
2014	34%	25%	23%
2013	31%	25%	23%
2012	30%	26%	23%
2011	25%	27%	24%
2010	23%	27%	24%
2009	23%	28%	25%
2008	24%	29%	25%
2007	20%	30%	25%
2006	20%	31%	25%
2005	14%	32%	25%
2004	16%	33%	26%
2003	15%	34%	25%
2002	15%	35%	25%
2001	17%	36%	26%
2000	19%	37%	27%
1999	19%	38%	28%
1998	19%	39%	28%
1997	24%	39%	28%
1996	29%	40%	30%
1995	30%	41%	30%
1994	33%	42%	31%
1993	36%	43%	34%
1992	38%	44%	35%
1991	42%	46%	37%
1990	46%	47%	39%
1989	47%	49%	41%
1988	47%	50%	43%

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Two or more races

15%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 16-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2010-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	15%	6%
2024	15%	6%
2023	16%	6%	8%
2022	14%	5%	9%
2021	14%	5%	9%
2020	15%	5%	8%
2019	15%	4%	8%
2018	14%	4%	7%
2017	10%	4%	7%
2015	7%	3%	6%
2014	8%	3%	5%
2013	7%	3%	5%
2012	7%	3%	5%
2011	10%	3%	4%
2010	8%	3%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

62%

80%

0.72

0.63

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	0.72	0.63
2024	0.72	0.63
2023	0.72	0.64	0.71
2022	0.72	0.63	0.71
2021	0.72	0.62	0.72
2020	0.72	0.64	0.72
2019	0.73	0.63	0.72
2018	0.72	0.64	0.70
2017	0.71	0.64	0.70
2015	0.70	0.64	0.69
2014	0.70	0.65	0.70
2013	0.70	0.65	0.70
2012	0.71	0.65	0.71
2011	0.70	0.66	0.71
2010	0.71	0.67	0.70
2009	0.69	0.67	0.70
2008	0.65	0.65	0.70
2007	0.65	0.66	0.70
2006	0.61	0.66	0.71
2005	0.54	0.66	0.71
2004	0.54	0.67	0.71
2003	0.57	0.67	0.72
2002	0.61	0.67	0.72
2001	0.64	0.67	0.73
2000	0.63	0.67	0.73
1999	0.63	0.67	0.74
1998	0.65	0.67	0.74
1997	0.69	0.67	0.74
1996	0.69	0.67	0.74
1995	0.68	0.67	0.74
1994	0.70	0.67	0.74
1993	0.70	0.67	0.74
1992	0.70	0.67	0.74
1991	0.70	0.66	0.73
1990	0.69	0.66	0.73
1989	0.68	0.65	0.72
1988	0.69	0.65	0.71

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(22-23)

16.3%

27.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2023	16.3%	27.7%	28.2%
2022	26%	33%	36.3%
2021	12%	15.4%	15.3%

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Eligible for

34%

54%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1992-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	34%	54%
2024	33%	54%
2023	32%	51%	47%
2022	33%	51%	46%
2021	32%	53%	46%
2020	34%	52%	48%
2019	37%	52%	48%
2018	38%	53%	50%
2017	41%	49%	50%
2015	43%	50%	49%
2014	44%	49%	47%
2013	42%	48%	55%
2011	57%	46%	55%
2010	59%	46%	57%
2009	60%	43%	53%
2008	64%	41%	52%
2007	64%	40%	50%
2006	71%	40%	50%
2005	72%	40%	43%
2004	70%	40%	41%
2003	71%	39%	46%
2002	76%	39%	50%
2001	60%	39%	35%
2000	70%	40%	50%
1999	73%	40%	48%
1998	90%	47%	60%
1997	88%	47%	63%
1996	87%	46%	64%
1995	74%	45%	53%
1994	79%	43%	59%
1993	77%	41%	49%
1992	70%	38%	49%

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Eligible for

12%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Birney Elementary School	California	San Diego Unified School District
2025	12%	8%
2024	13%	8%
2023	8%	8%	10%
2022	10%	7%	10%
2021	9%	6%	8%
2020	10%	7%	10%
2019	11%	7%	10%
2018	7%	7%	9%
2017	5%	9%	9%
2015	9%	9%	12%
2014	12%	9%	12%
2013	15%	7%	9%
2011	11%	8%	10%
2010	9%	9%	8%
2009	13%	10%	10%
2008	13%	10%	10%
2007	14%	10%	11%
2006	13%	9%	11%
2005	12%	9%	11%
2004	9%	9%	10%
2003	15%	9%	11%
2002	12%	8%	11%
2001	17%	8%	11%
2000	15%	7%	13%
1999	16%	7%	13%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

San Diego Unified School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Birney Elementary School's ranking?

Birney Elementary School is ranked #723 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in California.

What schools are Birney Elementary School often compared to?

Birney Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Mckinley Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

66% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 77% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).

How many students attend Birney Elementary School?

535 students attend Birney Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

38% of Birney Elementary School students are White, 33% of students are Hispanic, 15% of students are Two or more races, 9% of students are Black, 4% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are American Indian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Birney Elementary School?

Birney Elementary School has a student ration of 24:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.

What grades does Birney Elementary School offer ?

Birney Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5

What school district is Birney Elementary School part of?

Birney Elementary School is part of San Diego Unified School District.

In what neighborhood is Birney Elementary School located?

Birney Elementary School is located in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego, CA. There are 1 other public schools located in University Heights.

School Calendar

View the Birney Elementary School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event

Date

First Day of Native American Heritage Month

November 01, 2026 (Sunday)

First Day of Runaway & Homeless Youth Awareness Month

November 01, 2026 (Sunday)

Fall Break

November 23, 2026 (Monday)

First Day of Disability Awareness Month

December 01, 2026 (Tuesday)

First Day of Universal Human Rights Month

December 01, 2026 (Tuesday)

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Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities

Recent Articles

October 07, 2026

How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?

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October 07, 2026

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Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 535 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1
Minority Enrollment: 62%
: Top 10%
: 66% (Top 10%)
: 77% (Top 10%)
: 65-69% (Top 5%)
: Birney Elementary serves the southern part of San Diego, CA, covering an area of approximately 2.7 square miles. Families within this zone can typically expect a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with the furthest edge being about 2.3 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

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