Daniel J. Savage Middle

Set in Modesto, California, Daniel J. Savage Middle is a mid-sized intermediate school, run under Sylvan Union Elementary. It hosts 906 students across grades 6 through 8. That puts it 37% bigger than the typical public school in California, which averages around 659 students.

Sylvan Union Elementary runs 13 schools in total, collectively educating 7,974 students. Daniel J. Savage Middle is one of those campuses.

Demographically, Daniel J. Savage Middle reports that the largest single group is Hispanic at 48%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 29% White, 10% Asian, 8% multiracial, 3% Black. Compared to Stanislaus County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Daniel J. Savage Middle has 43 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 21.3:1. The state averages about 20.7:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 53% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Stanislaus County runs at roughly 71%, so the school's eligibility rate is below the surrounding baseline.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Daniel J. Savage Middle tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 48.1% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 42.5%.

Zooming out to the county, Stanislaus County reports that median household income runs about $81,468, about 20% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. Across Stanislaus County's 190 public schools (combined enrollment of about 106,477 students), Daniel J. Savage Middle is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Freedom Elementary, roughly 0.2 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Daniel J. Savage Middle. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Daniel J. Savage Middle at 7th of 9; the average score across the group is 45.8%.

Geographically, the school is in a metropolitan area.

Five-year trend. Daniel J. Savage Middle's enrollment has changed only slightly since 2018, when it stood at 894 (now 906). Over the same period, the White share fell from 39% to 29%. Class-load math has tightened: from 23.7:1 in 2018 to 21.3:1 in 2025.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.