James Monroe Elementary

James Monroe Elementary is a middle-of-the-pack elementary school in Madera, California, part of Madera Unified. The school hosts 624 students in grades K through 6. Compared to the state average of about 465 students per school, that is 34% larger than typical.

Madera Unified comprises 28 schools with combined enrollment of 19,922 students; James Monroe Elementary is among them.

Looking at the student body, James Monroe Elementary logs that nearly all students (96%) are Hispanic. That is considerably more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 61%.

Looking at school resources, The school currently runs with 30 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 20.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 22.3:1, putting James Monroe Elementary tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 97% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Madera County runs at roughly 81%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, James Monroe Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 21.6%; this one delivers 34.2%.

In the broader community, Madera County reports that the typical household earns roughly $76,627 per year, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 14%. James Monroe Elementary is one of 81 public schools in Madera County (combined enrollment of about 32,251 students).

The closest other public school is John J. Pershing Elementary, roughly 0.5 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. On composite proficiency, James Monroe Elementary comes 1st of 5 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 26.4%.

Geographically, the school is in a residential area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at James Monroe Elementary has decreased 15%, going from 734 students in 2018 to 624 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 25.3:1 in 2018 to 20.8:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.