Orchard Elementary

Orchard Elementary, a mid-tier elementary-level community in Modesto, California, one of the schools within Sylvan Union Elementary, caters to 579 students, covering grades K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 465 students per school, that is 25% bigger than typical.

Orchard Elementary is one of 13 schools operated by Sylvan Union Elementary, a district that enrolls 7,974 students overall.

On demographics, Orchard Elementary reports that Hispanic students make up the majority at 56%. Other groups include 21% White, 9% multiracial, 7% Asian, 6% Black.

On the income-and-resources front, Orchard Elementary shows 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 20.7:1. The state averages around 22.3:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. An estimated 70% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Orchard Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 37.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 32.5%.

In the broader community, Stanislaus County reports that the typical household earns roughly $81,468 per year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Stanislaus County runs 190 public schools (combined enrollment of about 106,477 students), of which Orchard Elementary is one.

Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.2 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Orchard Elementary. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Orchard Elementary ranks 4th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 35.9%.

Geographically, the school is in an inner-city area.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked down 4%: 604 students in 2018 compared to 579 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 42% to 21% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 25.2:1 in 2018 to 20.7:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for Orchard Elementary typically covers pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.