Mission Avenue Open Elementary

405 Students

Elementary School K - 6th

School Overview

Mission Avenue Open Elementary, located in Carmichael, California, is a specialized K-5 school within the San Juan Unified School District known for its unique "Open" philosophy. Unlike traditional models, the school emphasizes a highly collaborative environment where students, teachers, and parents work in close partnership. The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and student-led inquiry, often utilizing multi-age classrooms and flexible learning spaces to encourage a more personalized educational experience.

A cornerstone of Mission Avenue Open is its strong sense of community and heavy reliance on parent involvement. Because it operates as an "open" program, the school prioritizes active participation from families, viewing them as essential partners in the learning process. The school environment is typically characterized by a commitment to social-emotional growth, project-based learning, and an atmosphere that encourages students to take ownership of their education, making it a distinct alternative to standard neighborhood elementary schools in the region.

405

Total Students

15.0

Full-Time Teachers

27.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

49.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Mission Avenue Open Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	251
Hispanic	52
Black	14
Asian	54
Two or More	33
American Indian	1

White
251 (62.0 %)
Asian
54 (13.3 %)
Hispanic
52 (12.8 %)
Two or More
33 (8.1 %)
Black
14 (3.5 %)
American Indian
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	San Juan Unified
Phone:	(916)575-2362
Grade Range:	K - 6th
Total Students:	405
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	27.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	192
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	9

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 54

Grade 1 78

Grade 2 53

Grade 3 53

Grade 4 82

Grade 5 56

Grade 6 29