Elementary Schools in El Centro, California: El Centro schools average near the state. The 37.3-point spread is where the choice actually lives.
El Centro, California has 13 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 43.6/100 — within 1.2 points of the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Lincoln Elementary at 53/100, where 14.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. El Centro schools average 14.4% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.1% (near the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 13 | Developing 43.6/100 | 14.4% | -1.2 |
| High | 3 | Developing 39.3/100 | 8.9% | -4.4 |
| Middle | 1 | Needs Support 15.7/100 | 0.0% | -26.9 |
How El Centro schools compare
El Centro has 13 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 43.6/100 — within 1.2 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is Lincoln Elementary with a Scope Score of 53 and 14.6% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in El Centro averages 16.1% — near the state average of 17.9%.
How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%
School archetypes in El Centro
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Every school in El Centro
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 14.6% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | McCabe Elementary McCabe Union Elementary Building Momentum | 21.4% | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | De Anza Magnet El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 16.9% | Solid 53/100 |
| 4 | McKinley Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 18.2% | Developing 50/100 |
| 5 | Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 20.6% | Developing 49/100 |
| 6 | Central Union High Central Union High Building Momentum | 11.4% | Developing 48/100 |
| 7 | Margaret Hedrick Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 7.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 8 | Imperial Valley Home School Academy El Centro Elementary Culture First | 15.5% | Developing 47/100 |
| 9 | Southwest High Central Union High Building Momentum | 14.7% | Developing 46/100 |
| 10 | Harding Elementary El Centro Elementary Culture First | 9.7% | Developing 39/100 |
| 11 | Desert Garden Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 13.7% | Developing 39/100 |
| 12 | Meadows Elementary Meadows Union Culture First | 8.8% | Developing 38/100 |
| 13 | Booker T. Washington Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 11.0% | Developing 37/100 |
| 14 | Sunflower Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 19.2% | Developing 37/100 |
| 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 10.4% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 16 | Desert Oasis High (Continuation) Central Union High Building Momentum | 0.7% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 17 | Valley Academy Imperial County Office of Education Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 16/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in El Centro
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology