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Apple Valley Unified

Below Average2024–25 data13 schools · avg 29.3/100

Apple Valley Unified has 13 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 29.3/100 — 14.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Apple Valley High at 51/100, where 9.4% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,653 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 31.5%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
29.3
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
37.5
13.3 – 50.8
Avg Exceeded %
7.7%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
31.5%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
13
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryNeeds Support
25.9/100
117.4%31.1%
HighDeveloping
48.4/100
29.1%34.0%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Apple Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
25.9
avg score · 11 schools
Vanguard Preparatory
Developing
33/100
Yucca Loma Elementary
Developing
31/100
+8 more elementary schools
High
48.4
avg score · 2 schools
Granite Hills High
Developing
46/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Apple Valley Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.4.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -6.4pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 37.5 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 31.5%, 13.4pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 4.7%, below the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Apple Valley High leads the district at 51 with 9.4% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Apple Valley Unified

1 On the Rise12 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in Apple Valley Unified is classified as On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
61.0%
White
25.3%
Asian
1.1%
Black
7.8%
Other
4.7%
Free/Reduced Lunch
78%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Apple Valley Unified spends $11,653 per student in current expenditures — $3,162 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$11,653
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
12,892
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 30.4%
$8,939 → $11,653
Spending Efficiency
2.52
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 60%Support 36%Other 4%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$60,367–$136,253
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
715
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (11)

Apple Valley Unified has 11 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 25.9 — 17.9 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -6.4pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Rio Vista School of Applied Learning with a Scope Score of 35 and 12.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Rio Vista School of Applied Learning
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
12.6%Developing
35/100
2Vanguard Preparatory
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
10.7%Developing
33/100
3Yucca Loma Elementary
Apple Valley Unified On the Rise
9.0%Developing
31/100
4Sitting Bull Academy
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
13.5%Developing
31/100
5Sycamore Rocks Elementary
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
7.7%Needs Support
29/100
6Apple Valley Virtual Academy
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
7.3%Needs Support
29/100
7Desert Knolls Elementary
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
6.7%Needs Support
26/100
8Phoenix Academy
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
4.0%Needs Support
24/100
9Mariana Academy
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
4.7%Needs Support
18/100
10Sandia Academy
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
3.4%Needs Support
17/100
11Rancho Verde Elementary
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
1.9%Needs Support
13/100

High Schools (2)

Apple Valley Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.4 — 1.0 points near the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Apple Valley High with a Scope Score of 51 and 9.4% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Apple Valley High
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
9.4%Solid
51/100
2Granite Hills High
Apple Valley Unified Building Momentum
8.9%Developing
46/100

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Apple Valley Unified

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How resources are distributed across schools within the district

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Apple Valley Unified a good school district?
Apple Valley Unified has 13 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 29.3/100, which is 14.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. 7.7% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Apple Valley Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Apple Valley Unified is Apple Valley High with a Scope Score of 51/100 and 9.4% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Apple Valley Unified spend per student?
Apple Valley Unified spends $11,653 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Apple Valley Unified?
Teacher salaries in Apple Valley Unified range from $60,367–$136,253 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.