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Benicia Unified

Above Average2024–25 data7 schools · avg 53.7/100

Benicia Unified has 7 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 53.7/100 — 9.9 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Matthew Turner Elementary at 69/100, where 42.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $10,895 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.4%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
53.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
39.5
29.2 – 68.6
Avg Exceeded %
24.3%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
18.4%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
7
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
57.7/100
431.3%10.8%
MiddleSolid
51.5/100
121.7%12.2%
HighDeveloping
46.8/100
211.6%36.5%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
57.7
avg score · 4 schools
+1 more elementary schools
Middle
51.5
avg score · 1 school
Benicia Middle
Solid
51/100
High
46.8
avg score · 2 schools
Benicia High
Solid
64/100
Liberty High
Needs Support
29/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Benicia Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 57.7.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -7.5pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 39.5 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 18.4%, 0.2pp near the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.1%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Matthew Turner Elementary leads the district at 69 with 42.9% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Benicia Unified

1 Culture First1 Growth Engine5 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in Benicia Unified is classified as Growth Engine — 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
27.8%
White
40.5%
Asian
3.6%
Black
5.9%
Other
22.2%
Free/Reduced Lunch
28%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Benicia Unified spends $10,895 per student in current expenditures — $3,920 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$10,895
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
4,526
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 8.8%
$10,017 → $10,895
Spending Efficiency
4.93
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 63%Support 34%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

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

Elementary Schools (4)

Benicia Unified has 4 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 57.7 — 13.9 points above the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -7.5pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Matthew Turner Elementary with a Scope Score of 69 and 42.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Matthew Turner Elementary
Benicia Unified Building Momentum
42.9%Solid
69/100
2Joe Henderson Elementary
Benicia Unified Building Momentum
33.7%Solid
60/100
3Mary Farmar Elementary
Benicia Unified Culture First
23.6%Solid
52/100
4Robert Semple Elementary
Benicia Unified Building Momentum
24.9%Solid
50/100

Middle Schools (1)

Benicia Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.5 — 11.0 points above the state average of 40.5.

District-wide growth averages +5.7pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Benicia Middle with a Scope Score of 51 and 21.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Benicia Middle
Benicia Unified Growth Engine
21.7%Solid
51/100

High Schools (2)

Benicia Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 46.8 — 0.7 points near the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Benicia High with a Scope Score of 64 and 21.4% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Benicia High
Benicia Unified Building Momentum
21.4%Solid
64/100
2Liberty High
Benicia Unified Building Momentum
1.9%Needs Support
29/100

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 Benicia 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 Benicia Unified a good school district?
Benicia Unified has 7 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 53.7/100, which is 9.9 points above the California state average of 43.8. 24.3% 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 Benicia Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Benicia Unified is Matthew Turner Elementary with a Scope Score of 69/100 and 42.9% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Benicia Unified spend per student?
Benicia Unified spends $10,895 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 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.