Ceres Unified
Ceres Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 38.4/100 — 5.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Whitmore Charter High at 58/100, where 7.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $14,347 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 17.7%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 35.9/100 | 14 | 11.6% | 14.5% |
| High | Developing 47.1/100 | 4 | 9.1% | 28.7% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Ceres Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Ceres Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 47.1.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -7.5pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 42.8 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 17.7%, 0.5pp near the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.3%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Whitmore Charter High leads the district at 58 with 7.7% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Ceres Unified
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Ceres Unified are classified as On the Rise (3) — 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Ceres Unified spends $14,347 per student in current expenditures — $467 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (14)
Ceres Unified has 14 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 35.9 — 7.8 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -7.5pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is La Rosa Elementary with a Scope Score of 51 and 22.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Rosa Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 22.6% | Solid 51/100 |
| 2 | Samuel Vaughn Elementary Ceres Unified On the Rise | 14.5% | Developing 43/100 |
| 3 | Patricia Kay Beaver Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 12.9% | Developing 43/100 |
| 4 | M. Robert Adkison Elementary Ceres Unified Culture First | 12.4% | Developing 40/100 |
| 5 | Whitmore Charter School of Art & Technology Ceres Unified Culture First | 15.2% | Developing 39/100 |
| 6 | Sinclear Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 17.6% | Developing 37/100 |
| 7 | Carroll Fowler Elementary Ceres Unified Culture First | 10.7% | Developing 36/100 |
| 8 | Joel J. Hidahl Elementary Ceres Unified On the Rise | 9.4% | Developing 36/100 |
| 9 | Caswell Elementary Ceres Unified Culture First | 7.4% | Developing 35/100 |
| 10 | Virginia Parks Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 11.6% | Developing 34/100 |
| 11 | Lucas Elementary Ceres Unified Culture First | 8.4% | Developing 32/100 |
| 12 | Westport Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 11.1% | Developing 32/100 |
| 13 | Don Pedro Elementary Ceres Unified On the Rise | 4.8% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 14 | Walter White Elementary Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 4.0% | Needs Support 16/100 |
High Schools (4)
Ceres Unified has 4 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 47.1 — 0.4 points near the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Whitmore Charter High with a Scope Score of 58 and 7.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitmore Charter High Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 7.7% | Solid 58/100 |
| 2 | Central Valley High Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 12.8% | Solid 56/100 |
| 3 | Ceres High Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 15.7% | Solid 53/100 |
| 4 | Argus High (Continuation) Ceres Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 20/100 |
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 Ceres 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