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Coachella Valley Unified

Below Average2024–25 data18 schools · avg 31.2/100

Coachella Valley Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 31.2/100 — 12.6 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is West Shores High at 50/100, where 6.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $16,179 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 34.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
31.2
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
36.0
13.9 – 49.9
Avg Exceeded %
8.4%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
34.6%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
18
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryNeeds Support
28.5/100
149.0%31.4%
HighDeveloping
40.5/100
46.2%45.6%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
28.5
avg score · 14 schools
Coral Mountain Academy
Developing
34/100
Valley View Elementary
Developing
34/100
+11 more elementary schools
High
40.5
avg score · 4 schools
West Shores High
Developing
50/100
Desert Mirage High
Developing
49/100
Coachella Valley High
Developing
49/100
+1 more high schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Coachella Valley Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 40.5.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -4.9pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 36.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 34.6%, 16.5pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.4%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: West Shores High leads the district at 50 with 6.9% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Coachella Valley Unified

1 On the Rise17 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in Coachella 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
97.6%
White
1.0%
Asian
0.1%
Black
0.2%
Other
1.0%
Free/Reduced Lunch
93%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Coachella Valley Unified spends $16,179 per student in current expenditures — $1,364 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$16,179
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
17,299
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 8.9%
$14,857 → $16,179
Spending Efficiency
1.93
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 65%Support 30%Other 5%
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
$65,655–$136,033
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
823
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (14)

Coachella Valley Unified has 14 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 28.5 — 15.3 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -4.9pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Peter Pendleton Elementary with a Scope Score of 43 and 20.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Peter Pendleton Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
20.2%Developing
43/100
2Coral Mountain Academy
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
10.8%Developing
34/100
3Valley View Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
11.6%Developing
34/100
4Valle del Sol Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
12.5%Developing
32/100
5Cesar Chavez Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
5.8%Needs Support
30/100
6John Kelley Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified On the Rise
5.6%Needs Support
28/100
7Mountain Vista Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
8.9%Needs Support
27/100
8Las Palmitas Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
5.9%Needs Support
27/100
9Mecca Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
6.3%Needs Support
27/100
10Saul Martinez Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
10.4%Needs Support
27/100
11Palm View Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
10.0%Needs Support
25/100
12Westside Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
11.2%Needs Support
25/100
13Sea View Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
4.0%Needs Support
23/100
14Oasis Elementary
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
2.9%Needs Support
17/100

High Schools (4)

Coachella Valley Unified has 4 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 40.5 — 7.0 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is West Shores High with a Scope Score of 50 and 6.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1West Shores High
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
6.9%Developing
50/100
2Desert Mirage High
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
10.1%Developing
49/100
3Coachella Valley High
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
7.7%Developing
49/100
4La Familia Continuation High
Coachella Valley Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
14/100

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 Coachella 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 Coachella Valley Unified a good school district?
Coachella Valley Unified has 18 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.2/100, which is 12.6 points below the California state average of 43.8. 8.4% 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 Coachella Valley Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Coachella Valley Unified is West Shores High with a Scope Score of 50/100 and 6.9% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Coachella Valley Unified spend per student?
Coachella Valley Unified spends $16,179 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 Coachella Valley Unified?
Teacher salaries in Coachella Valley Unified range from $65,655–$136,033 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.