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El Centro Elementary

Near Average2024–25 data10 schools · avg 39.5/100

El Centro Elementary has 10 ranked schools across elementary levels with an average Scope Score of 39.5/100 — 4.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Lincoln Elementary at 47/100, where 14.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,218 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 17.5%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
39.5
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
20.6
26.3 – 46.9
Avg Exceeded %
13.6%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
17.5%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
10
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
1
of 10 ranked schools

District Analysis

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -5.2pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 20.6 points — showing notable variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 17.5%, 0.7pp near the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.4%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Lincoln Elementary leads the district at 47 with 14.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in El Centro Elementary

2 Growth Engine2 On the Rise1 Culture First5 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 4 schools in El Centro Elementary are classified as Growth Engine (2) or On the Rise (2) — 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
95.6%
White
2.2%
Asian
0.3%
Black
0.9%
Other
1.0%
Free/Reduced Lunch
82%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

El Centro Elementary spends $15,218 per student in current expenditures — $404 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$15,218
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
5,292
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 48.3%
$10,265 → $15,218
Spending Efficiency
2.60
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 61%Support 32%Other 7%
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
$72,376–$145,460
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
268
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (10)

El Centro Elementary has 10 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.5 — 4.3 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -5.2pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Lincoln Elementary with a Scope Score of 47 and 14.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Lincoln Elementary
El Centro Elementary Building Momentum
14.6%Developing
47/100
2De Anza Magnet
El Centro Elementary Growth Engine
16.9%Developing
47/100
3McKinley Elementary
El Centro Elementary Growth Engine
18.2%Developing
45/100
4Imperial Valley Home School Academy
El Centro Elementary Culture First
15.5%Developing
45/100
5Sunflower Elementary
El Centro Elementary Building Momentum
19.2%Developing
39/100
6Desert Garden Elementary
El Centro Elementary Building Momentum
13.7%Developing
38/100
7Margaret Hedrick Elementary
El Centro Elementary On the Rise
7.0%Developing
38/100
8Harding Elementary
El Centro Elementary On the Rise
9.7%Developing
37/100
9Booker T. Washington Elementary
El Centro Elementary Building Momentum
11.0%Developing
33/100
10Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
El Centro Elementary Building Momentum
10.4%Needs Support
26/100

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 El Centro Elementary

  • 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 El Centro Elementary a good school district?
El Centro Elementary has 10 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.5/100, which is 4.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. 13.6% 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 El Centro Elementary?
The highest-scoring school in El Centro Elementary is Lincoln Elementary with a Scope Score of 47/100 and 14.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does El Centro Elementary spend per student?
El Centro Elementary spends $15,218 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 El Centro Elementary?
Teacher salaries in El Centro Elementary range from $72,376–$145,460 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.