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El Rancho Unified

Below Average2024–25 data13 schools · avg 37.6/100

El Rancho Unified has 13 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 37.6/100 — 6.2 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is El Rancho High at 58/100, where 19.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,381 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 23.0%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
37.6
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
34.6
23.8 – 58.4
Avg Exceeded %
13.4%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
23.0%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
13
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
38.4/100
815.4%19.6%
MiddleDeveloping
31.9/100
310.5%19.0%
HighDeveloping
43.0/100
29.9%42.3%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
38.4
avg score · 8 schools
Birney Tech Academy
Developing
45/100
Rio Vista Elementary
Developing
42/100
+5 more elementary schools
Middle
31.9
avg score · 3 schools
STEAM Academy @ Burke
Developing
44/100
Rivera Middle
Needs Support
28/100
High
43.0
avg score · 2 schools
El Rancho High
Solid
58/100
Ruben Salazar Continuation
Needs Support
28/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: El Rancho Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 43.0.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -4.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 34.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 23.0%, 4.9pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.6%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: El Rancho High leads the district at 58 with 19.7% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in El Rancho Unified

3 On the Rise1 Growth Engine9 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 4 schools in El Rancho Unified are classified as On the Rise (3) or 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
97.5%
White
1.1%
Asian
0.4%
Black
0.2%
Other
0.7%
Free/Reduced Lunch
84%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

El Rancho Unified spends $13,381 per student in current expenditures — $1,434 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$13,381
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
7,985
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 14.8%
$11,655 → $13,381
Spending Efficiency
2.81
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 58%Support 38%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

Elementary Schools (8)

El Rancho Unified has 8 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.4 — 5.4 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -4.3pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Birney Tech Academy with a Scope Score of 45 and 18.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScore
1Birney Tech Academy
El Rancho Unified Growth Engine
Developing
45/100
2Rio Vista Elementary
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Developing
42/100
3Magee Academy of Arts & Sciences
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Developing
41/100
4Valencia Academy of the Arts
El Rancho Unified On the Rise
Developing
40/100
5Rivera Elementary
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Developing
39/100
6North Ranchito Elementary
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Developing
39/100
7Durfee Elementary
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Developing
35/100
8South Ranchito Dual Language Academy
El Rancho Unified On the Rise
Needs Support
27/100

Middle Schools (3)

El Rancho Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.9 — 8.6 points below the state average of 40.5.

District-wide growth averages +0.5pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is STEAM Academy @ Burke with a Scope Score of 44 and 16.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScore
1STEAM Academy @ Burke
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Developing
44/100
2Rivera Middle
El Rancho Unified On the Rise
Needs Support
28/100
3North Park Academy of the Arts
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Needs Support
24/100

High Schools (2)

El Rancho Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 43.0 — 4.5 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is El Rancho High with a Scope Score of 58 and 19.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScore
1El Rancho High
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Solid
58/100
2Ruben Salazar Continuation
El Rancho Unified Building Momentum
Needs Support
28/100

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 Rancho 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 El Rancho Unified a good school district?
El Rancho Unified has 13 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 37.6/100, which is 6.2 points below the California state average of 43.8. 13.4% 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 El Rancho Unified?
The highest-scoring school in El Rancho Unified is El Rancho High with a Scope Score of 58/100 and 19.7% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does El Rancho Unified spend per student?
El Rancho Unified spends $13,381 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.