Empire Union Elementary
Empire Union Elementary has 5 ranked schools across elementary levels with an average Scope Score of 30.0/100 — 13.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Bernard L. Hughes Elementary at 37/100, where 11.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $14,714 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 22.2%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
District Analysis
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -16.0pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 13.5 points — moderately consistent between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 22.2%, 4.1pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.8%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Bernard L. Hughes Elementary leads the district at 37 with 11.8% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Empire Union Elementary spends $14,714 per student in current expenditures — $101 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 (5)
Empire Union Elementary has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 30.0 — 13.8 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -16.0pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Bernard L. Hughes Elementary with a Scope Score of 37 and 11.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernard L. Hughes Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 11.8% | Developing 37/100 |
| 2 | Christine Sipherd Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 18.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 3 | Capistrano Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 7.2% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 4 | Alice N. Stroud Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 5 | Empire Elementary Empire Union Elementary Building Momentum | 6.1% | Needs Support 24/100 |
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 Empire Union 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