Golden Valley Unified
Golden Valley Unified has 6 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 46.2/100 — 2.5 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Liberty High at 58/100, where 22.1% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,644 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.4%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 45.0/100 | 3 | 21.9% | 9.0% |
| Middle | Solid 51.8/100 | 1 | 21.6% | 10.5% |
| High | Developing 45.3/100 | 2 | 13.4% | 24.3% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Golden Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Golden Valley Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 51.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -1.0pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 25.5 points — showing notable variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 14.4%, 3.8pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.9%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Liberty High leads the district at 58 with 22.1% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Golden Valley Unified
Hidden gems: 2 schools in Golden Valley Unified are classified as Growth Engine or 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Golden Valley Unified spends $11,644 per student in current expenditures — $3,171 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 (3)
Golden Valley Unified has 3 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.0 — 1.2 points near the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -1.0pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Stone Creek Elementary with a Scope Score of 47 and 24.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stone Creek Elementary Golden Valley Unified Growth Engine | Developing 47/100 |
| 2 | Sierra View Elementary Golden Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 44/100 |
| 3 | Webster Elementary Golden Valley Unified On the Rise | Developing 44/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Golden Valley Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.8 — 11.4 points above the state average of 40.5.
The highest-scoring middle school is Ranchos Middle with a Scope Score of 52 and 21.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranchos Middle Golden Valley Unified Building Momentum | Solid 52/100 |
High Schools (2)
Golden Valley Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.3 — 2.2 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Liberty High with a Scope Score of 58 and 22.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty High Golden Valley Unified Building Momentum | Solid 58/100 |
| 2 | Independence Continuation High Golden Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 33/100 |
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 Golden 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