Imperial Unified
Imperial Unified has 6 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 44.3/100 — 0.5 points near the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Imperial High at 53/100, where 15.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,903 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 18.7%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 48.5/100 | 3 | 21.9% | 12.4% |
| Middle | Developing 41.3/100 | 1 | 15.9% | 13.7% |
| High | Developing 39.5/100 | 2 | 16.8% | 30.5% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Imperial Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Imperial Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.5.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +3.2pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.
Consistency: Score range of 27.7 points — showing notable variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 18.7%, 0.5pp near the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.6%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Imperial High leads the district at 53 with 15.5% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Imperial Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Imperial 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Imperial Unified spends $11,903 per student in current expenditures — $2,911 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)
Imperial Unified has 3 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.5 — 4.7 points above the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +3.2pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Imperial Cross Elementary with a Scope Score of 50 and 22.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imperial Cross Elementary Imperial Unified Culture First | 22.9% | Solid 50/100 |
| 2 | T. L. Waggoner Elementary Imperial Unified Culture First | 20.6% | Developing 48/100 |
| 3 | Ben Hulse Elementary Imperial Unified On the Rise | 22.1% | Developing 46/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Imperial Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 41.3 — 0.8 points near the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -6.7pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Frank M. Wright Middle with a Scope Score of 41 and 15.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frank M. Wright Middle Imperial Unified Building Momentum | 15.9% | Developing 41/100 |
High Schools (2)
Imperial Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.5 — 8.0 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Imperial High with a Scope Score of 53 and 15.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imperial High Imperial Unified Building Momentum | 15.5% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | Imperial Ave. Holbrook High Imperial Unified Building Momentum | 18.2% | 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 Imperial 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