Murrieta Valley Unified
Murrieta Valley Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 54.6/100 — 10.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Vista Murrieta High at 68/100, where 31.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,094 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.1%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 53.6/100 | 11 | 27.5% | 17.3% |
| Middle | Developing 48.9/100 | 4 | 22.3% | 17.3% |
| High | Solid 65.8/100 | 3 | 29.9% | 22.0% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Murrieta Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Murrieta Valley Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 65.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -1.8pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 33.1 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 18.1%, 0.0pp near the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.2%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Vista Murrieta High leads the district at 68 with 31.7% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Murrieta Valley Unified
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Murrieta Valley Unified are classified as Growth Engine (2) 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
Murrieta Valley Unified spends $12,094 per student in current expenditures — $2,720 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 (11)
Murrieta Valley Unified has 11 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 53.6 — 9.8 points above the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -1.8pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Alta Murrieta Elementary with a Scope Score of 67 and 36.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alta Murrieta Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 36.5% | Solid 67/100 |
| 2 | Cole Canyon Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 41.4% | Solid 65/100 |
| 3 | Tovashal Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 36.1% | Solid 59/100 |
| 4 | Antelope Hills Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 31.6% | Solid 58/100 |
| 5 | Daniel N. Buchanan Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Growth Engine | 26.0% | Solid 54/100 |
| 6 | Lisa J. Mails Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Culture First | 25.9% | Solid 53/100 |
| 7 | Murrieta Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 24.9% | Solid 52/100 |
| 8 | Monte Vista Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 24.9% | Developing 49/100 |
| 9 | Rail Ranch Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Growth Engine | 20.5% | Developing 48/100 |
| 10 | E. Hale Curran Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 21.8% | Developing 48/100 |
| 11 | Avaxat Elementary Murrieta Valley Unified On the Rise | 12.9% | Developing 35/100 |
Middle Schools (4)
Murrieta Valley Unified has 4 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.9 — 8.5 points above the state average of 40.5.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.2pp.
The highest-scoring middle school is Dorothy McElhinney Middle with a Scope Score of 60 and 29.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dorothy McElhinney Middle Murrieta Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 29.6% | Solid 60/100 |
| 2 | Thompson Middle Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 21.5% | Developing 48/100 |
| 3 | Warm Springs Middle Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 18.2% | Developing 44/100 |
| 4 | Shivela Middle Murrieta Valley Unified Building Momentum | 19.8% | Developing 43/100 |
High Schools (3)
Murrieta Valley Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 65.8 — 18.3 points above the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Vista Murrieta High with a Scope Score of 68 and 31.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vista Murrieta High Murrieta Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 31.7% | Solid 68/100 |
| 2 | Murrieta Mesa High Murrieta Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 28.2% | Solid 65/100 |
| 3 | Murrieta Valley High Murrieta Valley Unified Strong All-Around | 29.9% | Solid 65/100 |
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 Murrieta 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