Needles Unified
Needles Unified has 3 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.9/100 — 6.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Needles High at 57/100, where 10.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $16,497 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 22.4%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 33.4/100 | 1 | 7.6% | 18.7% |
| Middle | Needs Support 19.8/100 | 1 | 3.1% | 20.7% |
| High | Solid 57.4/100 | 1 | 10.8% | 27.9% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Needles Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Needles Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 57.4.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +6.8pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.
Consistency: Score range of 37.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 22.4%, 4.3pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 5.1%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Needles High leads the district at 57 with 10.8% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Needles Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Needles 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
Needles Unified spends $16,497 per student in current expenditures — $1,683 above 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 (1)
Needles Unified has 1 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 33.4 — 10.4 points below the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +6.8pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Vista Colorado Elementary with a Scope Score of 33 and 7.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vista Colorado Elementary Needles Unified On the Rise | 7.6% | Developing 33/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Needles Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 19.8 — 20.6 points below the state average of 40.5.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.8pp.
The highest-scoring middle school is Needles Middle with a Scope Score of 20 and 3.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Needles Middle Needles Unified Building Momentum | 3.1% | Needs Support 20/100 |
High Schools (1)
Needles Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 57.4 — 9.9 points above the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Needles High with a Scope Score of 57 and 10.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Needles High Needles Unified Building Momentum | 10.8% | Solid 57/100 |
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 Needles 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