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Pittsburg Unified

Below Average2024–25 data13 schools · avg 30.4/100

Pittsburg Unified has 13 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 30.4/100 — 13.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Pittsburg Senior High at 49/100, where 9.3% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,724 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 32.7%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
30.4
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
25.9
23.4 – 49.3
Avg Exceeded %
7.8%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
32.7%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
13
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryNeeds Support
29.8/100
89.3%28.5%
MiddleNeeds Support
27.9/100
36.0%28.6%
HighDeveloping
36.4/100
24.7%55.7%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Pittsburg Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
29.8
avg score · 8 schools
Los Medanos Elementary
Developing
38/100
Foothill Elementary
Developing
33/100
Heights Elementary
Developing
33/100
+5 more elementary schools
Middle
27.9
avg score · 3 schools
Rancho Medanos Junior High
Needs Support
28/100
Hillview Junior High
Needs Support
28/100
High
36.4
avg score · 2 schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Pittsburg Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 36.4.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -0.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), growth is essentially flat.

Consistency: Score range of 25.9 points — showing notable variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 32.7%, 14.6pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.9%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Pittsburg Senior High leads the district at 49 with 9.3% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Pittsburg Unified

3 On the Rise10 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 3 schools in Pittsburg Unified are classified as On the Rise (3) — 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

Hispanic
66.7%
White
4.2%
Asian
3.3%
Black
14.8%
Other
11.0%
Free/Reduced Lunch
79%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Pittsburg Unified spends $13,724 per student in current expenditures — $1,090 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$13,724
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
11,015
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 16.5%
$11,783 → $13,724
Spending Efficiency
2.21
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 63%Support 34%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$64,687–$120,047
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
543
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (8)

Pittsburg Unified has 8 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 29.8 — 13.9 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth is essentially flat at -0.3pp.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Los Medanos Elementary with a Scope Score of 38 and 13.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Los Medanos Elementary
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
13.8%Developing
38/100
2Foothill Elementary
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
11.6%Developing
33/100
3Heights Elementary
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
13.2%Developing
33/100
4Willow Cove Elementary
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
7.5%Needs Support
30/100
5Marina Vista Elementary
Pittsburg Unified On the Rise
10.2%Needs Support
27/100
6Parkside Elementary
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
6.1%Needs Support
27/100
7Highlands Elementary
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
5.6%Needs Support
26/100
8Stoneman Elementary
Pittsburg Unified On the Rise
6.1%Needs Support
25/100

Middle Schools (3)

Pittsburg Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 27.9 — 12.6 points below the state average of 40.5.

District-wide growth averages +1.6pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Rancho Medanos Junior High with a Scope Score of 28 and 6.1% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Rancho Medanos Junior High
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
6.1%Needs Support
28/100
2Hillview Junior High
Pittsburg Unified On the Rise
5.8%Needs Support
28/100
3Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
6.2%Needs Support
27/100

High Schools (2)

Pittsburg Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.4 — 11.1 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Pittsburg Senior High with a Scope Score of 49 and 9.3% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Pittsburg Senior High
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
9.3%Developing
49/100
2Black Diamond High (Continuation)
Pittsburg Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
23/100

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 Pittsburg 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

Frequently asked questions

Is Pittsburg Unified a good school district?
Pittsburg Unified has 13 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 30.4/100, which is 13.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. 7.8% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Pittsburg Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Pittsburg Unified is Pittsburg Senior High with a Scope Score of 49/100 and 9.3% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Pittsburg Unified spend per student?
Pittsburg Unified spends $13,724 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Pittsburg Unified?
Teacher salaries in Pittsburg Unified range from $64,687–$120,047 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.