Sierra Sands Unified
Sierra Sands Unified has 9 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 35.2/100 — 8.5 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Burroughs High at 53/100, where 27.0% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,508 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 30.2%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 38.8/100 | 6 | 17.1% | 24.7% |
| Middle | Needs Support 20.4/100 | 1 | 7.8% | 28.5% |
| High | Developing 32.0/100 | 2 | 14.8% | 47.5% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Sierra Sands Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Sierra Sands Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 38.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +2.1pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.
Consistency: Score range of 42.4 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 30.2%, 12.1pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 5.3%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Burroughs High leads the district at 53 with 27.0% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Sierra Sands Unified
Hidden gems: 4 schools in Sierra Sands Unified are classified as Growth Engine (2) or On the Rise (2) — 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
Sierra Sands Unified spends $13,508 per student in current expenditures — $1,307 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 (6)
Sierra Sands Unified has 6 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.8 — 5.0 points below the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +2.1pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Las Flores Elementary with a Scope Score of 45 and 20.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Flores Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Growth Engine | 20.6% | Developing 45/100 |
| 2 | Richmond Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Growth Engine | 21.9% | Developing 44/100 |
| 3 | Inyokern Elementary Sierra Sands Unified On the Rise | 16.9% | Developing 43/100 |
| 4 | Gateway Elementary Sierra Sands Unified On the Rise | 19.2% | Developing 38/100 |
| 5 | Faller Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 12.3% | Developing 36/100 |
| 6 | Pierce Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 11.3% | Needs Support 26/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Sierra Sands Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 20.4 — 20.1 points below the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -5.2pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Murray Middle with a Scope Score of 20 and 7.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray Middle Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 20/100 |
High Schools (2)
Sierra Sands Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.0 — 15.5 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Burroughs High with a Scope Score of 53 and 27.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burroughs High Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 27.0% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | Mesquite Continuation High Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 2.6% | Needs Support 11/100 |
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 Sierra Sands 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