Valley Center-Pauma Unified
Valley Center-Pauma Unified has 6 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 32.4/100 — 11.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Valley Center High at 54/100, where 11.1% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,715 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 33.1%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 31.9/100 | 3 | 9.3% | 28.5% |
| Middle | Needs Support 22.1/100 | 1 | 5.4% | 27.8% |
| High | Developing 38.5/100 | 2 | 5.5% | 42.6% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Valley Center-Pauma Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Valley Center-Pauma Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 38.5.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -2.9pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 31.8 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 33.1%, 15.0pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 4.1%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Valley Center High leads the district at 54 with 11.1% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Valley Center-Pauma Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Valley Center-Pauma 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
Valley Center-Pauma Unified spends $12,715 per student in current expenditures — $2,099 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)
Valley Center-Pauma Unified has 3 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.9 — 11.9 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -2.9pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Lilac with a Scope Score of 42 and 15.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lilac Valley Center-Pauma Unified Building Momentum | 15.7% | Developing 42/100 |
| 2 | Valley Center Elementary Valley Center-Pauma Unified On the Rise | 10.1% | Developing 30/100 |
| 3 | Pauma Elementary Valley Center-Pauma Unified Building Momentum | 2.1% | Needs Support 24/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Valley Center-Pauma Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 22.1 — 18.3 points below the state average of 40.5.
District-wide growth averages +2.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Valley Center Middle with a Scope Score of 22 and 5.4% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley Center Middle Valley Center-Pauma Unified Building Momentum | 5.4% | Needs Support 22/100 |
High Schools (2)
Valley Center-Pauma Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.5 — 9.0 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Valley Center High with a Scope Score of 54 and 11.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley Center High Valley Center-Pauma Unified Building Momentum | 11.1% | Solid 54/100 |
| 2 | Oak Glen High Valley Center-Pauma 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 Valley Center-Pauma 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