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Big Springs Elementary · Simi Valley

Big Springs Elementary: 60% of kids clear the bar — ahead of the state's 43%. But the zoned next school scores lower.

Big Springs holds its own. Scores drop at the schools it feeds into. Ask where its graduates actually enrol, and whether families stay on the zoned path.

3401 Big Springs Avenue, 93063 (opens in new tab)·Simi Valley Unified·Simi Valley·Grades TK-5·441 students·35% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(805) 520-6710·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope6145
% Exceeded30%21%
% Met+60%43%
Growth-16.5-2.9
Absence11.6%17.9%
Suspension0.1%1.6%
Scope Score
61
🌱 Building Momentum · Solid
ranked #971 statewide · #3 of 19 in Simi Valley Unified

Big Springs Elementary scores 61 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 83rd percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

🌱 Building Momentum — This label means the data doesn't clearly sort the school one way or the other — ask what the school is proud of, and what it's working on.

Most rating sites would stop at “60% proficient” and call it done. Big Springs deserves a closer read. The school sits in Simi Valley, where one in three students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

Big Springs's low-income kids hit 50.0% proficiency in ELA — a number the same group reaches at 38.2% statewide. If you're trying to read past zip-code-driven test scores, that's the signal worth weighing.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 5,744 elementary schools statewide

Has stayed near the 83rd percentile since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathGreen(Increased Significantly)

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 60% meet the standard today, versus 66% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 363%67%53%60%67%
Grade 463%63%57%55%59%
Grade 581%71%66%67%60%
Grade 647%39%25%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 360%67%53%61%72%
Grade 470%52%60%50%53%
Grade 560%52%36%44%46%
Grade 654%39%17%

The story this school is actually telling

The floor · met or exceeded
59.6%

of students met or exceeded the standard, versus 42.7% statewide.

↑ what most “best schools” lists are measuring
The next step · the zoned path
30pts

the zoned path continues to Valley View Middle, which scores 30 points lower — the data can't say why.

↓ the part no ranking site shows you

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.

29%
38%
33%
Grade 3 · 67% proficient
35%
25%
40%
Grade 4 · 60% proficient
35%
24%
41%
Grade 5 · 59% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding rises 6.4pp across grades; the floor slips 6.9pp. The state average rises 4.5pp over the same span. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

50.0%
Low-income · ELA · met standard

Big Springs's most underrated number

50.0% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide. That's the strongest kind of signal a school can post: it holds across income lines.

Big Springs low-income: 50.0%State low-income: 38.2%

The 6 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
29.8%
State 21.3%
8.5pp above state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
-16.5pp
State -2.9pp
Scores decline across grades
Met or exceeded
59.6%
State 42.7%
16.9pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
11.6%
State 17.9%
6.3pp below state avg
Suspension rate
0.1%
State 1.6%
1.5pp below state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
35.7%
State 18.0%
17.7pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask which schools families here actually choose next — the zoned path is only the default.

  • Ask what changes between grade 3 and grade 5 here, and who teaches the older kids.
  • Ask whether extra support — tutoring, counseling, small groups — reaches kids across income lines, not just the students already ahead.
  • Ask which schools families here actually choose next — the zoned path is only the default.
  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.

How every group of students does here

At Big Springs Elementary in Simi Valley, 50.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 38.9% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Big Springs Elementary outperforms its district average for low-income students by 11.1 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (48.1% Math proficient); White students (65.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 15.9 percentage points for hispanic students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 80 students tested.

All students at this school: 59% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 59%, district —, state 43%59%
WhiteWhite: this school 63%, district 50%, state 56%63% · +4 vs school
MaleMale: this school 61%, district 44%, state 42%61% · +2 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 58%, district 43%, state 44%58% · −2 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 49%, district 32%, state 32%49% · −10 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 45%, district 31%, state 32%45% · −14 vs school

9 of 15 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group
Subgroup growth by grade

Change in proficiency from the lowest tested grade — which groups gain ground the longer they stay. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Low-income student ELA proficiency falls by 12.0pp from grade 3 to grade 5 at this school. District average: +6.9pp.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 11.6%, district 19.5%, state 17.9%11.6% · −6.3pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 0.1%, district —, state 1.6%0.1% · −1.5pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–611.8%
TK/K15.7%

Where the path goes

The zoned path continues to Valley View Middle, which scores 30 points lower than this school — worth weighing alongside everything above. Families here often look at charter or magnet options for middle school.

K-12 Feeder Path
Elementary
Big Springs Elementary
61/100
This school

Feeder patterns derived from NCES attendance boundary data. Boundaries are approximate and may have changed — verify with your school district for current assignments.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 23:1, district 23:123:1
Teaching staff21 teachers
Avg. experience18.2 years
Fully credentialed94%
First-year teachers5%
Intern / emergency permit0.9%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$56,887 – $115,704
Principal salary$148,925 – $170,414
Superintendent salary$297,494

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $15,668, CA average $14,815$15,668 · spent at this school
Federal share$142 per student

$142 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$17,900 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction57%
Instruction support14%
Student services11%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance10%
Other1%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$12,276 per pupil
2019$11,727 per pupil
2018$11,607 per pupil
2017$10,765 per pupil
2016$10,354 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White53.3%
District 38.8% · CA 19.9%
Hispanic33.8%
District 45.4% · CA 56.1%
Asian6.6%
District 7.2% · CA 10.2%
Other5.7%
District 7.0% · CA 9.0%
Black0.7%
District 1.6% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 35.1% (29pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$125K · CA $85K
Median home value$817K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+37% · CA 35%
ZIP population55,066
Median age43 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

Transitional kindergarten is offered here — confirmed by actual Census Day enrollment, not just the listed grade span.

On the state's science test (CAST), 49% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Big Springs Elementary a good elementary school?

Big Springs Elementary has a Scope Score of 61 out of 100, placing it in the 83rd percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #971 statewide. 29.8% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 8.5 percentage points above the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Big Springs Elementary's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 59.6% of students at Big Springs Elementary met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 29.8% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 29.8% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 29.8% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 441 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Big Springs Elementary rank in California?

Big Springs Elementary ranks #971 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 83rd percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

Is Big Springs Elementary getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Big Springs Elementary decreases by 16.5 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 growth. This downward pattern doesn't necessarily mean the school is failing — it can reflect cohort differences, demographic shifts, or curriculum changes. A campus visit and conversation with teachers can reveal what the numbers can't. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the elementary Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Big Springs Elementary?

11.6% of students at Big Springs Elementary are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 0.1%, indicating a low-discipline-incident environment. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Big Springs Elementary compare to other schools in Simi Valley?

Big Springs Elementary scores 61/100 (83rd percentile) among California elementary schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 441 students. Use the schools in Simi Valley page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.

How does Big Springs Elementary serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Big Springs Elementary in Simi Valley, 50.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 38.9% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Big Springs Elementary outperforms its district average for low-income students by 11.1 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (48.1% Math proficient); White students (65.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 15.9 percentage points for hispanic students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 80 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.


For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Exceeded standard · 38%
29.8%
↑ vs CA 21.3% · 58th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 27%
-16.5pp
↓ vs CA -2.9pp · 62th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
59.6%
↑ vs CA 42.7% · 63th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
11.6%
↑ vs CA 17.9% · 60th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
0.1%
↑ vs CA 1.6% · 63th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
35.7%
↑ vs CA 18.0% · 75th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 36929%38%23%10%67%+23
Grade 46935%25%25%16%59%+15
Grade 58235%24%21%20%60%+12
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 36929%43%20%7%72%+27
Grade 47030%23%31%16%53%+11
Grade 58221%26%32%22%46%+11
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/118220%29%45%6%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged8050.0%+11+12
White12765.4%+8+4
Hispanic/Latino7146.5%+8+8
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Big Springs Elementary ←6129.8%59.6%−16.50.1%
White Oak Elementary2.5 mi6831.1%55.8%−7.81.1%
Garden Grove Elementary1.9 mi5518.0%45.4%+5.11.4%
Township Elementary0.8 mi4923.4%53.4%+1.72.1%
California average4521.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20196687#72337.3%66.1%6.3%1.2%+8.7pp
20225784#91632.8%61.8%20.8%1.2%-5.2pp
20235275#142823.1%54.2%14.9%0.8%-1.4pp
20245169#177228.3%56.1%12.2%1.3%-5.3pp
20256183#97129.8%59.6%11.6%0.1%-16.5pp
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female7.2%11.8%+4.6pp
Male5.1%10.5%+5.4pp
Asian4.8%12.5%+7.7pp
Hispanic/Latino10.8%15.1%+4.3pp
Two or More Races11.4%7.7%-3.7pp
Students with Disabilities8.3%13.5%+5.2pp
English Learners11.1%17.6%+6.5pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged13.3%16.1%+2.8pp
All Students6.2%11.2%+5.0pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction