Public school · Muroc Joint Unified

Desert Junior-Senior High — Rating & test scores

1575 Payne Avenue, Edwards · 497 students · Grades 7–12

How to enroll
Compare

Compare schools

Choose up to four high schools.

Type at least two characters to search.

Save

Sign in to save this school

Shared campus · © OpenStreetMap

The California School Campus Database records William A. Bailey Elementary and Irving L. Branch Elementary on this campus too; it gives each school the whole campus, so this drawing doesn’t show which buildings each uses.

Drawn from OpenStreetMap, inside the campus outline from the California School Campus Database (2025). Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 73

DevelopingScope Score · 40th percentile. Higher than 40 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 100% of the class graduated in four years (64 of 64); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 64
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

This rating covers grade 11. Desert Junior-Senior High teaches 7–12.

Overview

Is Desert Junior-Senior a good high school?

Developing. Desert Junior-Senior is lower than most California high schools on test results and attendance.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced3251%
Math, Proficient or Advanced1411%
English, Advanced4724%
Math, Advanced92%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance2031 in 100
Desert Junior-Senior’s place among California high schools, out of 100Muroc Joint Unified’s other high schoolBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 19% scored Proficient or Advanced in math, against 32% across California.

Each bar is Desert Junior-Senior’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 413,523 in math tested).

In its own words

What does Desert Junior-Senior say about itself?

We haven’t read Desert Junior-Senior’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.

Open desert.muroc.k12.ca.us (opens in a new tab)

Schools like it

How does Desert Junior-Senior compare with schools like it?

Desert Junior-Senior’s Scope Score is 73. 75 California high schools, counting Desert Junior-Senior, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 89. Desert Junior-Senior’s result is higher than 1 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 75

  1. Students from low-income families: 11%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 7%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 12%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 12%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 18%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

75 California public high schools where 7% to 19% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 7% to 19% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Desert Junior-Senior’s share. The count includes Desert Junior-Senior. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

English results were similar to 2025; math results were higher. English went from 51% to 53% and math from 11% to 19%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%20172018201920222023202420252026Both 59%57%CaliforniaCalifornia53%Desert Junior-SeniorThis school39%Muroc Joint UnifiedDistrict

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202632%39%32%CaliforniaCalifornia19%Desert Junior-SeniorThis school14%Muroc Joint UnifiedDistrict

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Muroc Joint Unified’s line combines its 2 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other school. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. Muroc Joint Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringDesert Junior-SeniorMuroc Joint UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201759%59%60%71
201858%44%56%90
201973%63%57%79
202260%47%55%60
202354%46%55%63
202457%46%56%60
202551%46%57%55
202653%39%57%59
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringDesert Junior-SeniorMuroc Joint UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201739%32%32%71
201827%19%31%88
201937%31%32%78
202223%16%27%61
202321%19%27%62
202418%12%28%61
202511%22%30%54
202619%14%32%59

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Near California in English; well below it in math.

English

53%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

20273122
Muroc Joint Unified39%California57%

Math

19%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

592217
Muroc Joint Unified14%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 53% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 19% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 34 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

How do the middle grades do?

Well below California in both subjects. In grades 7 and 8, spring 2026, 40% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 16% in math, against 50% and 37% across California.

English

40%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

342635
Muroc Joint Unified30%California50%

Math

16%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

582611
Muroc Joint Unified12%California37%
Results for each grade, spring 2026

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English

English, grades 7 and 8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced35%44%
Advanced7%4%
Proficient28%40%
Developing level28%26%
Minimal37%30%
Tested9196
California51%49%
Difference−16−5
English, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced53%
Advanced22%
Proficient31%
Developing level27%
Minimal20%
Tested59
California57%
Difference−4

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math

Math, grades 7 and 8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced18%14%
Advanced7%3%
Proficient11%11%
Developing level29%23%
Minimal53%63%
Tested9095
California38%36%
Difference−20−22
Math, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced19%
Advanced2%
Proficient17%
Developing level22%
Minimal59%
Tested59
California32%
Difference−13

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school22%31%27%20%59
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Muroc Joint Unified15%24%27%34%93
Math, grade 11 · This school2%17%22%59%59
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Muroc Joint Unified2%12%15%71%92
English, grades 7 and 8 · This school5%35%26%34%187
English, grades 7 and 8 · California19%31%23%27%838,600
English, grades 7 and 8 · Muroc Joint Unified4%26%26%44%261
Math, grades 7 and 8 · This school5%11%26%58%185
Math, grades 7 and 8 · California21%16%23%40%838,896
Math, grades 7 and 8 · Muroc Joint Unified4%8%26%62%265

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 59 tested in English, 59 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here, at 39% of students. 148 of 519 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

28in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (148 of 519 students).

At the average Muroc Joint Unified high school: 39 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Students, 2024–25

497

students in grades 7–12.

Hispanic or Latino 39%White 33%Two or more races 13%Black or African American 5%Filipino 4%Not reported 3%

Family income

13%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 66 of 497. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

33

teachers, with 10 years of experience on average.

3% were in their first year.

89% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

Suspensions, 2025–26

2.3%

of students were suspended at least once (12 of 530). Average California high school 2.9%.

Sources: California Department of Education. Each tile names its year.

Missing school, by grade
Grades 7–8
23 in 100 students in grades 7–8 were chronically absent (46 of 197).
Grades 9–12
32 in 100 students in grades 9–12 were chronically absent (102 of 322).
Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
Hispanic or Latino39%
White33%
Two or more races13%
Black or African American5%
Filipino4%
Not reported3%
Asian—
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 24.7 of 27.8 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

100% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 47% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 64% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

47%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

39%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

100%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 64 of 64 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

47%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 30 of 64 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

39%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 25 of 64 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

64% enrolled in college within 12 months · 61 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓5 · 8%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓5 · 8%
  • California community college22 · 36%
  • In-state private3 · 5%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year2 · 4%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year2 · 3%
  • Not enrolled22 · 36%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
64%enrolled in college within a year

61 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California5 (8%)
  • California State University5 (8%)
  • California community college22 (36%)
  • In-state private3 (5%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year2 (4%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year2 (3%)
  • Not enrolled22 (36%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 64 of 64 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 30 of 64 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 25 of 64 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
12
Admitted
8
Enrolled
3

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC San DiegoApplied 10 · Admitted 5 · Enrolled under 3
  • UCLAApplied 8 · Admitted under 3 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 7 · Admitted under 3 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 7 · Admitted 3 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC IrvineApplied 6 · Admitted 3 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC DavisApplied 5 · Admitted 3 · Enrolled under 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 12 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled 3
  • Fall 2024Applied 13 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled 3
  • Fall 2023Applied 11 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled 5
  • Fall 2022Applied 21 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled 3
  • Fall 2021Applied 18 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled 7
  • Fall 2020Applied 6 · Admitted 4 · Enrolled 3
  • Fall 2019Applied 14 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled 8
  • Fall 2018Applied 18 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled 8
  • Fall 2017Applied 10 · Admitted 5 · Enrolled 3
  • Fall 2016Applied 16 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled 9

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
15
Admitted
14
Enrolled
10

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • San Diego StateApplied 44 · Admitted 14 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 41 · Admitted 28 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 27 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 25 · Admitted 19 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 23 · Admitted 22 · Enrolled 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 20 · Admitted 18 · Enrolled 6
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 18 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 17 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 17 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled under 6
  • San José StateApplied 14 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 13 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 10 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 8 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 8 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 7 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled —
  • San Francisco StateApplied 7 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled —
  • Chico StateApplied 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State East BayApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 15 · Admitted 14 · Enrolled 10
  • Fall 2024Applied 23 · Admitted 22 · Enrolled 11
  • Fall 2023Applied 14 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fall 2022Applied 26 · Admitted 26 · Enrolled 11
  • Fall 2021Applied 16 · Admitted 16 · Enrolled 7
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 12 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science1
  • Sciences3
  • English2
  • History & Social Science4
  • World Languages & Cultures1
  • AP Capstone1
Every approved AP course12 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 1
  • Calculus AB
Sciences 3
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 4
  • Comparative Government and Politics
  • European History
  • Human Geography
  • United States History
World Languages & Cultures 1
  • Spanish Language and Culture
AP Capstone 1
  • Seminar

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families can answer a short set of questions about Desert Junior-Senior. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  2. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  3. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

Staff can’t answer for this school yet

We don’t check staff emails for Muroc Joint Unified yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

Money

Where does the money go?

$9,560 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Muroc Joint Unified’s plan for 2026–27 covers $3 million.

$9,560

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$9,523
The school’s share of district office costs
$37
Of the total, from federal funds
$311
  • Desert Junior-Senior$9,560
  • Muroc Joint Unified high schools$11,833
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

Muroc Joint Unified’s yearly plan

$3million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 5 goals. The district’s page lists each one. The plan covers $3 million of $32 million in total budgeted spending. Source: Muroc Joint Unified Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around Desert Junior-Senior like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 93523. They are not figures for the families at Desert Junior-Senior.

Typical household income in a year

$70,227

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 93523.

Typical home value
$198,900
People who live in this ZIP code
3,502
Typical age
26.1 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
38%

What you can do

Who can act on Desert Junior-Senior’s results?

The state took Desert Junior-Senior out of extra targeted support; Muroc Joint Unified’s board decides its plan.

How to take part

  1. Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  2. Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  3. Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  4. Read the midyear report, due by February 28.

What has the state flagged?

The state took the school off the list for 2025–26. The school was on the list in 2024–25.

Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 6 questions to Desert Junior-Senior. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do Two or More Races students get, and how do you know it’s working?9% of Two or More Races students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grades 7 and 8, spring 2026 (33 students tested); the same group across California: 50%
  2. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  3. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  4. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into Desert Junior-Senior, and how do I get in?

Ask Muroc Joint Unified which school serves your address.

  1. Elementary
    Irving L. Branch Elementary
    Scope Score 72Developing · 33rd percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  2. Middle
    Link not recorded
    Ask the district about this stage.
  3. High · this school
    Desert Junior-Senior High
    Grades 7–12Scope Score 73Developing · 40th percentile

These links come from past records and from distance. Confirm your child’s school with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Irving L. Branch Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 72 · Developing · 33rd percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking. Older zone links come from the federal School Attendance Boundary Survey (NCES SABS).

Where it is

Where is Desert Junior-Senior?

Address
1575 Payne Avenue, Edwards 93523Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
John SiercksAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated June 13, 2023.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Muroc Joint Unified which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Desert Junior-Senior a good high school?

Desert Junior-Senior High has a Scope Score of 73. It scored higher than 40 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Developing, 40th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 28 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 39 in 100 at the average Muroc Joint Unified high school. 2.3% of students (12 of 530) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 34 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 35% of Hispanic or Latino students in grades 7, 8 and 11 at Desert Junior-Senior High in Edwards scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 43% for the same group across California.

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 12 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26. See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

64% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 18 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
18
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #897 of 1,498 California high schools we score
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate100%6425%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math13%4622%
Ready for college or career (state measure)47%5220%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math31%4618%
Chronically absent31 in 100495%
Suspension rate1.5% (8 of 534)575%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests. The weights above add to 95%: English learners reaching the top level of the state’s English test has no value for this school, so its 5% weight is shared out among the measures above.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–257340#897California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–1913 in 1005.0% (27 of 536)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2427 in 1002.5% (13 of 514)
2024–2531 in 1001.5% (8 of 534)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English2469%43%
2026 · Math2444%16%
2025 · English25211%45%
2025 · Math2504%15%
2024 · English2469%37%
2024 · Math2464%18%
2023 · English2278%34%
2023 · Math2264%19%
2022 · English22116%48%
2022 · Math22210%27%
2019 · English25521%58%
2019 · Math25417%37%
2018 · English27415%51%
2018 · Math27113%31%
2017 · English26317%50%
2017 · Math26216%33%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 7 · English10043%
2025 · Grade 8 · English9743%
2025 · Grade 11 · English5551%
2025 · Grade 7 · Math10016%
2025 · Grade 8 · Math9617%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math5411%
2024 · Grade 7 · English8834%
2024 · Grade 8 · English9827%
2024 · Grade 11 · English6057%
2024 · Grade 7 · Math8921%
2024 · Grade 8 · Math9616%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math6118%
2023 · Grade 7 · English9029%
2023 · Grade 8 · English7423%
2023 · Grade 11 · English6354%
2023 · Grade 7 · Math9022%
2023 · Grade 8 · Math7414%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math6221%
2022 · Grade 7 · English7144%
2022 · Grade 8 · English9042%
2022 · Grade 11 · English6060%
2022 · Grade 7 · Math7130%
2022 · Grade 8 · Math9028%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math6123%
2019 · Grade 7 · English9551%
2019 · Grade 8 · English8152%
2019 · Grade 11 · English7973%
2019 · Grade 7 · Math9538%
2019 · Grade 8 · Math8137%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math7837%
2018 · Grade 7 · English8549%
2018 · Grade 8 · English9946%
2018 · Grade 11 · English9058%
2018 · Grade 7 · Math8538%
2018 · Grade 8 · Math9830%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math8827%
2017 · Grade 7 · English10444%
2017 · Grade 8 · English8850%
2017 · Grade 11 · English7159%
2017 · Grade 7 · Math10337%
2017 · Grade 8 · Math8823%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math7139%

Current 2025–26 grade results are under Academic achievement, in Results for each grade. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide1602%23%56%18%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Hispanic or Latino9635%+9−8
White8049%+12−15
Two or more races (grades 7 and 8 only)3435%+4−28
Student groups: the state’s growth measureCalifornia School Dashboard 2025 · points above or below what the state expected · shown, not part of the score
GroupEnglishnCDE categoryMathnCDE category
All students+3165Average−20166Moderate
English-only students+3150not categorized−22151not categorized
White−163Average−1763Moderate
Hispanic or Latino+360Average−2561Minimal
Low-income+529Accelerated−1429Moderate
Students with disabilities−222Average+123Average
Two or more races−820Moderate−2120Minimal

CDE reports scale-score points against the state’s expected score — not a percentage or percentile. The table keeps the group records SchoolScope imported for this school, including rows below our narrative display threshold. Muted rows have fewer than 30 students with a valid growth score. SchoolScope uses that threshold for the shorter narrative view; the reported values stay visible here. “Not categorized” means this imported CDE row has a growth value without a performance category. At least one estimate here is a CDE weighted estimate; that describes how CDE combines years, not a year-over-year trend. A group absent from this table has no imported record shown here. Its absence alone does not establish its size or performance. CDE growth covers grades 4–8; here that is grades 7 and 8. SchoolScope does not use these CDE figures in its Scope Score.

Growth recordsthe state’s student-by-student measure
California growth model · points vs expected

State model · English+3 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 7 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

Weighted school estimate; assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

All students, grades 7 and 8

165 students

CDE growth category: Average

California growth model, English: +3 scale-score points versus the state's expectation, CDE category Average, against SchoolScope's +1-point median for California high school records.

State model · math−20 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 7 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

Weighted school estimate; assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

All students, grades 7 and 8

166 students

CDE growth category: Moderate

California growth model, math: −20 scale-score points versus the state's expectation, CDE category Moderate, against SchoolScope's −6-point median for California high school records.

Source notes. CDE reports scale-score points against the state’s expected score for matched students, never a percentage. Among SchoolScope's retained California high school records, the median English estimate is +1 and the middle half fall between −9 and +7 scale-score points — the spread is wide, so read the figure against it, not its sign alone. CDE's 2025 Dashboard weighted school estimate uses assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25; adjacent reporting editions should not be read as independent annual changes. The CDE measure covers grades 4–8; here that is grades 7 and 8, and it is not part of the Scope Score.

Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 31 in 100 → 2025–26 · 28 in 100 · −3 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 1.5% (8 of 534) → 2025–26 · 2.3% (12 of 530) · +0.8 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female13 in 10034 in 100+21 in 100
Male14 in 10022 in 100+8 in 100
Black or African American3 of 4212 of 27—
Filipino4 of 305 of 23—
Hispanic or Latino12 in 10024 in 100+12 in 100
Two or more races10 of 7428 of 68—
White16 in 10028 in 100+12 in 100
Students with disabilities9 of 5535 of 81—
Low-income15 of 7829 of 80—
All students13 in 10028 in 100+15 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 47% · numerator 30 students classified Prepared · denominator 64 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 70% · AP-pathway numerator 21 · denominator 30 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 30 of 64 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
100%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
70%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
39%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
64%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
202512834.174.25—
202413633.774.02—
202311653.874.114.16
2022211133.884.01—
2021181073.883.924.01
20206433.94——
2019141184.014.154.28
201818983.834.154.19
201710533.854.09—
2016161394.064.154.16

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley20257under 3under 3
Berkeley202212under 3under 3
Berkeley20215under 3under 3
Davis202553under 3
Davis20245under 3under 3
Davis2022943
Davis20215under 3under 3
Irvine202563under 3
Irvine20238under 3under 3
Irvine202210under 3under 3
Irvine20219under 3under 3
Los Angeles20258under 3under 3
Los Angeles20246under 3under 3
Los Angeles20238under 3under 3
Los Angeles202212under 3under 3
Los Angeles202113under 3under 3
Riverside202253under 3
San Diego2025105under 3
San Diego20247under 3under 3
San Diego202364under 3
San Diego20227under 3under 3
San Diego2021105under 3
Santa Barbara202573under 3
Santa Barbara20248under 3under 3
Santa Barbara20236under 3under 3
Santa Barbara202210under 3under 3
Santa Cruz20229under 3under 3
Universitywide20251283
Universitywide20241363
Universitywide20231165
Universitywide202221113
Universitywide202118107

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Chemistrythis school
Comparative Government and Politicsthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
European Historythis school
Human Geographythis school
Seminarthis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
United States Historythis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count8
AP enrollment (male/female)81
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentnot offered
Algebra I in grade 8offered
Calculus sections1
Physics sections1
Chemistry sections4
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)455

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California58%
California State University58%
California community college2236%
In-state private35%
Out-of-state, 4-year24%
Out-of-state, 2-year23%
Not enrolled2236%

61 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 64% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$12,801 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 1,687 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$302 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 497

Central federal expenditures attributed here$9 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 497

District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,670 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 60%Instruction support 7%Student services 10%Administration 7%Buildings & maintenance 14%Other 2%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$18,184,55959.99%60%
Instruction support$2,122,3167.00%7%
Student services$3,015,8619.95%10%
Administration$2,191,1567.23%7%
Buildings & maintenance$4,287,54714.14%14%
Other$512,7041.69%2%
Total$30,314,143100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $30,314,143 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$12,801 per pupil
2020$11,622 per pupil
2019$11,889 per pupil
2018$16,081 per pupil
2017$12,851 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.0%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 93523 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 93523 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$70,227
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)38%
ZIP-area population3,502
Median age26.1 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 93523 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

Embed this scorecard

<iframe
  src="https://schoolscope.co/embed/school/desert-junior-senior-high-1987"
  width="100%" height="210" loading="lazy"
  style="border:0;border-radius:12px"
  title="Desert Junior-Senior High — SchoolScope scorecard">
</iframe>

Free to embed with the credit link. Data updates automatically.

Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

How we analyzeRequest a correction