School Profile · Palmdale
Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma: The scores are below where anyone wants them. Here's what they don't tell you.
Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma posts low test scores — and scores are climbing 5.6pp from grade 6 to grade 8. If this is your zoned school, the numbers below are where to start a conversation, not where to end one.
36555 Sunny Lane, 93550·Palmdale Elementary·Palmdale·Grades 6-8·2024–25 CAASPP·(661) 285-5866·Website
Scope Score
22
📈 On the Rise · Needs Support
ranked #1,493 statewide · #7 of 11 in Palmdale Elementary
Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma scores 22 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 13th percentile of 1,714 California middle schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →
Most rating sites would stop at “20% proficient” and call it done. Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma deserves a closer read. It sits at the 13th percentile of 1,714 California middle schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.
Test scores are one lens, and at this school they're a rough one right now. The sections below show the fuller picture — including the parts that are working.
The story this school is actually telling
The school, grade by grade
ELA · CAASPP 2024–25Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.
21%
73%
Grade 6 · 27% proficient
25%
69%
Grade 7 · 31% proficient
8%
25%
67%
Grade 8 · 33% proficient
The 6 things our score weighs
Exceeded standard
5.0%
State 17.3%
12.3pp below state avg
Met or exceeded
19.9%
State 39.5%
19.6pp below state avg
Growth (G6→G8)
+5.6pp
State +0.8pp
Scores improve across grades
Chronic absenteeism
33.4%
State 19.1%
14.3pp above state avg
Suspension rate
10.7%
State 4.2%
6.5pp above state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
13.9%
State 17.7%
3.9pp below state avg
Worth a school visit
Ask what changed in the last two years, and what the school is asking families for. Growth shows up in these numbers a year or two after it shows up in classrooms.
Where the path goes
The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.
K-12 Feeder Path
Elementary
Estimated path based on proximity within the same district. Contact your school district for official feeder information.
Your other options
Nearby Middle Schools
2 within ~3 mi · avg 21
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Ac
Palmdale Elementary · 2.1 mi
Needs Support
22/100
Cactus Medical, Health and Technology Magnet Acade
Palmdale Elementary · 1.5 mi
Needs Support
20/100
Nearby Elementary Schools
3 within ~3 mi · avg 39
Barrel Springs Elementary
Palmdale Elementary · 1 mi
Developing
47/100
Innovations Academy of Palmdale
Palmdale Elementary · 1.5 mi
Developing
41/100
Tumbleweed Elementary
Palmdale Elementary · 2.2 mi
Developing
31/100
Private alternatives nearby
Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.
Empowered Church International/ Learning Academy
E Ave J · Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-6 · 25 students
10:1Private10.2 mi
Lancaster Baptist School
E Lancaster Blvd · Amish · Grades Pre-K-12 · 381 students
20:1Private10.4 mi
Grace Lutheran Christian School
W Newgrove St · Greek Orthodox · Grades Pre-K-8 · 124 students
13:1Private10.8 mi
Calvary Chapel Christian School
W Ave J · Brethren · Grades Pre-K-11 · 27 students
2:1Private11 mi
The community around it
Community Profile
Context — not part of the Scope ScoreStudent demographics
Hispanic80.1%
White3.7%
Asian0.4%
Black12.4%
Other3.3%
GenderFemale 51.1%Male 48.9%
Resources & Access
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,205
District avg: $15,361 · CA avg: $14,815 · School-level · CDE ESSA
EL Proficiency (ELPAC)
13.9% Level 4
Share of English Learners reaching full proficiency
Teacher Salary Range
$58,752 – $131,333
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
At Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma in Palmdale, 29.7% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 27.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma outperforms its district average for low-income students by 1.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (9.0% Math proficient); Hispanic students (30.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 28.3 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 818 students tested.
Equity Gaps
Absenteeism · Two or More Races+40.3pp
73.7% vs 33.4% overall · n=19
Suspension · Black+16.9pp
27.6% vs 10.7% overall · n=152
ELA · English Learner−28.3pp
1.9% vs 30.2% overall · n=91
3 more gaps by subject
ELA Exceeded · English Learner−6.5pp
0.0% vs 6.5% overall · n=91
Math · English Learner−8.9pp
0.9% vs 9.8% overall · n=94
Math Exceeded · Disabilities−3.5pp
0.0% vs 3.5% overall · n=119
Subgroups with fewer than 15 students are excluded for privacy. Gaps of less than 3 percentage points are not shown.
Subgroup Proficiency
Low-Income818 tested
ELA 29.7%·Math 9.0%· +1.9pp vs district
Hispanic712 tested
ELA 30.7%·Math 8.9%· -1.2pp vs district
Disabilities119 tested
ELA 5.0%·Math 2.5%· -2.3pp vs district
Weighted average across tested grades. Subgroups with fewer than 15 students excluded. Data: CDE CAASPP 2024-25.
Subgroup Growth by Grade
Change in proficiency from lowest tested grade. Shows which groups are gaining ground.
Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 7.0pp from grade 6 to grade 8 at this school. District average: +5.0pp.
Subgroups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.
Funding Breakdown
Neighborhood Context
Median Income
$62K
$23K below CA median
Median Home Value
$421K
$238K below CA median
Bachelor's+
10%
25pp below CA avg
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level
Whole Child
Teacher experience, college/career readiness, and more. Context only — never part of the Scope Score.
Teacher Experience
7.7 years avg experience
46 teachers · 15% first-year · 17% second-year
Teacher Credentials
76% fully credentialed
2.2% on intern/emergency permit
Source: CDE SARC, 2024-25
Community Profile provides context about who attends this school and the resources available. These factors are never part of the Scope Score. Learn why →
For the data nerdsEvery number on this page
Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.
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 · 43%
5.0%
↓ vs CA 17.3% · 37th pctile
Met or exceeded · 22%
19.9%
↓ vs CA 39.5% · 35th pctile
Growth (G6→G8) · 15%
+5.6pp
↑ vs CA +0.8pp · 46th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 10%
33.4%
↓ vs CA 19.1% · 30th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
10.7%
↓ vs CA 4.2% · 25th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
13.9%
↓ vs CA 17.7% · 49th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
| ELA | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 233 | 6% | 21% | 25% | 49% | 27% | −20 |
| Grade 7 | 321 | 6% | 25% | 22% | 48% | 31% | −17 |
| Grade 8 | 337 | 8% | 25% | 27% | 39% | 33% | −13 |
| Math | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 233 | 3% | 6% | 21% | 71% | 8% | −27 |
| Grade 7 | 318 | 3% | 5% | 20% | 72% | 8% | −25 |
| Grade 8 | 339 | 5% | 8% | 16% | 71% | 13% | −20 |
| Science (CAST) | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5/8/11 | 338 | 2% | 9% | 71% | 18% |
CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.
| Subgroup · ELA | Tested | MET+ | vs district | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socioeconomically Disadvantaged | 818 | 29.7% | +2 | −8 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 712 | 30.7% | −1 | −8 |
| Students with Disabilities | 119 | 5.0% | −2 | −12 |
03Peer comparison · nearest middle schoolssorted by Scope Score
| School | Dist | Scope | EXC | MET+ | Growth | Susp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma ← | — | 22 | 5.0% | 19.9% | +5.6 | 10.7% |
| Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Ac | 2.1 mi | 22 | 4.5% | 19.3% | +2.6 | 9.4% |
| Cactus Medical, Health and Technology Magnet Acade | 1.5 mi | 20 | 5.4% | 18.8% | +1.8 | 14.9% |
| California average | — | 40 | 17.3% | 39.5% | +0.8 | 4.2% |
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Scope Score history
2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · no testing 2020–21 (COVID) · rank #1447 → #1270 → #1194 → #1486 → #1493
Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=1,714 middle schools · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue
A low score doesn't tell the whole story. Read: Your School Scored Low — Here's What That Actually Means
Frequently asked questions
Is Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma a good middle school?
Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma has a Scope Score of 22 out of 100, placing it in the 13th percentile of California middle schools and ranked #1,493 statewide. 5.0% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 12.3 percentage points below the California average of 17.3%. The Scope Score weights six dimensions for middle schools: exceeded standard (43%), met or exceeded (22%), grade 3-to-5 growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%), and suspension rate (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What are Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma's CAASPP test scores?
On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 19.9% of students at Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 5.0% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 15.0% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 5.0% 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. 1,781 student-subject combinations were assessed.
How does Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma rank in California?
Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma ranks #1,493 among California middle schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 13th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 6 to grade 8 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 Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma getting better or worse?
Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma increases by 5.6 percentage points from Grade 6 to grade 8 growth. This upward trajectory suggests the school is adding measurable value — students leave with higher proficiency rates than they entered with. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the middle 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 Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma?
33.4% of students at Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), compared to the California average of 19.1%. The suspension rate is 10.7%. 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 Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma compare to other schools in Palmdale?
Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma scores 22/100 (13th percentile) among California middle schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. Use the schools in Palmdale page or the map view to compare all middle schools nearby.
How does Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma serve low-income and underrepresented students?
At Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma in Palmdale, 29.7% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 27.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma outperforms its district average for low-income students by 1.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (9.0% Math proficient); Hispanic students (30.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 28.3 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 818 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.