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Heber · Heber

Heber: This school runs ahead of the state average. The bar itself is the harder conversation.

Heber posts 43% meeting the standard against 39% statewide — ahead of most, with real headroom above the bar.

1052 Heber Avenue, 92249 (opens in new tab)·Heber Elementary·Heber·Grades 5-8·549 students·69% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(760) 337-6530·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope4943
% Exceeded18%17%
% Met+43%39%
Growth+1.2+1.5
Absence7.1%18.5%
Suspension2.8%3.7%
Scope Score
49
🌱 Building Momentum · Developing
ranked #693 statewide

Heber scores 49 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 69th percentile of 2,238 California middle 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 “43% proficient” and call it done. Heber deserves a closer read. The school sits in Heber, where two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

The headline number: 7.1% chronic absenteeism — versus 18.5% statewide. Attendance is the quietest strong signal a school can post.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,238 middle schools statewide

Has stayed near the 69th percentile since 2019.

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

Proficiency here is back to its pre-pandemic level — 43% meet the standard, about where the school stood in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 457%37%
Grade 557%45%38%46%40%
Grade 646%45%45%47%50%
Grade 766%63%46%47%48%
Grade 855%46%54%50%50%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 450%25%
Grade 526%17%17%38%25%
Grade 627%24%27%35%38%
Grade 749%26%23%25%32%
Grade 831%24%29%29%40%

The story this school is actually telling

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

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

22%
28%
50%
Grade 6 · 50% proficient
14%
34%
52%
Grade 7 · 48% proficient
18%
32%
50%
Grade 8 · 50% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding falls 3.5pp across grades; the proficiency floor barely moves. The state average falls 0.5pp over the same span. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

The 6 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
18.0%
State 16.8%
1.2pp above state avg
Growth (G6→G8)
+1.2pp
State +1.5pp
Scores improve across grades
Met or exceeded
42.9%
State 39.3%
3.6pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
7.1%
State 18.5%
11.4pp below state avg
Suspension rate
2.8%
State 3.7%
0.8pp below state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
16.9%
State 18.0%
1.1pp below state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask how the school challenges kids who clear the standard early. The gap between meeting and exceeding is where pacing shows.

  • 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.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Heber in Heber, 39.2% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 40.0% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Heber trails its district average for low-income students by 0.7 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (29.6% Math proficient); Hispanic students (47.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 31.0 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 372 students tested.

All students at this school: 41% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 41%, district —, state 39%41%
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 41%, district 43%, state 32%41% · +0 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 34%, district 37%, state 32%34% · −6 vs school
MaleMale: this school 42%, district 43%, state 42%42% · +1 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 40%, district 43%, state 44%40% · −1 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 13%, district 23%, state 11%13% · −28 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 14%, district 17%, state 15%14% · −26 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: too few students to report‹11
Black/African AmericanBlack/African American: too few students to report‹11
WhiteWhite: too few students to report‹11
Foster YouthFoster Youth: too few students to report‹11
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 rises by 0.8pp from grade 6 to grade 8 at this school. District average: +0.8pp.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 7.1%, district 7.1%, state 18.5%7.1% · −11.4pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 2.8%, district —, state 3.7%2.8% · −0.8pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–66.5%
Grades 7–87.0%

Where the path goes

The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.

K-12 Feeder Path
High School
No feeder data available for this level

Estimated path based on proximity within the same district. Contact your school district for official feeder information.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 21:1, district 20:121:1
Teaching staff27 teachers
Avg. experience11.3 years
Fully credentialed80%
Intern / emergency permit3.2%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$59,373 – $141,761
Principal salary$168,252 – $0
Superintendent salary$253,309

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $20,616, CA average $14,815$20,616 · spent at this school
Federal share$3,108 per student

$3,108 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$21,697 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
Instruction64%
Instruction support8%
Student services5%
Administration10%
Buildings & maintenance10%
Other2%

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$15,557 per pupil
2019$13,317 per pupil
2018$13,405 per pupil
2017$12,525 per pupil
2016$11,361 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Hispanic99.1%
District 98.3% · CA 56.1%
Other0.6%
District 0.5% · CA 9.0%
White0.2%
District 1.1% · CA 19.9%
Black0.2%
District 0.1% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 68.8% (5pp above CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$72K · CA $85K
Median home value$336K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+24% · CA 35%
ZIP population7,312
Median age32 years

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

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 28% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Heber a good middle school?

Heber has a Scope Score of 49 out of 100, placing it in the 69th percentile of California middle schools and ranked #693 statewide. 18.0% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is near the California average of 16.8%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for middle schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 6-to-8 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 Heber's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 42.9% of students at Heber met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 18.0% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 24.8% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 18.0% 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. 852 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Heber rank in California?

Heber ranks #693 among California middle schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 69th 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 Heber getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Heber increases by 1.2 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 Heber?

7.1% of students at Heber are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 18.5%. The suspension rate is 2.8%. 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 Heber compare to other schools in Heber?

Heber scores 49/100 (69th 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. The school serves 549 students. Use the schools in Heber page or the map view to compare all middle schools nearby.

How does Heber serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Heber in Heber, 39.2% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 40.0% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Heber trails its district average for low-income students by 0.7 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (29.6% Math proficient); Hispanic students (47.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 31.0 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 372 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%
18.0%
↑ vs CA 16.8% · 51th pctile
Growth (G6→G8) · 27%
+1.2pp
↓ vs CA +1.5pp · 60th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
42.9%
↑ vs CA 39.3% · 53th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
7.1%
↑ vs CA 18.5% · 66th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
2.8%
↑ vs CA 3.7% · 53th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
16.9%
↓ vs CA 18.0% · 44th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 512211%29%19%41%40%−8
Grade 612922%28%20%30%50%+3
Grade 713814%34%25%27%48%+0
Grade 815918%32%30%20%50%+4
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 512210%16%31%43%25%−10
Grade 612923%15%24%38%38%+3
Grade 713812%20%26%42%32%−2
Grade 815919%21%33%28%40%+7
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/112817%21%60%11%

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 Disadvantaged37239.2%−1+1
Hispanic/Latino53647.4%−0+9
English Learners21216.0%−7+6
03Peer comparison · nearest middle schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Heber ←4918.0%42.9%+1.22.8%
California average4316.8%39.3%+1.53.7%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20194667#66016.0%45.6%5.8%1.6%+6.5pp
20224261#83713.0%38.0%3.4%3.3%-0.0pp
20234663#80113.3%37.4%14.5%4.1%+5.5pp
20244362#84912.7%39.0%8.3%2.6%-1.2pp
20254969#69318.0%42.9%7.1%2.8%+1.2pp
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
Female5.0%8.6%+3.6pp
Male6.7%5.1%-1.6pp
Hispanic/Latino5.9%6.6%+0.7pp
Students with Disabilities11.0%8.0%-3.0pp
English Learners7.6%9.0%+1.4pp
Military-Connected5.8%4.3%-1.5pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged6.5%7.6%+1.1pp
All Students5.8%6.7%+0.9pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,238 middle 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