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Los Cerros Middle · Danville

Los Cerros Middle: High scores, real growth, strong attendance. We looked for a catch — we didn't find one.

Los Cerros posts 39.7% exceeding the standard — versus 16.8% statewide — with climate numbers better than most. That doesn't make it perfect. It makes it worth a visit to find what numbers can't measure.

968 Blemer Road, 94526 (opens in new tab)·San Ramon Valley Unified·Danville·Grades 6-8·486 students·5% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(925) 855-6800·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope7243
% Exceeded40%17%
% Met+74%39%
Growth+3.0+1.5
Absence9.0%18.5%
Suspension2.6%3.7%
Scope Score
72
💪 Strong All-Around · Strong
ranked #119 statewide · #6 of 8 in San Ramon Valley Unified

Los Cerros Middle scores 72 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 95th 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 →

💪 Strong All-Around — Ask about what we don't score — class size, electives, the feel of a classroom — strong numbers everywhere on paper don't mean every classroom feels the same.

Most rating sites would stop at “74% proficient” and call it done. Los Cerros deserves a closer read. It sits at the 95th percentile of 2,238 California middle schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

The headline number: 39.7% of students scored in the top band on the state test. The California average is 16.8%.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,238 middle schools statewide

Has held the 95th-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathBlue(Increased Significantly)

Proficiency here is back to its pre-pandemic level — 74% meet the standard, about where the school stood in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 679%75%66%74%73%
Grade 780%80%77%74%77%
Grade 877%79%71%67%80%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 667%64%53%68%69%
Grade 770%59%64%56%74%
Grade 873%64%58%54%68%

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.

36%
37%
27%
Grade 6 · 73% proficient
32%
45%
23%
Grade 7 · 77% proficient
37%
43%
20%
Grade 8 · 80% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding holds steady across grades; the floor rises 7.1pp. 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 5 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
39.7%
State 16.8%
22.9pp above state avg
Growth (G6→G8)
+3.0pp
State +1.5pp
Scores improve across grades
Met or exceeded
73.6%
State 39.3%
34.3pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
9.0%
State 18.5%
9.5pp below state avg
Suspension rate
2.6%
State 3.7%
1.0pp below state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask what the school is working on next. Strong numbers tell you where a school is, not where it's going.

  • 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 Los Cerros Middle in Danville, 71.0% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 75.2% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. Los Cerros Middle trails its district average for white students by 4.2 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (65.0% Math proficient); Asian students (92.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 46.8 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 279 students tested.

All students at this school: 73% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 73%, district —, state 39%73%
WhiteWhite: this school 68%, district 71%, state 56%68% · −6 vs school
MaleMale: this school 68%, district 76%, state 42%68% · −6 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 81%, district 78%, state 44%81% · +7 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 87%, district 86%, state 72%87% · +14 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 29%, district 36%, state 15%29% · −45 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: this school 90%, district 77%, state 56%90% · +17 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 59%, district 57%, state 32%59% · −15 vs school

7 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.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 9.0%, district 9.3%, state 18.5%9.0% · −9.5pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 2.6%, district —, state 3.7%2.6% · −1.0pp vs state

Grades 7–8 students miss school at roughly twice the rate of Grades 4–6 students (10.5% vs 5.4%). Chronic absence here concentrates in the upper grades.

Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–65.4%
Grades 7–810.5%

Where the path goes

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

K-12 Feeder Path

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 20:1, district 23:120:1
Teaching staff24 teachers
Avg. experience16.3 years
Fully credentialed81%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$62,631 – $126,769
Principal salary$169,899 – $193,837
Superintendent salary$395,000

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $17,461, CA average $14,815$17,461 · spent at this school
District current expense · FY 2024–25$17,036 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
Instruction61%
Instruction support12%
Student services10%
Administration6%
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$12,168 per pupil
2019$11,540 per pupil
2018$11,378 per pupil
2017$10,908 per pupil
2016$10,566 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White60.7%
District 31.4% · CA 19.9%
Asian16.7%
District 44.5% · CA 10.2%
Other13.6%
District 13.3% · CA 9.0%
Hispanic8.2%
District 9.2% · CA 56.1%
Black0.8%
District 1.6% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 5.1% (59pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$225K · CA $85K
Median home value$1.68M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+71% · CA 35%
ZIP population32,584
Median age46 years

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

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 58% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Los Cerros Middle a good middle school?

Los Cerros Middle has a Scope Score of 72 out of 100, placing it in the 95th percentile of California middle schools and ranked #119 statewide. 39.7% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 22.9 percentage points above 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 Los Cerros Middle's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 73.6% of students at Los Cerros Middle met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 39.7% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 33.9% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 39.7% 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. 932 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Los Cerros Middle rank in California?

Los Cerros Middle ranks #119 among California middle schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 95th 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 Los Cerros Middle getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Los Cerros Middle increases by 3.0 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 Los Cerros Middle?

9.0% of students at Los Cerros Middle are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 18.5%. The suspension rate is 2.6%. 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 Los Cerros Middle compare to other schools in Danville?

Los Cerros Middle scores 72/100 (95th 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 486 students. Use the schools in Danville page or the map view to compare all middle schools nearby.

How does Los Cerros Middle serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Los Cerros Middle in Danville, 71.0% of white students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 75.2% district-wide and 61.8% statewide. Los Cerros Middle trails its district average for white students by 4.2 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: White students (65.0% Math proficient); Asian students (92.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 46.8 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 279 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%
39.7%
↑ vs CA 16.8% · 75th pctile
Growth (G6→G8) · 27%
+3.0pp
↑ vs CA +1.5pp · 67th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
73.6%
↑ vs CA 39.3% · 77th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
9.0%
↑ vs CA 18.5% · 63th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
2.6%
↑ vs CA 3.7% · 54th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 616336%37%18%9%73%+26
Grade 714632%45%16%8%77%+29
Grade 815637%43%15%5%80%+34
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 616347%23%21%9%69%+34
Grade 714742%32%16%10%74%+40
Grade 815744%24%20%12%68%+36
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/1115636%22%40%2%

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
White27971.0%−4+9
Asian7992.4%+5+18
Students with Disabilities7331.5%−8+15
03Peer comparison · nearest middle schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Los Cerros Middle ←7239.7%73.6%+3.02.6%
Stone Valley Middle2.5 mi6535.9%71.1%+4.23.9%
Charlotte Wood Middle2.6 mi6338.1%73.5%−8.71.6%
California average4316.8%39.3%+1.53.7%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20196390#20737.3%74.2%5.0%3.0%+2.1pp
20226189#23331.5%70.0%10.9%2.9%+1.9pp
20236287#27529.4%64.9%10.7%3.7%+4.4pp
20245683#37531.3%65.7%9.0%4.3%-10.4pp
20257295#11939.7%73.6%9.0%2.6%+3.0pp
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
Female4.8%9.5%+4.7pp
Male5.0%8.1%+3.1pp
Asian6.3%6.2%-0.1pp
Hispanic/Latino7.8%11.9%+4.1pp
Two or More Races4.3%1.9%-2.4pp
Students with Disabilities13.8%16.1%+2.3pp
English Learners0.0%
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged10.0%26.7%+16.7pp
All Students4.9%8.7%+3.8pp
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