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Summerwind Elementary · Palmdale

Summerwind Elementary: The scores are below where anyone wants them. Here's what they don't tell you.

Summerwind posts low test scores — and the same students gain more here than at most schools between grade 3 and grade 5. If this is your zoned school, the numbers below are where to start a conversation, not where to end one.

39360 Summerwind Drive, 93551 (opens in new tab)·Palmdale Elementary·Palmdale·Grades TK-5·569 students·82% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(661) 947-3863·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope3345
% Exceeded7%21%
% Met+18%43%
Growth+11.0-2.9
Absence39.8%17.9%
Suspension7.2%1.6%
Scope Score
33
📈 On the Rise · Developing
ranked #4,315 statewide · #13 of 22 in Palmdale Elementary

Summerwind Elementary scores 33 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 25th percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

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

📈 On the Rise — Ask how many years the improvement has held, not just the latest one — one strong cohort and a real turnaround can look identical in a single year of data.

Most rating sites would stop at “18% proficient” and call it done. Summerwind deserves a closer read. The school sits in Palmdale, where four in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

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 seven-year arc

Percentile among 5,744 elementary schools statewide

Climbed from the 16th to the 25th percentile since 2019 — past roughly 300 elementary schools.

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

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 18% meet the standard today, versus 31% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 337%16%12%7%13%
Grade 432%21%18%25%20%
Grade 537%21%26%23%28%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 341%12%7%7%11%
Grade 424%13%16%12%17%
Grade 518%12%17%13%19%

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.

11%
87%
Grade 3 · 13% proficient
11%
9%
80%
Grade 4 · 20% proficient
13%
16%
71%
Grade 5 · 29% proficient

The 6 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
6.8%
State 21.3%
14.5pp below state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
+11.0pp
State -2.9pp
Scores improve across grades
Met or exceeded
18.2%
State 42.7%
24.5pp below state avg
Chronic absenteeism
39.8%
State 17.9%
21.9pp above state avg
Suspension rate
7.2%
State 1.6%
5.6pp above state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
15.2%
State 18.0%
2.8pp 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.

  • Ask how the school follows up when a student starts missing days — chronic absence often starts outside the classroom, not inside it.
  • Ask what typically leads to a suspension, and what happens before it gets there.
  • 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 Summerwind Elementary in Palmdale, 16.4% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 27.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Summerwind Elementary trails its district average for low-income students by 11.4 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (12.9% Math proficient); Hispanic students (21.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 18.6 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 274 students tested.

All students at this school: 18% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 18%, district —, state 43%18%
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 15%, district 22%, state 32%15% · −4 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 19%, district 26%, state 32%19% · +1 vs school
MaleMale: this school 18%, district 24%, state 42%18% · −0 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 18%, district 25%, state 44%18% · +0 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 3%, district 6%, state 15%3% · −15 vs school
Black/African AmericanBlack/African American: this school 6%, district 13%, state 26%6% · −12 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 4%, district 5%, state 11%4% · −14 vs school

8 of 16 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

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

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

Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 9.1pp from grade 3 to grade 5 at this school. District average: +5.4pp.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 39.8%, district 29.9%, state 17.9%39.8% · +21.9pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 7.2%, district —, state 1.6%7.2% · +5.6pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–638.8%
TK/K45.7%

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 27:1, district 25:127:1
Teaching staff23 teachers
Avg. experience11.2 years
Fully credentialed83%
First-year teachers9%
Intern / emergency permit4.3%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$58,752 – $131,333
Principal salary$148,872 – $157,080
Superintendent salary$334,851

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $22,328, CA average $14,815$22,328 · spent at this school
Federal share$843 per student

$843 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$22,456 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
Instruction59%
Instruction support11%
Student services12%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance10%

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$15,361 per pupil
2019$14,286 per pupil
2018$13,697 per pupil
2017$12,106 per pupil
2016$11,281 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Hispanic66.1%
District 78.6% · CA 56.1%
Black22.7%
District 12.5% · CA 4.8%
Other5.5%
District 4.3% · CA 9.0%
White4.6%
District 4.0% · CA 19.9%
Asian1.2%
District 0.6% · CA 10.2%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 81.5% (18pp above CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$120K · CA $85K
Median home value$585K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+31% · CA 35%
ZIP population54,360
Median age37 years

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

Worth Knowing

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

On the state's science test (CAST), 15% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Summerwind Elementary a good elementary school?

Summerwind Elementary has a Scope Score of 33 out of 100, placing it in the 25th percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #4,315 statewide. 6.8% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 14.5 percentage points below the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Summerwind Elementary's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 18.2% of students at Summerwind Elementary met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 6.8% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 11.4% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 6.8% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 620 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Summerwind Elementary rank in California?

Summerwind Elementary ranks #4,315 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 25th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

Is Summerwind Elementary getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Summerwind Elementary increases by 11.0 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 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 elementary Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Summerwind Elementary?

39.8% of students at Summerwind Elementary are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), compared to the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 7.2%. 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 Summerwind Elementary compare to other schools in Palmdale?

Summerwind Elementary scores 33/100 (25th percentile) among California elementary schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 569 students. Use the schools in Palmdale page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.

How does Summerwind Elementary serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Summerwind Elementary in Palmdale, 16.4% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 27.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Summerwind Elementary trails its district average for low-income students by 11.4 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (12.9% Math proficient); Hispanic students (21.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 18.6 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 274 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%
6.8%
↓ vs CA 21.3% · 36th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 27%
+11.0pp
↑ vs CA -2.9pp · 68th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
18.2%
↓ vs CA 42.7% · 31th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
39.8%
↓ vs CA 17.9% · 14th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
7.2%
↓ vs CA 1.6% · 4th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
15.2%
↓ vs CA 18.0% · 47th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 3972%11%25%62%13%−30
Grade 411811%9%19%61%20%−24
Grade 59613%16%18%54%28%−20
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 3963%8%16%73%11%−34
Grade 41173%15%20%63%17%−25
Grade 5969%9%22%59%19%−17
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/11974%11%47%37%

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 Disadvantaged27416.4%−11−22
Hispanic/Latino21221.7%−10−17
Students with Disabilities892.2%−5−15
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Summerwind Elementary ←336.8%18.2%+11.07.2%
Cottonwood Elementary1.3 mi5529.4%61.8%−25.73.1%
Palmdale Learning Plaza2.2 mi5018.5%40.9%+4.71.2%
Anaverde Hills2.6 mi4514.6%36.5%+16.33.2%
California average4521.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20192916#460911.3%31.3%19.0%6.8%-11.3pp
20222111#50894.4%15.9%29.7%7.8%+2.9pp
20233437#36175.3%16.1%17.3%6.9%+11.8pp
2024259#52334.8%14.4%39.3%5.4%+10.9pp
20253325#43156.8%18.2%39.8%7.2%+11.0pp
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
What we can't show
  • — Low-income students here trail the state average for their group by 22 points in ELA — worth asking how the school is closing that gap.
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female20.9%40.7%+19.8pp
Male17.3%41.1%+23.8pp
Asian0.0%
Black/African American27.4%43.5%+16.1pp
White6.7%
Hispanic/Latino17.5%41.6%+24.1pp
Two or More Races25.0%20.0%-5.0pp
Students with Disabilities23.4%44.7%+21.3pp
English Learners17.0%32.0%+15.0pp
Foster Youth25.7%33.3%+7.6pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged20.6%43.5%+22.9pp
All Students19.1%40.9%+21.8pp
Homeless69.0%
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

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