El Centro · Imperial County

Schools in El Centro

El Centro’s 13 public elementary schools run from the 11th to the 72nd percentile among the 5,721 California elementary schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
1Needs Support
6Developing
6Solid
0Strong
Top row: one dot per El Centro school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 5,721 California public elementary schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Highest in El Centro

Statewide percentile

De Anza Magnet and Lincoln are 1 percentile apart; treat that as a tie.

Context

The average El Centro elementary school had 16 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2024–25; the average California elementary school had 18 in 100.

The other 10 elementary schools

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

El Centro’s 4 public middle schools run from the 41st to the 74th percentile among the 2,177 California middle schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
0Needs Support
2Developing
2Solid
0Strong
Top row: one dot per El Centro school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 2,177 California public middle schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Highest in El Centro

Statewide percentile
Context

The average El Centro middle school had 10 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California middle school had 18 in 100.

The other 1 middle school

Also in El Centro, not ranked with these schools

  • Valley AcademyCourt and community school: students enroll by referral or placement, so we don’t rank it

El Centro’s 2 public high schools run from the 41st to the 52nd percentile among the 1,500 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
0Needs Support
1Developing
1Solid
0Strong
Top row: one dot per El Centro school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 1,500 California public high schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

High schools in El Centro

Statewide percentile

Also in El Centro, not ranked with these schools

1 private school in El Centro isn’t shown: it doesn’t take the state tests, so we don’t score them.

See it

More places to look

School districts

ZIP codes

Guides

Before kindergarten

A district outline or ZIP code doesn’t decide which school a child attends. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district. See these schools on the map ›

Questions parents ask

Are the public schools in El Centro good?
El Centro’s 13 public elementary schools run from the 11th to the 72nd percentile among the 5,721 California elementary schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 6 Solid, 6 Developing and 1 Needs Support. El Centro’s 4 public middle schools run from the 41st to the 74th percentile among the 2,177 California middle schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 2 Solid and 2 Developing. El Centro’s 2 public high schools run from the 41st to the 52nd percentile among the 1,500 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 1 Developing. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score; it isn’t a grade. How we score schools.
Which public schools in El Centro rank highest?
Elementary: McCabe Elementary, 72nd percentile statewide (Solid). Middle: McCabe Elementary, 74th percentile statewide (Solid). High: Central Union High, 52nd percentile statewide (Solid). Each level is ranked separately, and a few percentiles apart is a tie. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in El Centro compare with California?
The average El Centro elementary school had 16 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2024–25; the average California elementary school had 18 in 100. The average El Centro middle school had 10 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California middle school had 18 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
Does living in El Centro decide which school my child attends?
No. A city can hold schools from more than one district, and attendance boundaries decide which school serves an address. Confirm the school for your address with the district.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2025 and chronic-absence rates for 2024–25, both published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations, not official state ratings. Private schools don’t take the state tests, so we don’t score them. Methodology and limitations.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

Download these schools (CSV) · free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution · How we score schools