Of Burbank Unified’s 11 public elementary schools, 9 sit between the 64th and the 81st percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Elementary · 11 schools
from 57th to 82nd · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Walt Disney Elementary: 82nd percentile, Strong
Joaquin Miller Elementary: 81st percentile, Strong
R. L. Stevenson Elementary: 79th percentile, Strong
The average elementary school in Burbank Unified had 9 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in Burbank Unified score highest?
John Muir Middle is highest, at the 84th percentile.
That’s higher than 84 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in Burbank Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
The average middle school in Burbank Unified had 12 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.
High schools
Which high schools in Burbank Unified score highest?
Burroughs High is highest, at the 77th percentile.
That’s higher than 77 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).
Highest in Burbank Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
The average high school in Burbank Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
2 high schools not ranked statewide
Continuation schools and special education centers enroll students differently from a regular school, so each is compared only with its own kind or not ranked.
Magnolia ParkSpecial education center: students are placed here by an IEP team, not by address and not by lottery, so we don’t rank it
The district
Where does Burbank Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Burbank Unified spent $16,445 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
The typical California district spent $20,491. About 63 cents of every Burbank Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
Spending by function
Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.
Share by function, 2024–25
Instruction63%
Instruction support10%
Student services9%
Administration8%
Buildings & maintenance9%
Other1%
Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.
What the district plans
$178.9 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 41 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 77% of its $232.5 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.
The plan in short
Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 164 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Certificated Personnel and Administrative Costs at the District and Site Level; Provide Facility and Maintenance Operations staff, including custodians to provide a clean, safe, and secure learning environment for all students; and Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days) take 70% of the money. The plan itself puts 100% of it toward staff.
Certificated Personnel and Administrative Costs at the District and Site Level $116.7 million
Action 2 $7.3 million
Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days) $1.8 million
38 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
6 of the plan’s 41 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name catch-up help or English learners
Catch-up help $0.1 million
English learners $3.2 million
Largest of these
Elementary ELD Instructional Assistants$1.0 million
Elementary ELD Specialists$616,584
English Learner Program, Supplemental Supports$521,239
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students
It plans $12.6 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $12.0 million and estimates it spent $12.0 million, within 1% of the plan.
$12.0 million spent (estimated)$12.0 million planned
What changed
The total is $1.3 million (1%) higher than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days), which went from $1.0 million to $1.8 million.
Largest increases
Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days)+$750,000
What its goals measure
Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.
What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure
2024–25
2025–26
Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 1
58%
57%
down 1 pt
Goals 2, 3 and 4 aren’t shown because they track other measures.
Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.
The plan’s own titles and amounts
Certificated Personnel and Administrative Costs at the District and Site Level · $116,732,680
Provide Facility and Maintenance Operations staff, including custodians to provide a clean, safe, and secure learning environment for all students · $7,262,518
Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days) · $1,750,000
The full plan4 goals, 6 measures and where the money goes
We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($178.9 million).
Where does the money go?
65% to Goal 3. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.
not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals
Every goal, in the plan’s order
Goal 1Students will be career/college ready via high-quality instruction of State Standards as measured by State…$53.1 million30% of action budgets
“Students will be career/college ready via high-quality instruction of State Standards as measured by State, federal, and District assessment tools including the California Dashboard. (Instrucitonal Services) State of California Priorities: Priority One: Basic (Conditions of Learning) Priority Two: State Standards (Conditions of Learning) Priority Three: Parental Involvement (Engagement) Priority Four: Pupil Achievement (Pupil Outcomes) Priority Five: Pupil Engagement (Engagement) Priority Seven: Course Access (Conditions of Learning)” p. 17 ↗
30 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $51.8 million (+$1.3 million)
Largest funded actions
Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days)$1.8 millionaction 1.9 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.0 million is state funding counted toward those services
Elementary ELD Instructional Assistants$1.0 millionaction 1.3 · p. 118 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Dual Immersion Teacher Cost Share$0.7 millionaction 1.4 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Elementary ELD Specialists$0.6 millionaction 1.2 · p. 118 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
English Learner Program, Supplemental Supports$0.5 millionaction 1.13 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
11 more funded actions in this goal
Secondary Sheltered ELD Sections (Social Studies and Science) · action 1.18 · p. 120 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
Secondary Designated ELD Teachers · action 1.6 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
World Language Courses at Middle Schools · action 1.30 · p. 121 ↗$0.4 million
Elementary Class Size Reduction Grades 4 and 5 · action 1.1 · p. 118 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Elementary Assistant Principals (Miller & Jefferson 2.0) · action 1.17 · p. 120 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Dual Immersion Instructional Assistants · action 1.5 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Interpreters for Second Language Learners · action 1.7 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Targeted support for Twice Exceptional students who qualify as GATE and are included in the unduplicated count · action 1.16 · p. 120 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Induction Professional Development Teacher on Special Assignment · action 1.8 · p. 119 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
District GATE Coordinator · action 1.24 · p. 120 ↗under $0.1 million
Outdoor Science School Support Funding · action 1.22 · p. 120 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
14 more actions are in the plan, counted in the goal’s total: p. 119 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Professional Development Day Costs for All Teachers (1 1/2 days)+$0.8 million$1.0 million → $1.8 million · p. 119 ↗
Elementary Class Size Reduction Grades 4 and 5+$65,719$219,098 → $284,817 · p. 118 ↗
Elementary ELD Instructional Assistants−$0.1 million$1.1 million → $1.0 million · p. 118 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Title not confirmed · $39.2 million · p. 120 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $1.4 million · p. 119 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $1.3 million · p. 120 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $984,168 · p. 119 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $846,673 · p. 120 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $725,000 · p. 119 ↗not compared
Interpreters for Second Language Learners · $70,000 · p. 119 ↗new or renamed
Targeted support for Twice Exceptional students who qualify as GATE and are included in the unduplicated count · $70,000 → $70,000 · p. 120 ↗unchanged
Induction Professional Development Teacher on Special Assignment · $30,000 → $30,600 · p. 119 ↗+$600
District GATE Coordinator · $25,658 → $25,658 · p. 120 ↗unchanged
Outdoor Science School Support Funding · $20,000 → $20,000 · p. 120 ↗unchanged
Title not confirmed · $20,000 · p. 120 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $20,000 · p. 120 ↗not compared
Title not confirmed · $12,600 · p. 120 ↗not compared
A reworded title counts as new.
How the plan measures it · 1 measure
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 17 ↗.
Goal 2Students will be physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy and supported through Parental Involvement as…$1.7 million1% of action budgets
“Students will be physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy and supported through Parental Involvement as measured by State, federal, and District assessment tools including the California Dashboard. (Educational Services) State of California Priorities: Priority One: Basic (Conditions of Learning) Priority Two: State Standards (Conditions of Learning) Priority Three: Parental Involvement (Engagement) Priority Four: Pupil Achievement (Pupil Outcomes) Priority Five: Pupil Engagement (Engagement) Priority Six: School Climate (Engagement) Priority Seven: Course Access (Conditions of Learning) Priority Eight: Other Pupil Outcomes (Pupil Outcomes)” p. 65 ↗
7 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $1.5 million (+$121,860)
Largest funded actions
Monterey Teachers (4.0 FTEs)$578,862action 2.1 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Partial SOAR Program Staffing (CDS) (1 teacher; 1 para; 2 specialists)$408,231action 2.7 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Elementary Wellness & Behavior Specialists (3 FTE)$335,532action 2.4 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Family Services Agency of Burbank (FSA) Counseling Program$134,130action 2.2 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Secondary Summer School Credit Recovery$102,000action 2.3 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
2 more funded actions in this goal
Homeless/Foster/At-Risk Youth Specialist · action 2.5 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$58,580
School Climate & Mental Health Surveys (Hanover) · action 2.6 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$50,000
School Climate & Mental Health Surveys (Hanover) · $56,279 → $50,000 · p. 121 ↗−$6,279
How the plan measures it · 2 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 65 ↗.
Goal 3Recruit and retain quality employees as measured by full employment of teaching staff with appropriate…$116.9 million65% of action budgets
“Recruit and retain quality employees as measured by full employment of teaching staff with appropriate credentials and placed in appropriate assignments. (Human Resources) State of California Priorities: Priority One: Basic (Conditions of Learning) Priority Two: State Standards (Conditions of Learning) Priority Three: Parental Involvement (Engagement) Priority Four: Pupil Achievement (Pupil Outcomes) Priority Five: Pupil Engagement (Engagement) Priority Six: School Climate (Engagement) Priority Seven: Course Access (Conditions of Learning) Priority Eight: Other Pupil Outcomes (Pupil Outcomes)” p. 79 ↗
3 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $116.9 million (+$2,475)
Largest funded actions
Certificated Personnel and Administrative Costs at the District and Site Level$116.7 millionaction 3.3 · p. 121 ↗
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Site Teacher Lead Stipends$0.1 millionaction 3.1 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Site Lead Collaboration Timeunder $0.1 millionaction 3.2 · p. 121 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Site Teacher Lead Stipends+$1,975$98,780 → $100,755 · p. 121 ↗
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Site Lead Collaboration Time+$500$25,000 → $25,500 · p. 121 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Certificated Personnel and Administrative Costs at the District and Site Level · $116.7 million → $116.7 million · p. 121 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 2 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 79 ↗.
Goal 4Efficient and effective operations as measured by appropriate facilities especially classrooms that are…$7.3 million4% of action budgets
“Efficient and effective operations as measured by appropriate facilities especially classrooms that are conducive to the needs of the instructional program. (Business Services) State of California Priorities: Priority One: Basic (Conditions of Learning) Priority Three: Parental Involvement (Engagement) Priority Six: School Climate (Engagement) Priority Eight: Other Pupil Outcomes (Pupil Outcomes)” p. 86 ↗
1 funded action · 2025–26 plan: $7.4 million (−$132,840)
Largest funded actions
Provide Facility and Maintenance Operations staff, including custodians to provide a clean, safe, and secure learning environment for all students$7.3 millionaction 4.1 · p. 122 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Provide Facility and Maintenance Operations staff, including custodians to provide a clean, safe, and secure learning environment for all students−$0.1 million$7.4 million → $7.3 million · p. 122 ↗
How the plan measures it · 1 measure
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 86 ↗.
All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.
Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends
Student mix
2024–25 · October enrollment count, 14,168 students
1White49%
2Hispanic or Latino31%
3Two or more races6%
4Asian5%
5Not reported4%
6Filipino3%
7Black or African American2%
8American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
9Pacific Islander<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.
Free or reduced-price meals
33%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 4,618 of 14,143 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.
The district’s state records
Is the state giving the district extra help?
Burbank Unified isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
How English learners moved up on the state’s English test
From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 62% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (818 of 1,316 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
Which public schools in Burbank Unified rank highest?
Elementary: Walt Disney Elementary, 82nd percentile (Strong). Middle: John Muir Middle, 84th percentile (Strong). High: Burroughs High, 77th percentile (Strong). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
Does living in the Burbank Unified district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)
Are the public schools in Burbank Unified good?
Burbank Unified’s 11 public elementary schools run from the 57th to the 82nd percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 6 Strong and 5 Solid. Burbank Unified’s 3 public middle schools run from the 63rd to the 84th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong and 2 Solid. Burbank Unified’s 3 public high schools run from the 17th to the 77th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 1 Solid and 1 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.
How does chronic absence in Burbank Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Burbank Unified had 9 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average middle school in Burbank Unified had 12 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Burbank Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does Burbank Unified spend per student?
Burbank Unified spent $16,445 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 63 cents of every Burbank Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in Burbank Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $178.9 million into 41 funded actions in 4 goals, 77% of its $232.5 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $116.9 million, 65% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP): spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools, spring 2025 for high schools, and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Burbank Unified, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.