School district · Fresno County

Central Unified schools

Central Unified’s 15 public elementary schools run from the 16th to the 90th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). They sit in all four bands, from Strong to Needs Support.

Elementary · 15 schools

from 16th to 90th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • River Bluff Elementary: 90th percentile, Strong
  • Herndon-Barstow Elementary: 71st percentile, Solid
  • Harvest Elementary: 63rd percentile, Solid
  • Norman Liddell Elementary: 62nd percentile, Solid
  • Central Elementary: 39th percentile, Developing
  • Madison Elementary: 39th percentile, Developing
  • Teague Elementary: 39th percentile, Developing
  • Biola-Pershing Elementary: 38th percentile, Developing
  • John Steinbeck Elementary: 31st percentile, Developing
  • Roosevelt Elementary: 31st percentile, Developing
  • Hanh Phan Tilley Elementary: 28th percentile, Developing
  • Houghton-Kearney Elementary: 25th percentile, Developing
  • Jaswant Singh Khalra Elementary: 19th percentile, Needs Support
  • McKinley Elementary: 19th percentile, Needs Support
  • William Saroyan Elementary: 16th percentile, Needs Support
3Needs Support
8Developing
3Solid
1Strong

One dot per school.

Middle and high school pictures

Middle · 5 schools

from 28th to 63rd · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Houghton-Kearney Elementary: 63rd percentile, Solid
  • Rio Vista Middle: 56th percentile, Solid
  • Central Online Home: 35th percentile, Developing
  • El Capitan Middle: 33rd percentile, Developing
  • Glacier Point Middle: 28th percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
3Developing
2Solid
0Strong

High · 4 schools

from bottom 1% to 40th · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests

  • Justin Garza High: 40th percentile, Developing
  • Central High: 36th percentile, Developing
  • Central East High: 21st percentile, Needs Support
  • Central Unified Alternative/Opportunity: bottom 1%, Needs Support
2Needs Support
2Developing
0Solid
0Strong

One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 1 of the 23 ranked schools teaches two levels, so it appears in more than one picture.

  • 23 ranked schools
  • 3 schools not ranked statewide

Schools around Central Unified

26 listed public schools with mapped locations.

Open full map →

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in Central Unified score highest?

River Bluff Elementary is highest, at the 90th percentile.

That’s higher than 90 in 100 of the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Central Unified

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

Show the other 12 elementary schools
Context

The average elementary school in Central Unified had 23 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.

1 elementary school not ranked statewide
  • Pathway Elementary Community DayCommunity day school: students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral, including after an expulsion, so we don’t rank it

Middle schools

Which middle schools in Central Unified score highest?

Houghton-Kearney Elementary is highest, at the 63rd percentile.

That’s higher than 63 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Central Unified

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

Show the other 2 middle schools
Context

The average middle school in Central Unified had 42 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 Central Unified score highest?

Justin Garza High is highest, at the 40th percentile.

That’s higher than 40 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Highest in Central Unified

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

Show the other 1 high school
Context

The average high school in Central Unified had 47 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 court and community schools enroll students differently from a regular school, so each is compared only with its own kind or not ranked.

  • Pershing Continuation HighContinuation high school: compared only with other continuation schools
  • Pathway Community DayCommunity day school: students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral, including after an expulsion, so we don’t rank it

The district

Where does Central Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?

Central Unified spent $19,767 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every Central 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

  • Instruction57%
  • Instruction support12%
  • Student services12%
  • Administration5%
  • Buildings & maintenance12%
  • Other2%

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

$232.8 million

planned in its 2026–27 plan for 56 funded actions in 9 goals. That’s 67% of its $346.6 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, 202 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 71% of the money. The plan itself puts 88% of it toward staff.

  • Broad Course of Study with Appropriately Credentialed Teachers $112.6 million
  • Facilities $27.0 million
  • Multi-Tiered System of Support Academic Tier 1 $25.5 million
  • 53 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help

13 of the plan’s 56 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.

Actions whose titles name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners
  • Reading $4.1 million
  • Math $0.6 million
  • Catch-up help $10.5 million
  • English learners $1.7 million

An action naming two of these appears under both.

Largest of these

  • Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Tier 2-3$10.3 million
  • Literacy Rich Schools$3.5 million
  • English Learner Programs$1.5 million
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth) and what its goals measure
For high-need students

It plans $59.7 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $57.0 million and estimates it spent $61.0 million, $4.0 million (7%) more than planned (our arithmetic).

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
Measure2024–252025–26Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 144%44%no change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 130%31%up 1 pt
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 223 in 10030 in 1007 more in 100
Suspended at least onceFoster youth · Goal 313.9%21.4%up 7.5 pts

Goals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 aren’t shown because they track named schools.

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
  • Broad Course of Study with Appropriately Credentialed Teachers · $112,628,904
  • Facilities · $27,004,010
  • Multi-Tiered System of Support Academic Tier 1 · $25,502,462
The full plan9 goals, 54 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 ($232.8 million).

Where does the money go?

63% to Goal 2. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars. Tap a box to open its goal.

G1
G2
G3

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1Central Unified will prepare all students to meet/​exceed grade-level standards, ensuring college, career…$52.9 million23% of action budgets

“Central Unified will prepare all students to meet/​exceed grade-level standards, ensuring college, career, and community readiness” p. 22 ↗

17 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. Multi-Tiered System of Support Academic Tier 1$25.5 millionaction 1.3 · p. 154 ↗
  2. Multi-Tiered System of Support-Academic Tier 2-3$10.8 millionaction 1.4 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  3. Instructional Supplemental Support for Sites$5.7 millionaction 1.7 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. Literacy Rich Schools$3.5 millionaction 1.2 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  5. Professional Development & Instructional Support Coaches$2.7 millionaction 1.6 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

12 more funded actions in this goal

  • English Learner Programs · action 1.9 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.5 million
  • College & Career Indicator · action 1.8 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.2 million
  • Access To Core · action 1.1 · p. 154 ↗$1.0 million
  • Assessment & Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) · action 1.5 · p. 154 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.7 million
  • Recruitment, Retention, and Professional Learning Systems · action 1.17 · p. 156 ↗$0.2 million
  • District Long Term English Learner Academic Progress · action 1.10 · p. 155 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
  • ELA Proficiency (Site Specific) · action 1.12 · p. 155 ↗under $0.1 million
  • Differentiated Assistance ELA, Math, & CCI · action 1.11 · p. 155 ↗under $0.1 million
  • Math Proficiency (Site Specific) · action 1.13 · p. 155 ↗under $0.1 million
  • ELPI Indicator Improvement (Site Specific) · action 1.14 · p. 155 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • College Career Indicator (Site Specific) · action 1.15 · p. 156 ↗under $0.1 million
  • African American, Homeless, LI Student Success (CCI Indicator) · action 1.16 · p. 156 ↗under $0.1 million

How the plan measures it · 13 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 22 ↗.

Goal 2Central Unified will ensure equitable, engaging learning opportunities for every student$146.7 million63% of action budgets

10 funded actions · p. 59 ↗

Largest funded actions

  1. Broad Course of Study with Appropriately Credentialed Teachers$112.6 millionaction 2.2 · p. 156 ↗
  2. Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Tier 2-3$10.3 millionaction 2.4 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  3. Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Behavior Tier 2-3$9.0 millionaction 2.6 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. Academic & Career Counseling/​Graduation Rate$4.8 millionaction 2.1 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  5. Co-Curricular Activities$4.8 millionaction 2.7 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

5 more funded actions in this goal

  • Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Tier 1 · action 2.3 · p. 156 ↗$2.5 million
  • Multi -Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Behavior Tier 1 · action 2.5 · p. 156 ↗$2.5 million
  • Seal of Biliteracy · action 2.10 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Chronic Absenteeism (Site Specific) · action 2.8 · p. 156 ↗under $0.1 million
  • Graduation Rate (Site Specific) · action 2.9 · p. 157 ↗under $0.1 million

How the plan measures it · 8 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 59 ↗.

Goal 3Central Unified will foster safe, inclusive schools in partnership with the community$31.6 million14% of action budgets

6 funded actions · p. 75 ↗

Largest funded actions

  1. Facilities$27.0 millionaction 3.1 · p. 157 ↗
  2. Family Outreach Liaisons$2.0 millionaction 3.3 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  3. Access to Technology$2.0 millionaction 3.4 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. Family Engagement$0.5 millionaction 3.2 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  5. Suspension Rate Decrease for FY & Homelessunder $0.1 millionaction 3.5 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

1 more funded action in this goal

  • Suspension Rate (Site Specific) · action 3.6 · p. 157 ↗under $0.1 million

How the plan measures it · 8 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 75 ↗.

Goal 4 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy spring 2027, CLASS will annually increase Math & ELA proficiency for all students, low-income (LI), and…$467,057under 1% of action budgets

“By spring 2027, CLASS will annually increase Math & ELA proficiency for all students, low-income (LI), and Hispanic (HI)students by at least 3 points below standard, as measured by CAASPP. CLASS aims to improve LI high school graduation rates by 3% annually and increase the proportion of all students, with a focus on low-income and Hispanic students, who are classified as "Prepared" on the College/​Career Indicator by the same percentage. In addition, CLASS will decrease chronic absenteeism by 3% for all students, LI, and HI. CLASS will reduce chronic absenteeism for all students by 3% annually, and improve graduation rates by 3.4% annually as reported on the CA Dashboard” p. 86 ↗

3 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. College Career Counselor-Library Media Technician$168,900action 4.2 · p. 158 ↗
  2. Dual Enrollment$152,057action 4.3 · p. 158 ↗
  3. Academic Intervention-Math & ELA Proficiency$146,100action 4.1 · p. 158 ↗

How the plan measures it · 5 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 86 ↗.

Goal 5 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy spring 2027, Central Online Home School will have achieved a yearly improvement in Math proficiency of at…$269,114under 1% of action budgets

“By spring 2027, Central Online Home School will have achieved a yearly improvement in Math proficiency of at least 3 points below the standard for all students, with a focus on students from low- income and Hispanic backgrounds, as assessed by the CAASPP. COHS plans to decrease the chronic absenteeism rate for all students, Hispanic students, and low-income students by at least 1% annually; increase graduation rates by at least 3%; and increase the College/​Career Indicator (CCI), as reported on the California School Dashboard” p. 94 ↗

8 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. CTE/​Dual Enrollment$102,112action 5.5 · p. 158 ↗
  2. Family Outreach Liaison$49,783action 5.7 · p. 158 ↗
  3. College & Career Awareness$32,219action 5.6 · p. 158 ↗
  4. Professional Development, Supplemental Programs & Collaboration-Math$30,000action 5.1 · p. 158 ↗
  5. Technology$19,000action 5.8 · p. 158 ↗

3 more funded actions in this goal

  • Extended Day Services-Math · action 5.2 · p. 158 ↗$12,000
  • Professional Development & Collaboration-CCI · action 5.3 · p. 158 ↗$12,000
  • Extended Day Services-CCI · action 5.4 · p. 158 ↗$12,000

How the plan measures it · 4 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 94 ↗.

Goal 6 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy spring 2027, Pathway Community Day School will increase Math & ELA proficiency as measured by distance…$51,697under 1% of action budgets

“By spring 2027, Pathway Community Day School will increase Math & ELA proficiency as measured by distance from standard by the CAASPP tests” p. 103 ↗

3 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. SEL/​Behavior Support$29,293action 6.1 · p. 158 ↗
  2. College, Career, and Academic Readiness$14,404action 6.2 · p. 159 ↗
  3. Professional Development$8,000action 6.3 · p. 159 ↗

How the plan measures it · 4 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 103 ↗.

Goal 7 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy spring 2027, Pathway Elementary School will increase Math & ELA proficiency as measured by distance from…$51,697under 1% of action budgets

“By spring 2027, Pathway Elementary School will increase Math & ELA proficiency as measured by distance from standard by the CAASPP tests” p. 109 ↗

3 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. SEL/​Behavior Support$29,293action 7.1 · p. 159 ↗
  2. Engagement Activities$18,104action 7.3 · p. 159 ↗
  3. Professional Development$4,300action 7.2 · p. 159 ↗

How the plan measures it · 6 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 109 ↗.

Goal 8 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy spring 2027, Pershing Continuation High School will annually increase the proportion of high school…$176,815under 1% of action budgets

“By spring 2027, Pershing Continuation High School will annually increase the proportion of high school graduates classified as "Prepared" on the College/​Career Indicator by 3%, focusing on all students including LI & Hispanic, as reported by the CA Dashboard. Pershing will annually reduce the suspension rate by 3% for all students specifically, LI, African American, and Hispanic students, as measured by the CA Dashboard” p. 115 ↗

3 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. Certificated Extra Support-College Awareness & Counseling$66,000action 8.2 · p. 159 ↗
  2. Student Support, Intervention, and Restorative Practices$65,000action 8.1 · p. 159 ↗
  3. Agricultural Education and College/​Career Readiness$45,815action 8.3 · p. 159 ↗

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. 115 ↗.

Goal 9 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy Spring 2027, Madison Elementary will improve its distance from standard scores in Math and ELA, with a…$666,111under 1% of action budgets

“By Spring 2027, Madison Elementary will improve its distance from standard scores in Math and ELA, with a targeted focus on Students with Disabilities (SWD), as measured by CAASPP assessments. Additionally, Madison Elementary will reduce the chronic absenteeism rate by 3% annually for all students, with specific emphasis on English Learners (EL) and Asian students, as reported on the California School Dashboard” p. 120 ↗

3 funded actions

Largest funded actions

  1. ELA & Math Proficiency$400,000action 9.1 · p. 159 ↗
  2. Chronic Absenteeism$141,111action 9.3 · p. 160 ↗
  3. English Learner Progress$125,000action 9.2 · p. 160 ↗

How the plan measures it · 4 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 120 ↗.

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, 15,962 students
1. Hispanic or Latino: 61%2. Asian: 18%3. White: 10%4. Black or African American: 7%5. Two or more races: 2%6. Filipino: <1%7. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%8. Pacific Islander: <1%9. Not reported: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. Hispanic or Latino61%
  2. Asian18%
  3. White10%
  4. Black or African American7%
  5. Two or more races2%
  6. Filipino<1%
  7. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
  8. Pacific Islander<1%
  9. Not reported<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools. Rounded labels may not total 100%; segments use the original shares.

Free or reduced-price meals

79%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 12,589 of 15,956 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?

The state is giving Central Unified extra help in 2026. A student group had the Dashboard’s lowest results (red) on two or more measures three years in a row.

It also qualified the year before.

Which students, on which measures

Students with disabilities
English and math

How English learners moved up on the state’s English test

From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 52% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (816 of 1,580 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

3 schools getting state support, 2025–26

Houghton-Kearney Elementary (Extra targeted support) · Justin Garza High (Targeted support) · Rio Vista Middle (Targeted support)

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗ · School support (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (4)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in Central Unified rank highest?

Elementary: River Bluff Elementary, 90th percentile (Strong). Middle: Houghton-Kearney Elementary, 63rd percentile (Solid). High: Justin Garza High, 40th percentile (Developing). 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 Central 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 Central Unified good?

Central Unified’s 15 public elementary schools run from the 16th to the 90th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 3 Solid, 8 Developing and 3 Needs Support. Central Unified’s 5 public middle schools run from the 28th to the 63rd percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Solid and 3 Developing. Central Unified’s 4 public high schools run from the bottom 1% to the 40th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 2 Developing and 2 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 Central Unified compare with California?

The average elementary school in Central Unified had 23 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 Central Unified had 42 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Central Unified had 47 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 Central Unified spend per student?

Central Unified spent $19,767 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every Central 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 Central Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $232.8 million into 56 funded actions in 9 goals, 67% of its $346.6 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $146.7 million, 63% 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 Central 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.

View CDE data ↗ (opens in a new tab)How Scope Scores work →

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.