In Covina-Valley Unified, 3 of 3 public high schools sit at or above the 50th percentile among California high schools we score; 2 of 4 public middle schools do (spring 2026 tests; high schools, spring 2025).
Elementary · 9 schools
from 32nd to 80th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Barranca Elementary: 80th percentile, Strong
Mesa Elementary: 77th percentile, Strong
Grovecenter Elementary: 76th percentile, Strong
Manzanita Elementary: 69th percentile, Solid
Rowland Avenue Elementary: 58th percentile, Solid
Workman Avenue Elementary: 57th percentile, Solid
Ben Lomond Elementary: 46th percentile, Developing
Merwin Elementary: 44th percentile, Developing
Cypress Elementary: 32nd percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
3Developing
3Solid
3Strong
Middle · 4 schools
from 35th to 72nd · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests
The average elementary school in Covina-Valley Unified had 14 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 Covina-Valley Unified score highest?
Sierra Vista Middle is highest, at the 72nd percentile.
That’s higher than 72 in 100 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in Covina-Valley Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
The average middle school in Covina-Valley Unified had 22 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 Covina-Valley Unified score highest?
South Hills High is highest, at the 69th percentile.
That’s higher than 69 in 100 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).
Highest in Covina-Valley Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
The average high school in Covina-Valley Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
Where does Covina-Valley Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Covina-Valley Unified spent $20,494 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 66 cents of every Covina-Valley 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
Instruction66%
Instruction support10%
Student services8%
Administration6%
Buildings & maintenance10%
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
$229.0 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 52 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 97% of its $236.7 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, 199 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 74% of the money. The plan itself puts 81% of it toward staff.
Certificated Staffing Assignments $89.2 million
High Quality Learning Environments-Staff & Materials $54.5 million
High Quality Learning Environments-Facilities $26.6 million
49 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
10 of the plan’s 52 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 under $0.1 million
Math $0.4 million
Catch-up help $2.2 million
English learners $0.4 million
An action naming two of these appears under both.
Largest of these
Summer School Enrichment and Intervention$807,184
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)$580,018
Saturday School and Extended School Day Interventions and Activities$388,343
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 $34.7 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $37.5 million and estimates it spent $31.1 million, $6.4 million (17%) less than planned (our arithmetic).
$31.1 million spent (estimated)$37.5 million planned
Ask: Why did estimated spending on these services come in $6.4 million under the 2025–26 plan, and where does that money go in 2026–27?
What changed
The total is $2.7 million (1%) higher than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Certificated Staffing Assignments, which went from $83.1 million to $89.2 million.
Largest cuts
High Quality Learning Environments-Staff & Materials−$3.5 million
Technology Integration - Students−$2.6 million
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)−$986,111
Largest increases
Certificated Staffing Assignments+$6.1 million
Classified Support Staffing+$4.3 million
Mental Health and Well Being+$2.1 million
New in the 2026–27 plan
Multilingual Learner Programs and Support$1.7 million
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 2024–25Goals 1 and 2
53%
53%
no change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1 and 2
39%
43%
up 4 pts
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 3
17 in 100
16 in 100
1 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 3
2.5%
2.4%
down 0.1 pts
Goal 4 isn’t shown because it tracks 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
Certificated Staffing Assignments · $89,206,477
High Quality Learning Environments-Staff & Materials · $54,525,511
High Quality Learning Environments-Facilities · $26,600,799
The full plan4 goals, 48 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 ($229.0 million).
Where does the money go?
51% to Goal 1. 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 1Our District will guarantee all students are eligible and prepared for college and careers upon graduation.…$117.2 million51% of action budgets
“Our District will guarantee all students are eligible and prepared for college and careers upon graduation. Progress will be measured by CA Dashboard Academic Indicators, graduation rate, and graduates meeting UC/CSU or a-g completion requirements” p. 20 ↗
15 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $106.3 million (+$10.9 million)
Largest funded actions
Certificated Staffing Assignments$89.2 millionaction 1.1 · p. 145 ↗
Classified Support Staffing$16.7 millionaction 1.15 · p. 147 ↗
Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways$3.2 millionaction 1.3 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.6 million is state funding counted toward those services
Strategic Guidance Program$2.6 millionaction 1.2 · p. 145 ↗
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)$2.0 millionaction 1.5 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
10 more funded actions in this goal
College and Career Readiness Counseling and Support · action 1.4 · p. 145 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.2 million
Professional Learning Communities · action 1.13 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.1 million
International Baccalaureate · action 1.10 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.7 million
College Preparation and Supplemental Instructional Materials · action 1.9 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
College Readiness Exams (PSAT, SAT, AP & IB) · action 1.7 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Pre-Advanced Placement Program · action 1.6 · p. 146 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
College Campus Visits · action 1.14 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
College Readiness Supports through EL Leadership · action 1.8 · p. 146 ↗under $0.1 million
College and Community Partnership · action 1.11 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Assessment Development and Progress Monitoring of Unduplicated Students · action 1.12 · p. 147 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Certificated Staffing Assignments+$6.1 million$83.1 million → $89.2 million · p. 145 ↗
Classified Support Staffing+$4.3 million$12.4 million → $16.7 million · p. 147 ↗
Strategic Guidance Program−$0.9 million$3.4 million → $2.6 million · p. 145 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways · $3.1 million → $3.2 million · p. 145 ↗+$0.1 million
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) · $1.4 million → $2.0 million · p. 145 ↗+$0.6 million
College and Career Readiness Counseling and Support · $1.3 million → $1.2 million · p. 145 ↗−$25,623
Professional Learning Communities · $1.0 million → $1.1 million · p. 147 ↗+$0.1 million
International Baccalaureate · $324,273 → $676,252 · p. 147 ↗+$351,979
College Preparation and Supplemental Instructional Materials · $59,525 → $306,279 · p. 146 ↗+$246,754
College Readiness Exams (PSAT, SAT, AP & IB) · $200,000 → $140,400 · p. 146 ↗−$59,600
Pre-Advanced Placement Program · $72,346 → $73,625 · p. 146 ↗+$1,279
College Campus Visits · $48,604 → $48,604 · p. 147 ↗unchanged
College Readiness Supports through EL Leadership · $50,834 → $41,160 · p. 146 ↗−$9,674
College and Community Partnership · $5,000 → $5,000 · p. 147 ↗unchanged
Assessment Development and Progress Monitoring of Unduplicated Students · $6,828 → $5,000 · p. 147 ↗−$1,828
How the plan measures it · 18 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 20 ↗.
Goal 2Our District will implement innovative, research-based programs and practices to ensure the highest level of…$20.8 million9% of action budgets
“Our District will implement innovative, research-based programs and practices to ensure the highest level of achievement for all students. Progress will be measured by student achievement data and progress monitoring” p. 44 ↗
21 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $26.5 million (−$5.7 million)
Largest funded actions
Increased Instructional Minutes$5.8 millionaction 2.18 · p. 150 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Early Elementary Support$2.7 millionaction 2.3 · p. 148 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Technology Integration - Students$2.4 millionaction 2.5 · p. 148 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Multilingual Learner Programs and Support$1.7 millionaction 2.16 · p. 150 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
New Teacher Induction, Development, and Support$1.5 millionaction 2.20 · p. 150 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
16 more funded actions in this goal
Innovative Software · action 2.6 · p. 148 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.0 million
Professional Learning Community Support · action 2.11 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.9 million
Capacity Building and Program Support · action 2.8 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.8 million
Summer School Enrichment and Intervention · action 2.19 · p. 150 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $150,000 is state funding counted toward those services$0.8 million
Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy · action 2.21 · p. 151 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.6 million
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) · action 2.14 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $463,380 is state funding counted toward those services$0.6 million
Technology Integration - Staff · action 2.2 · p. 148 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
Professional Development Release Day · action 2.9 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Extended Library Hours, Academic Tutoring, and Intervention · action 2.15 · p. 150 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Professional Development - Classified Support Staff · action 2.10 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
English Learner Support Team · action 2.17 · p. 150 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Targeted Math and Science Interventions and Supports · action 2.12 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
English Learner Support Services · action 2.1 · p. 148 ↗$0.1 million
Summer Professional Development · action 2.13 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Writing and Literacy Instruction and Assessment · action 2.4 · p. 148 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Critical Thinking and Creative Analysis - Thinking Maps · action 2.7 · p. 149 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Technology Integration - Students−$2.6 million$5.0 million → $2.4 million · p. 148 ↗
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)−$1.0 million$1.6 million → $0.6 million · p. 149 ↗
Innovative Software−$0.8 million$1.8 million → $1.0 million · p. 148 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Increased Instructional Minutes · $5.3 million → $5.8 million · p. 150 ↗+$0.5 million
Early Elementary Support · $2.7 million → $2.7 million · p. 148 ↗−$12,276
Multilingual Learner Programs and Support · $1.7 million · p. 150 ↗new or renamed
New Teacher Induction, Development, and Support · $1.0 million → $1.5 million · p. 150 ↗+$0.4 million
Professional Learning Community Support · $849,069 → $875,649 · p. 149 ↗+$26,580
Capacity Building and Program Support · $850,000 → $850,000 · p. 149 ↗unchanged
Summer School Enrichment and Intervention · $650,606 → $807,184 · p. 150 ↗+$156,578
Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy · $607,776 → $617,181 · p. 151 ↗+$9,405
Technology Integration - Staff · $1.0 million → $0.5 million · p. 148 ↗−$0.5 million
Professional Development Release Day · $400,000 → $400,000 · p. 149 ↗unchanged
Extended Library Hours, Academic Tutoring, and Intervention · $268,003 → $268,002 · p. 150 ↗−$1
Professional Development - Classified Support Staff · $247,072 → $246,990 · p. 149 ↗−$82
English Learner Support Team · $211,191 → $228,928 · p. 150 ↗+$17,737
Targeted Math and Science Interventions and Supports · $311,640 → $169,601 · p. 149 ↗−$142,039
English Learner Support Services · $92,784 → $94,783 · p. 148 ↗+$1,999
Summer Professional Development · $50,000 → $50,000 · p. 149 ↗unchanged
Writing and Literacy Instruction and Assessment · $30,439 → $30,805 · p. 148 ↗+$366
Critical Thinking and Creative Analysis - Thinking Maps · $23,905 → $22,305 · p. 149 ↗−$1,600
A reworded title counts as new.
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. 44 ↗.
Goal 3Our District will create a school-wide program of engagement that fosters innovative, positive environments…$90.7 million40% of action budgets
“Our District will create a school-wide program of engagement that fosters innovative, positive environments inside and outside of the classroom to connect students to school learning. Progress will be measured by overall engagement and school climate data” p. 71 ↗
15 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $93.1 million (−$2.3 million)
Largest funded actions
High Quality Learning Environments-Staff & Materials$54.5 millionaction 3.2 · p. 151 ↗
High Quality Learning Environments-Facilities$26.6 millionaction 3.3 · p. 151 ↗
Mental Health and Well Being$4.6 millionaction 3.15 · p. 152 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $3.0 million is state funding counted toward those services
Innovation Resources$1.1 millionaction 3.11 · p. 152 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Arts Education and Enrichment$1.0 millionaction 3.13 · p. 152 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
10 more funded actions in this goal
Community Engagement · action 3.4 · p. 151 ↗$0.8 million
Parent Education & Outreach · action 3.9 · p. 151 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $52,668 is state funding counted toward those services$0.5 million
Positive Behavior and Attendance Support · action 3.7 · p. 151 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Saturday School and Extended School Day Interventions and Activities · action 3.6 · p. 151 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) · action 3.10 · p. 152 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Extra and Co-Curricular Engagement Activities · action 3.12 · p. 152 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Credential Monitoring · action 3.1 · p. 151 ↗$0.1 million
Positive Campus Climates · action 3.5 · p. 151 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Partnerships and Expansion for CTE · action 3.14 · p. 152 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Comprehensive Attendance Program · action 3.8 · p. 151 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
High Quality Learning Environments-Staff & Materials−$3.5 million$58.1 million → $54.5 million · p. 151 ↗
Mental Health and Well Being+$2.1 million$2.5 million → $4.6 million · p. 152 ↗
Community Engagement−$0.4 million$1.2 million → $0.8 million · p. 151 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
High Quality Learning Environments-Facilities · $26.6 million → $26.6 million · p. 151 ↗−$18,940
Innovation Resources · $1.2 million → $1.1 million · p. 152 ↗−$0.1 million
Arts Education and Enrichment · $952,051 → $986,708 · p. 152 ↗+$34,657
Partnerships and Expansion for CTE · $30,000 → $30,000 · p. 152 ↗unchanged
Comprehensive Attendance Program · $15,500 → $15,500 · p. 151 ↗unchanged
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. 71 ↗.
Goal 4 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy June 2027, Fairvalley and Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy commit to elevating student engagement…$212,439under 1% of action budgets
“By June 2027, Fairvalley and Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy commit to elevating student engagement and academic outcomes, as well as enhancing the effectiveness and support systems for our educators. Progress will be measured by chronic absenteeism rates, Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment scores, stability rates, and surveys assessing student and teacher satisfaction and engagement” p. 90 ↗
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, 11,055 students
1Hispanic or Latino79%
2Asian8%
3White5%
4Filipino3%
5Black or African American3%
6Two or more races1%
7Not reported<1%
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
73%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 8,050 of 11,028 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 Covina-Valley Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
How English learners moved up on the state’s English test
From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 49% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (383 of 786 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
1 school getting state support, 2025–26
Traweek Middle (Targeted support)
Traweek MiddleTargeted support: students with disabilities
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.
Which public schools in Covina-Valley Unified rank highest?
Elementary: Barranca Elementary, 80th percentile (Strong). Middle: Sierra Vista Middle, 72nd percentile (Solid). High: South Hills High, 69th percentile (Solid). 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 Covina-Valley 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 Covina-Valley Unified good?
Covina-Valley Unified’s 9 public elementary schools run from the 32nd to the 80th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 3 Strong, 3 Solid and 3 Developing. Covina-Valley Unified’s 4 public middle schools run from the 35th to the 72nd percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Solid and 2 Developing. Covina-Valley Unified’s 3 public high schools run from the 53rd to the 69th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 3 Solid. 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 Covina-Valley Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Covina-Valley Unified had 14 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 Covina-Valley Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Covina-Valley Unified had 16 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 Covina-Valley Unified spend per student?
Covina-Valley Unified spent $20,494 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 66 cents of every Covina-Valley 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 Covina-Valley Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $229.0 million into 52 funded actions in 4 goals, 97% of its $236.7 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $117.2 million, 51% 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 Covina-Valley 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.