Escalon Unified’s 5 public elementary schools run from the 29th to the 61st percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Elementary · 5 schools
from 29th to 61st · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Van Allen Elementary: 61st percentile, Solid
Escalon Charter Academy: 45th percentile, Developing
from 29th to 63rd · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Escalon Charter Academy: 63rd percentile, Solid
El Portal Middle: 29th percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
1Developing
1Solid
0Strong
High · 1 school
at 39th · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests
Escalon High: 39th percentile, Developing
0Needs Support
1Developing
0Solid
0Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 1 of the 7 ranked schools teaches two levels, so it appears in more than one picture.
The average elementary school in Escalon Unified had 7 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 Escalon Unified score highest?
Escalon Charter Academy 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 Escalon Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
Where does the high school we score in Escalon Unified stand?
Escalon High is at the 39th percentile.
That’s higher than 39 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). It’s the only public high school we score in Escalon Unified.
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
Where does Escalon Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Escalon Unified spent $16,119 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
The typical California district spent $20,491. About 67 cents of every Escalon 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
Instruction67%
Instruction support11%
Student services7%
Administration6%
Buildings & maintenance9%
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
$40.5 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 19 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 91% of its $44.7 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, 96 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 82% of the money. The plan itself puts 86% of it toward staff.
Employee Staffing $25.3 million
Facility Maintenance and Student Transportation $5.8 million
Tier II and Tier III Staff and Supports $2.2 million
16 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
4 of the plan’s 19 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name reading or catch-up help
Reading $0.3 million
Catch-up help $1.2 million
Largest of these
Access to Extended Learning Opportunities and Intervention$1.2 million
Access to Technological Supports and Literacy$159,626
State and District Benchmark Assessments: Use & Literacy$94,402
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth) and what changed
For high-need students
It plans $3.9 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $4.4 million and estimates it spent $3.2 million, $1.2 million (26%) less than planned (our arithmetic).
$3.2 million spent (estimated)$4.4 million planned
Ask: Why did estimated spending on these services come in $1.2 million under the 2025–26 plan, and where does that money go in 2026–27?
What changed
The total is $655,493 (2%) lower than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Employee Staffing, which went from $24.3 million to $25.3 million.
Largest cuts
Career and Technical Education Exploration−$818,080
Additional Supplemental Services and Materials−$536,772
Access to CCSS Instructional Materials−$300,000
Largest increases
Employee Staffing+$972,535
Facility Maintenance and Student Transportation+$515,194
Tier II and Tier III Staff and Supports+$119,656
Ask: What did Career and Technical Education Exploration pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $818,080 less?
The plan’s own titles and amounts
Employee Staffing · $25,277,705
Facility Maintenance and Student Transportation · $5,839,662
Tier II and Tier III Staff and Supports · $2,238,127
The full plan4 goals, 3 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 ($40.5 million).
Where does the money go?
92% 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 1Escalon Unified School District will provide the necessary support, resources, and staffing so all students…$37.3 million92% of action budgets
“Escalon Unified School District will provide the necessary support, resources, and staffing so all students are Career and College Ready upon graduation by implementing a multi-tiered system of support that includes a rigorous standards-based curriculum, a well-rounded educational experience, positive learning environments, and highly qualified staff” p. 18 ↗
10 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $37.1 million (+$163,720)
Largest funded actions
Employee Staffing$25.3 millionaction 1.4 · p. 58 ↗
Facility Maintenance and Student Transportation$5.8 millionaction 1.6 · p. 58 ↗
Tier II and Tier III Staff and Supports$2.2 millionaction 1.5 · p. 58 ↗
Supplemental Staff and Services$1.5 millionaction 1.10 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Additional Supplemental Services and Materials$0.8 millionaction 1.9 · p. 58 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
5 more funded actions in this goal
Access to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) · action 1.1 · p. 58 ↗$0.8 million
Access to CCSS Instructional Materials · action 1.8 · p. 58 ↗$0.3 million
Targeted Professional Development · action 1.7 · p. 58 ↗$0.2 million
Access to Technological Supports and Literacy · action 1.2 · p. 58 ↗$0.2 million
State and District Benchmark Assessments: Use & Literacy · action 1.3 · p. 58 ↗$0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Employee Staffing+$1.0 million$24.3 million → $25.3 million · p. 58 ↗
Additional Supplemental Services and Materials−$0.5 million$1.4 million → $0.8 million · p. 58 ↗
Facility Maintenance and Student Transportation+$0.5 million$5.3 million → $5.8 million · p. 58 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Tier II and Tier III Staff and Supports · $2.1 million → $2.2 million · p. 58 ↗+$0.1 million
Supplemental Staff and Services · $1.4 million → $1.5 million · p. 58 ↗+$0.1 million
Access to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) · $1.1 million → $0.8 million · p. 58 ↗−$0.3 million
Access to CCSS Instructional Materials · $630,000 → $330,000 · p. 58 ↗−$300,000
Targeted Professional Development · $485,469 → $230,229 · p. 58 ↗−$255,240
Access to Technological Supports and Literacy · $399,337 → $159,626 · p. 58 ↗−$239,711
State and District Benchmark Assessments: Use & Literacy · $12,060 → $94,402 · p. 58 ↗+$82,342
We couldn’t read this goal’s measures from the plan. They start near page 18. p. 18 ↗
Goal 2Escalon Unified School District will implement a multi-tiered system of support that provides all students…$2.9 million7% of action budgets
“Escalon Unified School District will implement a multi-tiered system of support that provides all students access to rigorous academic programs and develops the requisite skills to be Career and College Ready upon graduation” p. 30 ↗
4 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $3.7 million (−$873,828)
Largest funded actions
Access to Extended Learning Opportunities and Intervention$1.2 millionaction 2.4 · p. 59 ↗
Access to Designated/Integrated English Development$0.8 millionaction 2.2 · p. 59 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Multi-Tiered System of Support Maintenance$0.5 millionaction 2.5 · p. 59 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Career and Technical Education Exploration$0.3 millionaction 2.3 · p. 59 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Career and Technical Education Exploration−$0.8 million$1.1 million → $0.3 million · p. 59 ↗
Multi-Tiered System of Support Maintenance−$65,509$558,641 → $493,132 · p. 59 ↗
Access to Extended Learning Opportunities and Intervention+$7,449$1.2 million → $1.2 million · p. 59 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Access to Designated/Integrated English Development · $809,617 → $811,929 · p. 59 ↗+$2,312
We couldn’t read this goal’s measures from the plan. They start near page 30. p. 30 ↗
Goal 3Escalon Unified School District will enlist input and participation from educational partners to create…$303,3061% of action budgets
“Escalon Unified School District will enlist input and participation from educational partners to create welcoming student-centered learning environments that are effective and engaging” p. 39 ↗
3 funded actions · reworded since the 2025–26 plan
Largest funded actions
Campus Safety and Supervision$270,866action 3.3 · p. 59 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Positive, Effective and Engaging Learning Environments$15,900action 3.2 · p. 59 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Campus Safety and Supervision+$70,866$200,000 → $270,866 · p. 59 ↗
Stakeholder Outreach−$19,313$35,853 → $16,540 · p. 59 ↗
Positive, Effective and Engaging Learning Environments+$1,900$14,000 → $15,900 · p. 59 ↗
We couldn’t read this goal’s measures from the plan. They start near page 39. p. 39 ↗
Goal 4 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy June 2027, Escalon Unified School District will provide Vista High School with the necessary resources to…$51,697under 1% of action budgets
“By June 2027, Escalon Unified School District will provide Vista High School with the necessary resources to implement a rigorous, standards-based curriculum and offer academic and career enrichment opportunities that support college and career readiness. These supports aim to reduce the percentage of students suspended at least once, including Hispanic and socioeconomically disadvantaged students, to below 4%” p. 47 ↗
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, 3,044 students
1Hispanic or Latino50%
2White44%
3Two or more races2%
4Asian<1%
5Not reported<1%
6Black or African American<1%
7Filipino<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
50%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 1,507 of 3,044 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 Escalon 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, 48% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (97 of 201 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 Escalon Unified rank highest?
Elementary: Van Allen Elementary, 61st percentile (Solid). Middle: Escalon Charter Academy, 63rd percentile (Solid). High: Escalon High, 39th 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 Escalon 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 Escalon Unified good?
Escalon Unified’s 5 public elementary schools run from the 29th to the 61st percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 4 Developing. Escalon Unified’s 2 public middle schools run from the 29th to the 63rd percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 1 Developing. Escalon Unified has one public high school we score, Escalon High, at the 39th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Developing. 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 Escalon Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Escalon Unified had 7 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. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does Escalon Unified spend per student?
Escalon Unified spent $16,119 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 67 cents of every Escalon 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 Escalon Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $40.5 million into 19 funded actions in 4 goals, 91% of its $44.7 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $37.3 million, 92% 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 Escalon 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.