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Gilroy Unified: Gilroy Unified high schools lead at 51.3. A 66.0-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.

Near Average2024–25 data15 schools · avg 44.9/100

Gilroy Unified has 15 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 44.9/100 — within 0.1 points of the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy at 87/100, where 66.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,571 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 22.9%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
44.9
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
66.0
20.6 – 86.6
Avg Exceeded %
19.1%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
22.9%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
15
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
1
of 15 ranked
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
44.6/100
818.1%19.6%
MiddleDeveloping
37.3/100
315.1%21.0%
HighSolid
51.3/100
424.1%31.1%

Gilroy Unified's high schools average 51.3/100 — 7.6 points above the state average.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Gilroy Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
44.6
avg score · 8 schools
+5 more elementary schools
Middle
37.3
avg score · 3 schools
Solorsano Middle
Developing
41/100
Brownell Middle
Developing
38/100
South Valley Middle
Developing
33/100
High
51.3
avg score · 4 schools
Christopher High
Solid
53/100
Gilroy High
Developing
45/100
+1 more high schools

District Analysis

Gilroy Unified has 15 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 44.9/100 — within 0.1 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Gilroy Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 51.3.

District-wide elementary growth averages +1.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are making incremental gains.

Score range of 66.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 22.9%, 5.0pp above the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 3.8%, above the state average of 1.6%.

Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy leads the district at 87 with 66.7% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Gilroy Unified

5 On the Rise2 Growth Engine1 High Ceiling1 Culture First6 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 7 schools in Gilroy Unified are classified as On the Rise (5) or Growth Engine (2) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
71.3%
White
10.4%
Asian
5.3%
Black
1.3%
Other
11.7%
Free/Reduced Lunch
53%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Gilroy Unified spends $12,571 per student in current expenditures — $2,243 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$12,571
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
10,821
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 18.9%
$10,573 → $12,571
Spending Efficiency
3.58
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 60%Support 37%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$69,898–$130,809
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
474
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Gilroy Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (8)

Gilroy Unified has 8 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.6 — within 0.2 points of the state average of 44.8.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +1.2pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Gilroy Prep (a Navigator School) with a Scope Score of 60 and 34.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Gilroy Prep (a Navigator School)
Gilroy Unified Building Momentum
34.9%Solid
60/100
2Las Animas Elementary
Gilroy Unified Building Momentum
26.7%Solid
54/100
3Rucker Elementary
Gilroy Unified Growth Engine
16.4%Solid
53/100
4Luigi Aprea Elementary
Gilroy Unified Growth Engine
23.9%Solid
52/100
5Rod Kelley Elementary
Gilroy Unified Culture First
17.6%Developing
40/100
6Eliot Elementary
Gilroy Unified On the Rise
6.0%Developing
34/100
7Glen View Elementary
Gilroy Unified On the Rise
7.1%Developing
33/100
8El Roble Elementary
Gilroy Unified Building Momentum
12.0%Developing
32/100

Middle Schools (3)

Gilroy Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 37.3 — 5.4 points below the state average of 42.6.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +3.6pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Solorsano Middle with a Scope Score of 41 and 17.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Solorsano Middle
Gilroy Unified On the Rise
17.9%Developing
41/100
2Brownell Middle
Gilroy Unified On the Rise
17.4%Developing
38/100
3South Valley Middle
Gilroy Unified On the Rise
9.9%Developing
33/100

High Schools (4)

Gilroy Unified has 4 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.3 — 7.6 points above the state average of 43.7. 1 of 4 high schools score above 70.

The highest-scoring high school is Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy with a Scope Score of 87 and 66.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy
Gilroy Unified High Ceiling
66.7%Strong
87/100
2Christopher High
Gilroy Unified Building Momentum
20.5%Solid
53/100
3Gilroy High
Gilroy Unified Building Momentum
8.4%Developing
45/100
4Mt. Madonna High
Gilroy Unified Building Momentum
0.8%Needs Support
21/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 15 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Gilroy Unified

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Gilroy Unified a good school district?
Gilroy Unified has 15 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.9/100, which is within 0.1 points of the state average. 19.1% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Gilroy Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Gilroy Unified is Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy with a Scope Score of 87/100 and 66.7% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Gilroy Unified spend per student?
Gilroy Unified spends $12,571 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Gilroy Unified?
Teacher salaries in Gilroy Unified range from $69,898–$130,809 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.