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Goleta Union Elementary: Goleta Union Elementary schools score 10.6 points above the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 3.2 points.

Above Average2024–25 data9 schools · avg 55.4/100

Goleta Union Elementary has 9 ranked schools across elementary levels with an average Scope Score of 55.4/100 — 10.6 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Foothill Elementary at 72/100, where 48.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $17,775 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 11.1%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
55.4
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
38.3
34.0 – 72.3
Avg Exceeded %
33.5%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
11.1%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
9
With Scope Scores

Goleta Union Elementary's elementary schools average 55.4/100 — 10.6 points above the state average with a −3.2pp declining trajectory.

District Analysis

Goleta Union Elementary has 9 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 55.4/100 — 10.6 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

District-wide elementary growth averages -3.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 38.3 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 11.1%, 6.8pp below the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 0.4%, near the state average of 1.6%.

Foothill Elementary leads the district at 72 with 48.5% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Goleta Union Elementary

2 Growth Engine2 Culture First1 On the Rise4 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 3 schools in Goleta Union Elementary are classified as Growth Engine (2) or On the Rise — 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
45.9%
White
37.1%
Asian
5.6%
Black
0.6%
Other
10.9%
Free/Reduced Lunch
37%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Goleta Union Elementary spends $17,775 per student in current expenditures — $2,960 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$17,775
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
3,378
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 24.6%
$14,267 → $17,775
Spending Efficiency
3.12
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 64%Support 33%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
$63,313–$129,787
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
166
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Goleta Union Elementary

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (9)

Goleta Union Elementary has 9 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 55.4 — 10.6 points above the state average of 44.8. 1 of 9 elementary schools score above 70.

Growth averages -3.2pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Foothill Elementary with a Scope Score of 72 and 48.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Foothill Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Building Momentum
48.5%Strong
72/100
2Mountain View Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Building Momentum
54.2%Solid
69/100
3Isla Vista Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Building Momentum
37.1%Solid
66/100
4Kellogg Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Building Momentum
38.0%Solid
60/100
5Hollister Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Growth Engine
34.4%Solid
59/100
6Brandon Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Growth Engine
24.6%Solid
57/100
7La Patera Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary On the Rise
18.9%Developing
42/100
8Ellwood Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Culture First
28.0%Developing
39/100
9El Camino Elementary
Goleta Union Elementary Culture First
17.6%Developing
34/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 9 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 Goleta Union Elementary

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 Goleta Union Elementary a good school district?
Goleta Union Elementary has 9 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 55.4/100, which is 10.6 points above the state average. 33.5% 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 Goleta Union Elementary?
The highest-scoring school in Goleta Union Elementary is Foothill Elementary with a Scope Score of 72/100 and 48.5% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Goleta Union Elementary spend per student?
Goleta Union Elementary spends $17,775 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 Goleta Union Elementary?
Teacher salaries in Goleta Union Elementary range from $63,313–$129,787 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.