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Imperial Unified: Imperial Unified elementary schools add +3.2 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.

Near Average2024–25 data6 schools · avg 44.1/100

Imperial Unified has 6 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 44.1/100 — within 0.8 points of the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Imperial Cross Elementary at 54/100, where 22.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,903 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 18.4%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
44.1
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
30.0
23.6 – 53.6
Avg Exceeded %
19.2%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
18.4%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
6
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
50.1/100
321.9%12.4%
MiddleDeveloping
41.1/100
115.9%13.7%
HighDeveloping
36.5/100
216.8%29.6%

Imperial Unified's elementary schools average 50.1/100 — 5.3 points above the state average with +3.2pp grade-to-grade growth.

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
50.1
avg score · 3 schools
Middle
41.1
avg score · 1 school
Frank M. Wright Middle
Developing
41/100
High
36.5
avg score · 2 schools
Imperial High
Developing
49/100
Imperial Ave. Holbrook High
Needs Support
24/100

District Analysis

Imperial Unified has 6 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 44.1/100 — within 0.8 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Imperial Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 50.1.

District-wide elementary growth averages +3.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.

Score range of 30.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 18.4%, 0.4pp near the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 3.6%, near the state average of 1.6%.

Imperial Cross Elementary leads the district at 54 with 22.9% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Imperial Unified

2 Culture First1 On the Rise3 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in Imperial Unified is classified as 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
90.7%
White
7.5%
Asian
0.4%
Black
0.3%
Other
1.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
58%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Imperial Unified spends $11,903 per student in current expenditures — $2,911 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$11,903
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
4,335
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 13.6%
$10,475 → $11,903
Spending Efficiency
3.70
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 66%Support 32%Other 2%
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
$72,916–$149,089
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
220
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Imperial Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (3)

Imperial Unified has 3 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 50.1 — 5.3 points above the state average of 44.8.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +3.2pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Imperial Cross Elementary with a Scope Score of 54 and 22.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Imperial Cross Elementary
Imperial Unified Culture First
22.9%Solid
54/100
2T. L. Waggoner Elementary
Imperial Unified Culture First
20.6%Developing
48/100
3Ben Hulse Elementary
Imperial Unified On the Rise
22.1%Developing
48/100

Middle Schools (1)

Imperial Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 41.1 — within 1.5 points of the state average of 42.6.

Growth averages -6.7pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring middle school is Frank M. Wright Middle with a Scope Score of 41 and 15.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Frank M. Wright Middle
Imperial Unified Building Momentum
15.9%Developing
41/100

High Schools (2)

Imperial Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.5 — 7.2 points below the state average of 43.7.

The highest-scoring high school is Imperial High with a Scope Score of 49 and 15.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Imperial High
Imperial Unified Building Momentum
15.5%Developing
49/100
2Imperial Ave. Holbrook High
Imperial Unified Building Momentum
18.2%Needs Support
24/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 6 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 Imperial 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 Imperial Unified a good school district?
Imperial Unified has 6 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.1/100, which is within 0.8 points of the state average. 19.2% 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 Imperial Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Imperial Unified is Imperial Cross Elementary with a Scope Score of 54/100 and 22.9% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Imperial Unified spend per student?
Imperial Unified spends $11,903 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 Imperial Unified?
Teacher salaries in Imperial Unified range from $72,916–$149,089 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.