Schools
6
listed public schools. We score three elementary, one middle and one high.
School district · Imperial County
Imperial Unified schools
Imperial Unified’s 3 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 78. Its middle school has a Scope Score of 76. Its high school has a Scope Score of 76.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Students
4,795
in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.
Spending
$16,995
per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.
The path
What is the path through the district?
Imperial Unified has three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school that we score.
Elementary · 3 schools
- Imperial CrossScope Score 78
- Ben HulseScope Score 76
- T. L. WaggonerScope Score 74
Middle · grades 6–8
Frank M. Wright Middle
Scope Score 76
Solid · 58th percentile
High · grades 9–12
Imperial High
Scope Score 76
Solid · 56th percentile
Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Elementary schools
Which elementary schools in Imperial Unified score highest?
Imperial Cross Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 78. That is higher than 62 in 100 California elementary schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Imperial Cross Elementary
Grades K–5 · 760 students
222553% below the standard
Scope Score 78Solid · 62nd percentile
Rank 2
Ben Hulse Elementary
Grades K–5 · 838 students
152956% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 55th percentile
Rank 3
T. L. Waggoner Elementary
Grades K–5 · 613 students
192754% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 45th percentile
The average elementary school in Imperial Unified had 17 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.
Each score compares a school with the 5,726 California elementary schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
Middle schools
Where does the middle school we score in Imperial Unified stand?
Frank M. Wright Middle has a Scope Score of 76. That is higher than 58 in 100 California middle schools we score. It is the only public middle school we score in Imperial Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Frank M. Wright Middle
Grades 6–8 · 1,116 students
162757% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 58th percentile
Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.
High schools
Where does the high school we score in Imperial Unified stand?
Imperial High has a Scope Score of 76. That is higher than 56 in 100 California high schools we score. It is the only public high school we score in Imperial Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Imperial High
Grades 9–12 · 1,439 students
152758% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 56th percentile
1 high school not ranked statewide
It is compared only with other continuation schools, so it is listed apart.
- Imperial Ave. Holbrook HighContinuation high school
Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025.
Against California
How does the district compare with California?
17 in 100 students at the average elementary school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 17 in 100.
Students who miss a lot of school
Average elementary school, students in 100
Imperial Unified17 in 100
California17 in 100
Students from low-income families
Qualify for free or reduced-price meals
Imperial Unified56%
California63%
Spending per student
Day-to-day spending, 2024–25
Imperial Unified$16,995
Typical district$20,491
English learners who moved up a level
On the state’s English test (ELPAC)
Imperial Unified53%
California47%
Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 2,689 of 4,794 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 53% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (389 of 738 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.
The district
Where does Imperial Unified’s money go?
About 67 cents of every Imperial Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
$16,995
spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.
Every dollar, by what it paid for
67¢11¢9¢7¢5¢
- Instruction67%
- Student services11%
- Buildings & maintenance9%
- Instruction support7%
- Administration5%
- Other1%
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $10.1 million into 23 funded actions in 5 goals. That is 12% of its $87.4 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts. The district reports what it spent in a later plan.
Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.
State records
Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?
4,795 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. The state is giving Imperial Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
Who goes to the district’s schools
- Hispanic or Latino 91%
- White 7%
- Other or not reported 2%
Is the state giving the district extra help?
The state is giving Imperial Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).Common questions
What do parents ask about this district?
Are the public schools in Imperial Unified good?
Imperial Unified’s 3 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 78. Of those, 2 are Solid and 1 is Developing. Imperial Unified has one public middle school we score. Frank M. Wright Middle has a Scope Score of 76. It is Solid, at the 58th percentile. Imperial Unified has one public high school we score. Imperial High has a Scope Score of 76. It is Solid, at the 56th percentile. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Imperial Unified rank highest?
Imperial Cross Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 78. It is Solid, at the 62nd percentile. Frank M. Wright Middle is the only middle school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 76. It is Solid, at the 58th percentile. Imperial High is the only high school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 76. It is Solid, at the 56th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Imperial Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Imperial Unified had 17 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
How much does Imperial Unified spend per student?
Imperial Unified spent $16,995 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 67 cents of every Imperial 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 Imperial Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $10.1 million into 23 funded actions in 5 goals. That is 12% of its $87.4 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $5.1 million, 50% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the Imperial 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.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Next
Which places nearby can you look at next?
Schools in Imperial
Every public school with a Imperial address.
Compare schoolsSee the same numbers for each school.
Open the mapSee these schools on the map.
Districts nearby
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Imperial Unified, with the district’s spending and state 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.
State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), springs 2025 and 2026.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.