Mountain Empire Unified’s 7 public elementary schools run from the 7th to the 58th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). They sit in three of the four bands: Solid, Developing and Needs Support.
Elementary · 7 schools
from 7th to 58th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire: 58th percentile, Solid
Descanso Elementary: 45th percentile, Developing
JCS - Pine Valley: 26th percentile, Developing
Compass Charter Schools of San Diego: 20th percentile, Needs Support
Clover Flat Elementary: 11th percentile, Needs Support
Campo Elementary: 9th percentile, Needs Support
Potrero Elementary: 7th percentile, Needs Support
4Needs Support
2Developing
1Solid
0Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
One dot per school.
Middle and high school pictures
Middle · 4 schools
from 3rd to 78th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests
Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire: 78th percentile, Strong
Compass Charter Schools of San Diego: 56th percentile, Solid
JCS - Pine Valley: 35th percentile, Developing
Mountain Empire Junior High: 3rd percentile, Needs Support
1Needs Support
1Developing
1Solid
1Strong
High · 3 schools
from 13th to 65th · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests
Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire: 65th percentile, Solid
Compass Charter Schools of San Diego: 15th percentile, Needs Support
Mountain Empire High: 13th percentile, Needs Support
2Needs Support
0Developing
1Solid
0Strong
← lower percentilehigher →
One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 3 of the 9 ranked schools teach more than one level, 2 of them all three, so they appear in more than one picture.
The average elementary school in Mountain Empire Unified had 21 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 Mountain Empire Unified score highest?
Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire is highest, at the 78th percentile.
That’s higher than 78 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in Mountain Empire Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
The average middle school in Mountain Empire Unified had 14 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.
High schools
Which high schools in Mountain Empire Unified score highest?
Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire is highest, at the 65th percentile.
That’s higher than 65 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).
Highest in Mountain Empire Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
The average high school in Mountain Empire Unified had 18 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
3 high schools not ranked statewide
Alternative schools and court and community schools enroll students differently from a regular school, so each is compared only with its own kind or not ranked.
San Diego VirtualAlternative school: compared only with other alternative schools
Cottonwood Community DayCommunity day school: students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral, including after an expulsion, so we don’t rank it
The district
Where does Mountain Empire Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Mountain Empire Unified spent $23,242 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
The typical California district spent $20,491. About 61 cents of every Mountain Empire 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
Instruction61%
Instruction support9%
Student services13%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance9%
Other1%
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
$8.5 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 29 funded actions in 5 goals. That’s 24% of its $35.7 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, 153 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 55% of the money. The plan itself puts 61% of it toward staff.
District Facilities $2.8 million
MTSS-Aligned Professional Learning System (Differentiated Assistance) $1.0 million
4 of the plan’s 29 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners
Reading $0.2 million
Math $0.2 million
Catch-up help $1.1 million
English learners under $0.1 million
An action naming two of these appears under both.
Largest of these
MTSS-Aligned Professional Learning System (Differentiated Assistance)$1.0 million
District-wide use of assessments in Reading and Math to monitor student progress (Fall, Winter, Spring: Elementary) (Quarter 1, 2, 3, 4: Secondary) (Differentiated Assistance)$192,034
Bilingual Staff Support (New in 2026-27)$44,550
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students
It plans $3.7 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $4.0 million and estimates it spent $4.0 million, the same as planned.
$4.0 million spent (estimated)$4.0 million planned
What changed
The total is $25,217 higher than in the 2025–26 plan. We couldn’t match $4.4 million of this $8.5 million plan to individual actions in last year’s plan. These lists cover the rest.
Largest cuts
Counseling Services−$1.4 million
Early Childhood Education−$769,760
Family Intake Meetings - Personalized Learning Plans−$82,617
Largest increases
District Facilities+$471,165
Regular Community Consultations:+$122,684
Expand Communication Channels:+$82,344
New in the 2026–27 plan
MTSS-Aligned Professional Learning System (Differentiated Assistance)$1.0 million
Instructional Materials and Supplemental Instructional Capacity Supports (Differentiated Assistance - New for 2026-27)$706,739
Ask: What did Counseling Services pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $1.4 million less?
What its goals measure
Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.
What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure
2024–25
2025–26
Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 3
26%
26%
no change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1 and 3
13%
17%
up 4 pts
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 4
38 in 100
36 in 100
2 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 4
5.3%
5.6%
up 0.3 pts
Goal 5 tracks named schools and Goal 2 tracks other measures, so they aren’t shown here.
Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.
The plan’s own titles and amounts
District Facilities · $2,831,045
MTSS-Aligned Professional Learning System (Differentiated Assistance) · $1,046,391
not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals
Every goal, in the plan’s order
Goal 1Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) aims to achieve an increase in active engagement from…$455,5405% of action budgets
“Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) aims to achieve an increase in active engagement from community members and families in school governance and decision-making processes, as measured by participation rates in surveys, public meetings, and volunteer activities” p. 15 ↗
Regular Community Consultations:$139,939action 1.2 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $113,886 is state funding counted toward those services
Expand Communication Channels:$133,399action 1.1 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $63,890 is state funding counted toward those services
Feedback and Response System:$74,383action 1.4 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Family Resource Center:$50,456action 1.5 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $18,228 is state funding counted toward those services
Bilingual Staff Support (New in 2026-27)$44,550action 1.7 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
1 more funded action in this goal
Strengthen Volunteer Programs: · action 1.3 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $7,213 is state funding counted toward those services$12,813
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Regular Community Consultations:+$122,684$17,255 → $139,939 · p. 111 ↗
Expand Communication Channels:+$82,344$51,055 → $133,399 · p. 111 ↗
Feedback and Response System:+$55,804$18,579 → $74,383 · p. 111 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Family Resource Center: · $21,353 → $50,456 · p. 111 ↗+$29,103
Bilingual Staff Support (New in 2026-27) · $44,550 · p. 111 ↗new or renamed
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 15 ↗.
Goal 2Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) will achieve a significant enhancement in educational quality…$2.9 million35% of action budgets
“Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) will achieve a significant enhancement in educational quality by revitalizing educational facilities and developing an innovative employee recruitment and retention plan” p. 26 ↗
5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $2.5 million (+$479,626)
Largest funded actions
District Facilities$2.8 millionaction 2.2 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $644,054 is state funding counted toward those services
Highly Qualified Teachersunder $0.1 millionaction 2.1 · p. 111 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $9,423 is state funding counted toward those services
Engaging Partners to Secure Fundingunder $0.1 millionaction 2.3 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Targeted Instructional Support & Assessment Release (Differentiated Assistance - New for 2026- 27)under $0.1 millionaction 2.5 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $7,340 is state funding counted toward those services
Employee Recognition Eventunder $0.1 millionaction 2.4 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
District Facilities+$0.5 million$2.4 million → $2.8 million · p. 112 ↗
Highly Qualified Teachers−$39,889$77,416 → $37,527 · p. 111 ↗
Engaging Partners to Secure Funding+$17,463$14,804 → $32,267 · p. 112 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Targeted Instructional Support & Assessment Release (Differentiated Assistance - New for 2026- 27) · $24,159 · p. 112 ↗new or renamed
Number of Community School Safety Planning Meetingsp. 28 ↗
Baseline
1 districtwide Community School Safety meeting in 2023- 24.
Target for year 3
At least 2 districtwide Community School Safety Planning meetings per school year.
3 more measures in the plan’s table.
Goal 3Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) will implement a professional development plan that is…$3.0 million35% of action budgets
“Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) will implement a professional development plan that is reviewed and refined annually to ensure alignment with the needs of both students and staff, consistent with the district's strategic vision. Additionally, MEUSD will establish a comprehensive districtwide system for onboarding new staff across all roles, designed to build capacity, foster mentorship, and cultivate a sense of belonging among employees” p. 35 ↗
7 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $1.7 million (+$1.3 million)
Largest funded actions
MTSS-Aligned Professional Learning System (Differentiated Assistance)$1.0 millionaction 3.2 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $500,075 is state funding counted toward those services
Instructional Materials and Supplemental Instructional Capacity Supports (Differentiated Assistance - New for 2026-27)$0.7 millionaction 3.7 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $376,949 is state funding counted toward those services
Early Childhood Education$0.4 millionaction 3.4 · p. 112 ↗
Services for Students who are Homeless, Students who are Foster Youth, and Students from Economically Disadvantaged Homes (Differentiated Assistance - LREBG)$0.3 millionaction 3.6 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $130,359 is state funding counted toward those services
Special Education and 504 Plan Services (Differentiated Assistance)$0.3 millionaction 3.5 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
2 more funded actions in this goal
District-wide use of assessments in Reading and Math to monitor student progress (Fall, Winter, Spring: Elementary) (Quarter 1, 2, 3, 4: Secondary) (Differentiated Assistance) · action 3.3 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $165,457 is state funding counted toward those services$0.2 million
MTSS Leadership, Onboarding, & Graduate Outcomes Alignment (Differentiated Assistance) · action 3.1 · p. 112 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $23,500 is state funding counted toward those servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Early Childhood Education−$0.8 million$1.2 million → $0.4 million · p. 112 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
MTSS-Aligned Professional Learning System (Differentiated Assistance) · $1.0 million · p. 112 ↗new or renamed
Instructional Materials and Supplemental Instructional Capacity Supports (Differentiated Assistance - New for 2026-27) · $706,739 · p. 113 ↗new or renamed
Services for Students who are Homeless, Students who are Foster Youth, and Students from Economically Disadvantaged Homes (Differentiated Assistance - LREBG) · $319,558 · p. 112 ↗new or renamed
Special Education and 504 Plan Services (Differentiated Assistance) · $276,584 · p. 112 ↗new or renamed
District-wide use of assessments in Reading and Math to monitor student progress (Fall, Winter, Spring: Elementary) (Quarter 1, 2, 3, 4: Secondary) (Differentiated Assistance) · $192,034 · p. 112 ↗new or renamed
MTSS Leadership, Onboarding, & Graduate Outcomes Alignment (Differentiated Assistance) · $37,072 · p. 112 ↗new or renamed
A reworded title counts as new.
How the plan measures it · 24 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 35 ↗.
Goal 4Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) will integrate an aligned Social Emotional Learning (SEL)…$1.8 million21% of action budgets
“Mountain Empire Unified School District (MEUSD) will integrate an aligned Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum into its educational practices, achieving a district-wide improvement in student and staff well-being, as measured by increased reports of connectedness, reduced behavioral issues, and enhanced academic achievement” p. 61 ↗
5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $3.8 million (−$2.0 million)
Largest funded actions
Counseling Services (Differentiated Assistance)$750,420action 4.2 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $256,828 is state funding counted toward those services
Transportation Services (Differentiated Assistance)$706,522action 4.4 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Tiered SEL-Aligned Professional Development (Differentiated Assistance)$138,414action 4.3 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $5,500 is state funding counted toward those services
Develop and implement district-wide SEL Framework (Differentiated Assistance)$100,216action 4.1 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $4,805 is state funding counted toward those services
Experiential Learning and Applied Student Engagement (Differentiated Assistance - New in 2026- 27)$55,412action 4.5 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $41,840 is state funding counted toward those services
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Counseling Services (Differentiated Assistance) · $750,420 · p. 113 ↗new or renamed
Transportation Services (Differentiated Assistance) · $706,522 · p. 113 ↗new or renamed
Tiered SEL-Aligned Professional Development (Differentiated Assistance) · $138,414 · p. 113 ↗new or renamed
Develop and implement district-wide SEL Framework (Differentiated Assistance) · $100,216 · p. 113 ↗new or renamed
Experiential Learning and Applied Student Engagement (Differentiated Assistance - New in 2026- 27) · $55,412 · p. 113 ↗new or renamed
Goal 5 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalMountain Empire Unified will improve academic outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged students at…$315,9974% of action budgets
“Mountain Empire Unified will improve academic outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged students at Hillside Jr. Sr. High and Sunrise High by increasing graduation rates at Hillside Jr. Sr. High and Sunrise High, and improving ELA performance at Hillside Jr. Sr. High” p. 75 ↗
Redhawk Academy$165,569action 5.3 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $66,175 is state funding counted toward those services
Family Intake Meetings - Personalized Learning Plans$119,856action 5.1 · p. 113 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
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, 4,402 students
1Hispanic or Latino49%
2White36%
3Two or more races8%
4Black or African American3%
5American Indian or Alaska Native2%
6Asian1%
7Not reported<1%
8Filipino<1%
9Pacific Islander<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools. Rounded labels may not total 100%; segments use the original shares.
Free or reduced-price meals
54%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 2,365 of 4,397 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 Mountain Empire 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, 43% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (160 of 368 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
Does living in the Mountain Empire 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 Mountain Empire Unified good?
Mountain Empire Unified’s 7 public elementary schools run from the 7th to the 58th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Solid, 2 Developing and 4 Needs Support. Mountain Empire Unified’s 4 public middle schools run from the 3rd to the 78th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 1 Solid, 1 Developing and 1 Needs Support. Mountain Empire Unified’s 3 public high schools run from the 13th to the 65th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 2 Needs Support. 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 Mountain Empire Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Mountain Empire Unified had 21 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. The average middle school in Mountain Empire Unified had 14 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Mountain Empire Unified had 18 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does Mountain Empire Unified spend per student?
Mountain Empire Unified spent $23,242 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 61 cents of every Mountain Empire 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 Mountain Empire Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $8.5 million into 29 funded actions in 5 goals, 24% of its $35.7 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $3.0 million, 35% 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 Mountain Empire 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.