Needles Unified: Needles Unified elementary schools add +6.8 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.
Needles Unified has 3 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.5/100 — 8.3 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Needles High at 52/100, where 10.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $16,497 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 22.2%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 37.2/100 | 1 | 7.6% | 18.6% |
| Middle | Needs Support 20.8/100 | 1 | 3.1% | 20.7% |
| High | Solid 51.6/100 | 1 | 10.8% | 27.4% |
Needles Unified's high schools average 51.6/100 — 7.9 points above the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Needles Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Needles Unified has 3 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 36.5/100 — 8.3 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Needles Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 51.6.
District-wide elementary growth averages +6.8pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.
Score range of 30.9 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 22.2%, 4.3pp above the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 5.0%, above the state average of 1.6%.
Needles High leads the district at 52 with 10.8% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Needles Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Needles 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Needles Unified spends $16,497 per student in current expenditures — $1,683 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Every school in Needles Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (1)
Needles Unified has 1 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 37.2 — 7.7 points below the state average of 44.8.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +6.8pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Vista Colorado Elementary with a Scope Score of 37 and 7.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vista Colorado Elementary Needles Unified On the Rise | 7.6% | Developing 37/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Needles Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 20.8 — 21.9 points below the state average of 42.6.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.8pp.
The highest-scoring middle school is Needles Middle with a Scope Score of 21 and 3.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Needles Middle Needles Unified Building Momentum | 3.1% | Needs Support 21/100 |
High Schools (1)
Needles Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.6 — 7.9 points above the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Needles High with a Scope Score of 52 and 10.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Needles High Needles Unified Building Momentum | 10.8% | Solid 52/100 |
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.
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