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Palmdale Elementary: Palmdale Elementary elementary schools lead at 33.2. A 45.7-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.

Below Average2024–25 data30 schools · avg 32.0/100

Palmdale Elementary has 30 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 32.0/100 — 12.8 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Barrel Springs Elementary at 54/100, where 16.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,361 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 29.9%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
32.0
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
45.7
8.4 – 54.1
Avg Exceeded %
7.9%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
29.9%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
30
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
3
of 30 ranked
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
33.2/100
258.5%29.4%
MiddleNeeds Support
26.1/100
55.2%32.1%

Palmdale Elementary's elementary schools average 33.2/100 — 11.7 points below the state average with a −1.5pp declining trajectory.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Palmdale Elementary, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
33.2
avg score · 25 schools
Palmdale Learning Plaza
Developing
50/100
+22 more elementary schools
Middle
26.1
avg score · 5 schools

District Analysis

Palmdale Elementary has 30 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 32.0/100 — 12.8 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Palmdale Elementary's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 33.2.

District-wide elementary growth averages -1.5pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 45.7 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 29.9%, 11.9pp above the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 5.1%, above the state average of 1.6%.

Barrel Springs Elementary leads the district at 54 with 16.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Palmdale Elementary

9 On the Rise1 Growth Engine1 Culture First19 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 10 schools in Palmdale Elementary are classified as On the Rise (9) or Growth Engine — 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
74.6%
White
4.0%
Asian
0.5%
Black
16.6%
Other
4.3%
Free/Reduced Lunch
84%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Palmdale Elementary spends $15,361 per student in current expenditures — $546 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$15,361
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
17,525
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 36.2%
$11,281 → $15,361
Spending Efficiency
2.08
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 55%Support 40%Other 5%
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
$58,752–$131,333
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
937
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Palmdale Elementary

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (25)

Palmdale Elementary has 25 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 33.2 — 11.7 points below the state average of 44.8.

Growth averages -1.5pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Barrel Springs Elementary with a Scope Score of 54 and 16.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Barrel Springs Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
16.6%Solid
54/100
2Palmdale Learning Plaza
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
18.5%Developing
50/100
3Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
Palmdale Elementary Growth Engine
19.6%Developing
47/100
4Palmdale Academy Charter
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
9.9%Developing
45/100
5Innovations Academy of Palmdale
Palmdale Elementary Culture First
13.8%Developing
45/100
6Antelope Valley Learning Academy
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
12.5%Developing
41/100
7Palmdale Aerospace Academy
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
6.6%Developing
36/100
8Tumbleweed Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
6.1%Developing
34/100
9Chaparral Prep Academy
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
10.3%Developing
34/100
10Buena Vista Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
6.6%Developing
34/100
11Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
9.7%Developing
34/100
12Desert Rose Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
7.1%Developing
33/100
13Manzanita Elementary
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
5.2%Developing
33/100
14Summerwind Elementary
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
6.8%Developing
33/100
15Cimarron Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
7.8%Developing
33/100
16Quail Valley Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
8.7%Developing
31/100
17Palm Tree Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
7.0%Developing
30/100
18Ocotillo Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
11.1%Needs Support
29/100
19Mesquite Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
7.6%Needs Support
29/100
20Joshua Hills Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
7.5%Needs Support
29/100
21Yucca Elementary
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
2.8%Needs Support
26/100
22Golden Poppy Elementary
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
6.4%Needs Support
26/100
23Tamarisk Elementary
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
3.3%Needs Support
18/100
24Yellen Learning Center
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
15/100
25Oak Tree Community Day
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
0.0%Needs Support
8/100

Middle Schools (5)

Palmdale Elementary has 5 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 26.1 — 16.6 points below the state average of 42.6.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +1.4pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Ac with a Scope Score of 30 and 4.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Ac
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
4.5%Needs Support
30/100
2Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
6.4%Needs Support
27/100
3Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma
Palmdale Elementary On the Rise
5.0%Needs Support
26/100
4David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
4.8%Needs Support
24/100
5Cactus Medical, Health and Technology Magnet Acade
Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum
5.4%Needs Support
23/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 30 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 Palmdale 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 Palmdale Elementary a good school district?
Palmdale Elementary has 30 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.0/100, which is 12.8 points below the state average. 7.9% 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 Palmdale Elementary?
The highest-scoring school in Palmdale Elementary is Barrel Springs Elementary with a Scope Score of 54/100 and 16.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Palmdale Elementary spend per student?
Palmdale Elementary spends $15,361 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 Palmdale Elementary?
Teacher salaries in Palmdale Elementary range from $58,752–$131,333 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.