Palmdale Elementary
Palmdale Elementary has 25 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 28.6/100 — 15.2 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Barrel Springs Elementary at 47/100, 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 29.7%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 30.2/100 | 20 | 9.1% | 29.1% |
| Middle | Needs Support 22.1/100 | 5 | 5.2% | 32.1% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Palmdale Elementary, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Palmdale Elementary's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 30.2.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -2.1pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 32.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 29.7%, 11.6pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 4.3%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Barrel Springs Elementary leads the district at 47 with 16.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Palmdale Elementary
Hidden gems: 8 schools in Palmdale Elementary are classified as On the Rise (7) 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
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.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (20)
Palmdale Elementary has 20 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 30.2 — 13.6 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -2.1pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Barrel Springs Elementary with a Scope Score of 47 and 16.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrel Springs Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 16.6% | Developing 47/100 |
| 2 | Los Amigos - Dual Immersion Palmdale Elementary Growth Engine | 19.6% | Developing 46/100 |
| 3 | Palmdale Learning Plaza Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 18.5% | Developing 46/100 |
| 4 | Innovations Academy of Palmdale Palmdale Elementary Culture First | 13.8% | Developing 41/100 |
| 5 | Dos Caminos Dual Immersion Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 9.7% | Developing 33/100 |
| 6 | Tumbleweed Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 6.1% | Developing 31/100 |
| 7 | Chaparral Prep Academy Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 10.3% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 8 | Ocotillo Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 11.1% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 9 | Cimarron Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 10 | Buena Vista Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 6.6% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 11 | Manzanita Elementary Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 5.2% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 12 | Quail Valley Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 8.7% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 13 | Desert Rose Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 7.1% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 14 | Palm Tree Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 7.0% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 15 | Joshua Hills Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 7.5% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 16 | Mesquite Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 7.6% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 17 | Summerwind Elementary Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 6.8% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 18 | Golden Poppy Elementary Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 6.4% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 19 | Yucca Elementary Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 2.8% | Needs Support 19/100 |
| 20 | Tamarisk Elementary Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 3.3% | Needs Support 15/100 |
Middle Schools (5)
Palmdale Elementary has 5 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 22.1 — 18.3 points below the state average of 40.5.
District-wide growth averages +1.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy with a Scope Score of 27 and 6.4% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 6.4% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 2 | Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Ac Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 4.5% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 3 | Desert Willow Fine Arts, Science and Technology Ma Palmdale Elementary On the Rise | 5.0% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 4 | David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 4.8% | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 5 | Cactus Medical, Health and Technology Magnet Acade Palmdale Elementary Building Momentum | 5.4% | Needs Support 20/100 |
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.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Palmdale Elementary
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology