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Paramount Unified: Paramount Unified schools score 7.1 points below the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 6.9 points.

Below Average2024–25 data18 schools · avg 37.7/100

Paramount Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 37.7/100 — 7.1 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Odyssey STEM Academy at 60/100, where 21.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,272 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 24.3%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
37.7
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
41.4
18.8 – 60.1
Avg Exceeded %
12.5%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
24.3%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
18
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
35.9/100
1113.6%21.6%
MiddleDeveloping
40.2/100
410.2%23.5%
HighDeveloping
41.3/100
311.8%35.2%

Paramount Unified's high schools average 41.3/100 — 2.5 points below the state average.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Paramount Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
35.9
avg score · 11 schools
Los Cerritos
Developing
43/100
Howard Tanner
Developing
42/100
Abraham Lincoln
Developing
41/100
+8 more elementary schools
Middle
40.2
avg score · 4 schools
Frank J. Zamboni
Developing
42/100
Paramount Park Middle
Developing
41/100
Leona Jackson
Developing
40/100
+1 more middle schools
High
41.3
avg score · 3 schools
Paramount High
Developing
45/100
Buena Vista High
Needs Support
19/100

District Analysis

Paramount Unified has 18 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 37.7/100 — 7.1 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Paramount Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 41.3.

District-wide elementary growth averages -6.9pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 41.4 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 24.3%, 6.4pp above the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 1.7%, near the state average of 1.6%.

Odyssey STEM Academy leads the district at 60 with 21.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Paramount Unified

5 On the Rise1 Culture First12 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 5 schools in Paramount Unified are classified as On the Rise (5) — 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
86.9%
White
1.3%
Asian
0.8%
Black
8.7%
Other
2.3%
Free/Reduced Lunch
95%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Paramount Unified spends $15,272 per student in current expenditures — $458 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$15,272
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
13,761
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 25.7%
$12,153 → $15,272
Spending Efficiency
2.47
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 60%Support 37%Other 3%
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
$73,292–$138,335
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
684
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Paramount Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (11)

Paramount Unified has 11 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 35.9 — 8.9 points below the state average of 44.8.

Growth averages -6.9pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Los Cerritos with a Scope Score of 43 and 14.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Los Cerritos
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
14.0%Developing
43/100
2Howard Tanner
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
13.4%Developing
42/100
3Abraham Lincoln
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
20.9%Developing
41/100
4Theodore Roosevelt
Paramount Unified On the Rise
11.1%Developing
39/100
5Wesley Gaines
Paramount Unified On the Rise
15.1%Developing
36/100
6Harry Wirtz Elementary
Paramount Unified Culture First
14.6%Developing
36/100
7Jefferson Elementary
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
16.5%Developing
35/100
8Mark Keppel
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
11.8%Developing
35/100
9Major Lynn Mokler
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
10.6%Developing
33/100
10Hollydale
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
12.6%Developing
31/100
11Captain Raymond Collins
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
9.0%Needs Support
23/100

Middle Schools (4)

Paramount Unified has 4 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 40.2 — 2.4 points below the state average of 42.6.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +6.8pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Frank J. Zamboni with a Scope Score of 42 and 11.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Frank J. Zamboni
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
11.5%Developing
42/100
2Paramount Park Middle
Paramount Unified On the Rise
9.6%Developing
41/100
3Leona Jackson
Paramount Unified On the Rise
9.3%Developing
40/100
4Alondra Middle
Paramount Unified On the Rise
10.4%Developing
38/100

High Schools (3)

Paramount Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 41.3 — 2.5 points below the state average of 43.7.

The highest-scoring high school is Odyssey STEM Academy with a Scope Score of 60 and 21.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Odyssey STEM Academy
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
21.6%Solid
60/100
2Paramount High
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
12.2%Developing
45/100
3Buena Vista High
Paramount Unified Building Momentum
1.6%Needs Support
19/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 18 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 Paramount Unified

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 Paramount Unified a good school district?
Paramount Unified has 18 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 37.7/100, which is 7.1 points below the state average. 12.5% 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 Paramount Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Paramount Unified is Odyssey STEM Academy with a Scope Score of 60/100 and 21.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Paramount Unified spend per student?
Paramount Unified spends $15,272 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 Paramount Unified?
Teacher salaries in Paramount Unified range from $73,292–$138,335 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.