ExploreMapCompareBlogSign in

Sacramento City Unified

Below Average2024–25 data64 schools · avg 36.9/100

Sacramento City Unified has 64 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.9/100 — 6.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is West Campus at 88/100, where 55.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,654 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.5%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
36.9
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
84.0
4.2 – 88.2
Avg Exceeded %
15.5%
State avg: 21.6%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
25.5%
State avg: 18.1%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
64
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
5
of 64 ranked schools
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
35.3/100
5015.9%23.6%
MiddleNeeds Support
4.2/100
10.0%38.7%
HighDeveloping
45.8/100
1315.3%31.8%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
35.3
avg score · 50 schools
Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary
Strong
85/100
Crocker/Riverside Elementary
Strong
72/100
William Land Elementary
Strong
71/100
+47 more elementary schools
→
Middle
4.2
avg score · 1 school
Success Academy
Needs Support
4/100
→
High
45.8
avg score · 13 schools
West Campus
Strong
88/100
Kit Carson International Academy
Solid
60/100
School of Engineering & Sciences
Solid
59/100
+10 more high schools

District Analysis

Strongest level: Sacramento City Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 45.8.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -3.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 84.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 25.5%, 7.4pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 4.6%, below the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: West Campus leads the district at 88 with 55.5% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Sacramento City Unified

11 On the Rise3 High Ceiling3 Culture First2 Strong All-Around42 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 12 schools in Sacramento City Unified are classified as On the Rise (11) 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
41.6%
White
16.1%
Asian
16.4%
Black
13.0%
Other
12.9%
Free/Reduced Lunch
70%
Economic need indicator · district avg
CDE CAASPP 2025

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Sacramento City Unified spends $15,654 per student in current expenditures — $840 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$15,654
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
40,711
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 34.9%
$11,601 → $15,654
Spending Efficiency
2.36
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 34%Other 4%
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
$61,429–$132,487
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
2,225
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (50)

Sacramento City Unified has 50 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 35.3 — 8.5 points below the state average of 43.8. 4 of 50 elementary schools score above 70.

Growth averages -3.3pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary with a Scope Score of 85 and 58.3% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary
Sacramento City Unified High Ceiling
58.3%Strong
85/100
2Crocker/Riverside Elementary
Sacramento City Unified High Ceiling
50.1%Strong
72/100
3William Land Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
44.6%Strong
71/100
4Caleb Greenwood Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Strong All-Around
48.2%Strong
70/100
5Genevieve Didion
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
43.8%Solid
69/100
6Matsuyama Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Strong All-Around
37.4%Solid
64/100
7Camellia Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Solid Base
31.9%Solid
61/100
8David Lubin Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
37.8%Solid
59/100
9Leonardo Da Vinci
Sacramento City Unified Culture First
32.7%Solid
56/100
10Sutterville Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Culture First
32.8%Solid
53/100
11Theodore Judah Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
30.6%Solid
53/100
12Golden Empire Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Growth Engine
18.1%Developing
46/100
13Pony Express Elementary
Sacramento City Unified On the Rise
22.6%Developing
43/100
14Earl Warren Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
14.5%Developing
42/100
15O. W. Erlewine Elementary
Sacramento City Unified On the Rise
18.8%Developing
39/100
16Susan B. Anthony Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Culture First
14.6%Developing
38/100
17John Cabrillo Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
16.1%Developing
38/100
18Washington Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
14.8%Developing
35/100
19Elder Creek Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
14.0%Developing
34/100
20Hubert H. Bancroft Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
15.2%Developing
33/100
21A. M. Winn Waldorf-Inspired
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
7.9%Developing
32/100
22Tahoe Elementary
Sacramento City Unified On the Rise
9.3%Developing
32/100
23John Bidwell Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
12.3%Developing
31/100
24Sequoia Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
13.7%Developing
30/100
25Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
10.3%Needs Support
30/100
26H. W. Harkness Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
8.9%Needs Support
28/100
27Bowling Green Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
10.1%Needs Support
28/100
28Hollywood Park Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
6.3%Needs Support
27/100
29Peter Burnett Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
9.2%Needs Support
27/100
30Bret Harte Elementary
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
10.0%Needs Support
26/100

Middle Schools (1)

Sacramento City Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 4.2 — 36.3 points below the state average of 40.5.

The highest-scoring middle school is Success Academy with a Scope Score of 4 and 0.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Success Academy
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
4/100

High Schools (13)

Sacramento City Unified has 13 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.8 — 1.7 points near the state average of 47.5. 1 of 13 high schools score above 70.

The highest-scoring high school is West Campus with a Scope Score of 88 and 55.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1West Campus
Sacramento City Unified High Ceiling
55.5%Strong
88/100
2Kit Carson International Academy
Sacramento City Unified Solid Base
43.5%Solid
60/100
3School of Engineering & Sciences
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
22.4%Solid
59/100
4C. K. McClatchy High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
14.8%Solid
52/100
5John F. Kennedy High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
8.3%Developing
47/100
6George Washington Carver School of Arts and Scienc
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
7.9%Developing
47/100
7Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
8.9%Developing
44/100
8The MET
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
13.0%Developing
41/100
9Rosemont High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
7.5%Developing
39/100
10New Technology High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
8.8%Developing
37/100
11Luther Burbank High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
3.1%Developing
32/100
12Hiram W. Johnson High
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
5.0%Developing
31/100
13American Legion High (Continuation)
Sacramento City Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
17/100

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 Sacramento City Unified

  • 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

Frequently asked questions

Is Sacramento City Unified a good school district?
Sacramento City Unified has 64 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.9/100, which is 6.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. 15.5% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Sacramento City Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Sacramento City Unified is West Campus with a Scope Score of 88/100 and 55.5% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Sacramento City Unified spend per student?
Sacramento City Unified spends $15,654 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 Sacramento City Unified?
Teacher salaries in Sacramento City Unified range from $61,429–$132,487 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 six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.

Related

All California SchoolsSacramento Schools
← Explore all schools