Schools
10
listed public schools. We score seven elementary, two middle and one high.
School district · Kern County
Sierra Sands Unified schools
Sierra Sands Unified’s 7 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 68 to 83. Its 2 middle schools have Scope Scores from 70 to 79. Its high school has a Scope Score of 72.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Students
4,974
in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.
Spending
$19,178
per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.
The path
What is the path through the district?
Sierra Sands Unified has seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school that we score.
Elementary
7schools
Scope Scores from 68 to 83.
See the elementary schools ↓Middle · 2 schools
- Vieweg STEM AcademyScope Score 79
- China LakeScope Score 70
High · grades 9–12
Sherman E. Burroughs High
Scope Score 72
Developing · 36th percentile
Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Elementary schools
Which elementary schools in Sierra Sands Unified score highest?
Vieweg STEM Academy is highest, with a Scope Score of 83. That is higher than 81 in 100 California elementary schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Vieweg STEM Academy
Ridgecrest · Grades K–8 · Check how it admits students.
343036% below the standard
Scope Score 83Strong · 81st percentile
Rank 2
Las Flores Elementary
Ridgecrest · Grades K–6 · 526 students
152461% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 43rd percentile
Rank 3
Pierce Academy of the Arts
Ridgecrest · Grades K–6 · 297 students
152560% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 35th percentile
Rank 4
Gateway Elementary
Ridgecrest · Grades K–6 · 346 students
122068% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 35th percentile
Rank 5
Inyokern Elementary
Inyokern · Grades K–6 · 161 students
2763% below the standard
Scope Score 71Needs Support · 24th percentile
Rank 6
Richmond Elementary
Ridgecrest · Grades K–6 · 364 students
161470% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 13th percentile
Rank 7
Faller Elementary
Ridgecrest · Grades K–6 · 516 students
1971% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 8th percentile
The average elementary school in Sierra Sands Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.
Each score compares a school with the 5,726 California elementary schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in Sierra Sands Unified score highest?
Vieweg STEM Academy is highest, with a Scope Score of 79. That is higher than 70 in 100 California middle schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Vieweg STEM Academy
Ridgecrest · Grades K–8 · Check how it admits students.
213049% below the standard
Scope Score 79Solid · 70th percentile
Rank 2
China Lake Junior High
Ridgecrest · Grades 7–8 · 643 students
1772% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 20th percentile
Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.
High schools
Where does the high school we score in Sierra Sands Unified stand?
Sherman E. Burroughs High has a Scope Score of 72. That is higher than 36 in 100 California high schools we score. It is the only public high school we score in Sierra Sands Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Sherman E. Burroughs High
Ridgecrest · Grades 9–12 · 1,536 students
272350% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 36th percentile
1 high school not ranked statewide
It is compared only with other continuation schools, so it is listed apart.
- Mesquite Continuation HighContinuation high school
Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025.
Against California
How does the district compare with California?
22 in 100 students at the average elementary school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 17 in 100.
Students who miss a lot of school
Average elementary school, students in 100
Sierra Sands Unified22 in 100
California17 in 100
Students from low-income families
Qualify for free or reduced-price meals
Sierra Sands Unified59%
California63%
Spending per student
Day-to-day spending, 2024–25
Sierra Sands Unified$19,178
Typical district$20,491
English learners who moved up a level
On the state’s English test (ELPAC)
Sierra Sands Unified38%
California47%
Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 2,926 of 4,974 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 38% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (88 of 229 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.
The district
Where does Sierra Sands Unified’s money go?
About 57 cents of every Sierra Sands Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
$19,178
spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.
Every dollar, by what it paid for
57¢12¢11¢11¢8¢
- Instruction57%
- Instruction support12%
- Student services11%
- Buildings & maintenance11%
- Administration8%
- Other1%
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $9.1 million into 28 funded actions in 7 goals. That is 10% of its $92.9 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts. The district reports what it spent in a later plan.
Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.
State records
Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?
4,974 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. The state is giving Sierra Sands Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
Who goes to the district’s schools
- White 46%
- Hispanic or Latino 35%
- Black or African American 8%
- Two or more races 5%
- Other or not reported 6%
Is the state giving the district extra help?
The state is giving Sierra Sands Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).2 schools getting state support, 2025–26
- Mesquite Continuation HighMost intensive support, graduation rate
- Pierce Academy of the ArtsExtra targeted support: Black or African American students
Common questions
What do parents ask about this district?
Are the public schools in Sierra Sands Unified good?
Sierra Sands Unified’s 7 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 68 to 83. Of those, 1 is Strong, 3 are Developing and 3 are Needs Support. Sierra Sands Unified’s 2 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 70 to 79. Of those, 1 is Solid and 1 is Needs Support. Sierra Sands Unified has one public high school we score. Sherman E. Burroughs High has a Scope Score of 72. It is Developing, at the 36th percentile. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Sierra Sands Unified rank highest?
Vieweg STEM Academy is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 83. It is Strong, at the 81st percentile. Vieweg STEM Academy is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 79. It is Solid, at the 70th percentile. Sherman E. Burroughs High is the only high school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 72. It is Developing, at the 36th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Sierra Sands Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Sierra Sands Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
How much does Sierra Sands Unified spend per student?
Sierra Sands Unified spent $19,178 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every Sierra Sands Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in Sierra Sands Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $9.1 million into 28 funded actions in 7 goals. That is 10% of its $92.9 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $5.2 million, 57% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the Sierra Sands Unified district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Next
Which places nearby can you look at next?
Schools in Ridgecrest
Every public school with a Ridgecrest address.
Compare schoolsSee the same numbers for each school.
Open the mapSee these schools on the map.
Cities in the district
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Sierra Sands Unified, with the district’s spending and state records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.
State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), springs 2025 and 2026.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.