Sierra Sands Unified: Sierra Sands Unified elementary schools lead at 41.5. A 39.3-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.
Sierra Sands Unified has 9 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.5/100 — 8.3 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Richmond Elementary at 49/100, where 21.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,508 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 3 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 30.1%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 41.5/100 | 6 | 17.1% | 24.7% |
| Middle | Needs Support 22.6/100 | 1 | 7.8% | 28.5% |
| High | Needs Support 28.5/100 | 2 | 14.8% | 47.2% |
Sierra Sands Unified's elementary schools average 41.5/100 — 3.3 points below the state average with +2.1pp grade-to-grade growth.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Sierra Sands Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Sierra Sands Unified has 9 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 36.5/100 — 8.3 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Sierra Sands Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 41.5.
District-wide elementary growth averages +2.1pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.
Score range of 39.3 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 30.1%, 12.2pp above the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 5.3%, above the state average of 1.6%.
Richmond Elementary leads the district at 49 with 21.9% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Sierra Sands Unified
Hidden gems: 4 schools in Sierra Sands Unified are classified as Growth Engine (3) or On the Rise — 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
Sierra Sands Unified spends $13,508 per student in current expenditures — $1,307 below 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
Every school in Sierra Sands Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (6)
Sierra Sands Unified has 6 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 41.5 — 3.3 points below the state average of 44.8.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +2.1pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Richmond Elementary with a Scope Score of 49 and 21.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Growth Engine | 21.9% | Developing 49/100 |
| 2 | Inyokern Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Growth Engine | 16.9% | Developing 46/100 |
| 3 | Las Flores Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Growth Engine | 20.6% | Developing 45/100 |
| 4 | Gateway Elementary Sierra Sands Unified On the Rise | 19.2% | Developing 41/100 |
| 5 | Faller Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 12.3% | Developing 37/100 |
| 6 | Pierce Elementary Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 11.3% | Developing 31/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Sierra Sands Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 22.6 — 20.0 points below the state average of 42.6.
Growth averages -5.2pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Murray Middle with a Scope Score of 23 and 7.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray Middle Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 23/100 |
High Schools (2)
Sierra Sands Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 28.5 — 15.2 points below the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Burroughs High with a Scope Score of 47 and 27.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burroughs High Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 27.0% | Developing 47/100 |
| 2 | Mesquite Continuation High Sierra Sands Unified Building Momentum | 2.6% | Needs Support 10/100 |
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.
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