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Tulare City

Below Average2024–25 data12 schools · avg 33.7/100

Tulare City has 12 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 33.7/100 — 10.0 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Pleasant Elementary at 44/100, where 17.7% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,996 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 12.5%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
33.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
24.4
19.5 – 44.0
Avg Exceeded %
10.7%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
12.5%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
12
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
36.1/100
912.2%12.2%
MiddleNeeds Support
26.8/100
36.4%13.6%

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
36.1
avg score · 9 schools
Pleasant Elementary
Developing
44/100
Heritage Elementary
Developing
39/100
+6 more elementary schools
Middle
26.8
avg score · 3 schools
Los Tules Middle
Developing
31/100
Alpine Vista Middle
Needs Support
30/100
Mulcahy Middle
Needs Support
20/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Tulare City's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 36.1.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -9.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 24.4 points — showing notable variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 12.5%, 5.6pp above the state average of 18.1%.

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

Top school: Pleasant Elementary leads the district at 44 with 17.7% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Tulare City

7 Culture First5 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
78.7%
White
13.3%
Asian
1.2%
Black
3.6%
Other
3.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
78%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Tulare City spends $12,996 per student in current expenditures — $1,818 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$12,996
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
9,319
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 17.7%
$11,047 → $12,996
Spending Efficiency
2.60
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 33%Other 5%
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
$67,304–$131,180
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
515
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (9)

Tulare City has 9 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.1 — 7.7 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -9.3pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Pleasant Elementary with a Scope Score of 44 and 17.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Pleasant Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
17.7%Developing
44/100
2Mission Valley Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
18.0%Developing
42/100
3Heritage Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
12.4%Developing
39/100
4Garden Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
19.2%Developing
38/100
5Frank Kohn Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
9.2%Developing
36/100
6Wilson Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
9.0%Developing
35/100
7Maple Elementary
Tulare City Building Momentum
6.2%Developing
31/100
8Lincoln Elementary
Tulare City Building Momentum
7.1%Developing
30/100
9Cypress Elementary
Tulare City Culture First
11.1%Needs Support
29/100

Middle Schools (3)

Tulare City has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 26.8 — 13.7 points below the state average of 40.5.

Growth is essentially flat at -0.5pp.

The highest-scoring middle school is Los Tules Middle with a Scope Score of 31 and 8.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Los Tules Middle
Tulare City Building Momentum
8.6%Developing
31/100
2Alpine Vista Middle
Tulare City Building Momentum
7.5%Needs Support
30/100
3Mulcahy Middle
Tulare City Building Momentum
3.0%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 Tulare City

  • 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 Tulare City a good school district?
Tulare City has 12 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 33.7/100, which is 10.0 points below the California state average of 43.8. 10.7% 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 Tulare City?
The highest-scoring school in Tulare City is Pleasant Elementary with a Scope Score of 44/100 and 17.7% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Tulare City spend per student?
Tulare City spends $12,996 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 Tulare City?
Teacher salaries in Tulare City range from $67,304–$131,180 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.