Elementary Schools in El Centro, California: 12 schools. Average score 3.8 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
El Centro, California has 12 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 39.9/100 — 3.8 points below the state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is McCabe Elementary at 50/100, where 21.4% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. El Centro schools average 13.9% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.2% (near the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 12 | Developing 39.9/100 | 13.9% | -3.8 |
| High | 4 | Developing 37.9/100 | 6.7% | -9.6 |
| Middle | 5 | Developing 36.1/100 | 12.5% | -4.4 |
How El Centro schools compare
El Centro has 12 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 39.9/100 — 3.8 points below the state average of 43.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is McCabe Elementary with a Scope Score of 50 and 21.4% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in El Centro averages 16.2% — near the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%
School archetypes in El Centro
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Every school in El Centro
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Union High Central Union High Building Momentum | 11.4% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | Southwest High Central Union High Building Momentum | 14.7% | Solid 51/100 |
| 3 | McCabe Elementary McCabe Union Elementary Building Momentum | 21.4% | Developing 50/100 |
| 4 | Lincoln Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 14.6% | Developing 47/100 |
| 5 | De Anza Magnet El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 16.9% | Developing 47/100 |
| 6 | McKinley Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 18.2% | Developing 45/100 |
| 7 | Imperial Valley Home School Academy El Centro Elementary Culture First | 15.5% | Developing 45/100 |
| 8 | Sunflower Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 19.2% | Developing 39/100 |
| 9 | Desert Garden Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 13.7% | Developing 38/100 |
| 10 | Margaret Hedrick Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 7.0% | Developing 38/100 |
| 11 | Harding Elementary El Centro Elementary Culture First | 9.7% | Developing 37/100 |
| 12 | Meadows Elementary Meadows Union Culture First | 8.8% | Developing 35/100 |
| 13 | Booker T. Washington Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 11.0% | Developing 33/100 |
| 14 | Desert Oasis High (Continuation) Central Union High Building Momentum | 0.7% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary El Centro Elementary Building Momentum | 10.4% | Needs Support 26/100 |
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.
Private Schools in El Centro
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology