Central Unified School District
School District · Fresno, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
24
14 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,205
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.3:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
24
14 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,205
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.3:1
Evaluating Central Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Central Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Biola-pershing Elementary
Fresno · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Rio Vista Middle
Fresno · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Hanh Phan Tilley Elementary
Fresno · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#484 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,205
$1,442 vs California median
District size
15,956 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Central Unified ranks #484 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Central Unified's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 23 schools. Its top-rated schools are Biola-pershing Elementary (7.8/10), Rio Vista Middle (7.4/10), and Hanh Phan Tilley Elementary (7.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.8/10 despite 89% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Central Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Central Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Central Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (23 of 24). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biola-pershing Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Rio Vista Middle | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Hanh Phan Tilley Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Norman Liddell Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Houghton-kearney Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | EL Capitan Middle | 6.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Herndon-barstow Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | River Bluff Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Madison Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Glacier Point Middle | 6.0 / 10 |
See all 24 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Central Unified
Central Unified is a Fresno, California school district serving 24 schools. The district educates 15,956 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.3:1. The district invests $16,205 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Central Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Biola-pershing Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.8/10.
In standardized testing, Central Unified students show an average math proficiency of 34.9% and ELA proficiency of 41.5%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Central Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Central Unified with test data.
Schools in Central Unified
24 schools Elementary Schools 14
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 5
Other Schools 2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Fresno
- Total Enrollment
- 15,956
- Teachers (FTE)
- 686
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Central Unified?
Central Unified has 24 schools in total — 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Central Unified?
The average composite rating for Central Unified is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Central Unified?
Central Unified spends $16,205 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Central Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Central Unified is 23.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Central Unified?
Biola-pershing Elementary is the highest-rated school in Central Unified with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What are the test scores in Central Unified?
Across schools in Central Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 34.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 41.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Central Unified compare to other districts in California?
Central Unified has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 24 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 34.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 41.5%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Central Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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