Ceres Unified School District
School District · Ceres, California
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
23
14 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
13,868
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
23
14 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
13,868
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
How this district compares
California rank
#295 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,065
+$418 vs California median
District size
13,868 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Ceres Unified ranks #295 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Ceres Unified's schools with real test data average 6.5/10 across 22 schools. Its top-rated schools are M. Robert Adkison Elementary (8.2/10), Patricia Kay Beaver Elementary (8.2/10), and La Rosa Elementary (7.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.2/10 despite 85% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Ceres Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Ceres Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Ceres Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (22 of 23). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Robert Adkison Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Patricia Kay Beaver Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | La Rosa Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Central Valley High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Ceres High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Sinclear Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Joel J. Hidahl Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Blaker-Kinser Junior High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Samuel Vaughn Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Carroll Fowler Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
See all 23 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Ceres Unified
Ceres Unified is a Ceres, California school district serving 23 schools.The district educates 13,868 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.1:1. District-level spending was $18,065 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.5/10, Ceres Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is M. Robert Adkison Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.
In standardized testing, Ceres Unified students show an average math proficiency of 28.7% and ELA proficiency of 39.6%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Ceres Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Ceres Unified with test data.
Schools in Ceres Unified
23 schoolsElementary Schools14
High Schools4
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Ceres
- Total Enrollment
- 13,868
- Teachers (FTE)
- 601
- District spending per student
- $18,065NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 20.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Ceres Unified?
Ceres Unified has 23 schools in total — 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Ceres Unified?
The average composite rating for Ceres Unified is 6.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Ceres Unified?
Ceres Unified's district-level spending was $18,065 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Ceres Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Ceres Unified is 23.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Ceres Unified?
M. Robert Adkison Elementary is the highest-rated school in Ceres Unified with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What are the test scores in Ceres Unified?
Across schools in Ceres Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 28.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 39.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Ceres Unified compare to other districts in California?
Ceres Unified has an average school rating of 6.5/10 across 23 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
- 6.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 28.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 39.6%
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 Ceres 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)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa 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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