Colton Joint Unified School District
School District · Colton, California
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
27
18 elem, 4 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
18,912
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
27
18 elem, 4 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
18,912
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
How this district compares
California rank
#571 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,938
+$1,291 vs California median
District size
18,912 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Colton Joint Unified ranks #571 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Colton Joint Unified's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 27 schools. Its top-rated schools are Crestmore Elementary (7.2/10), Gerald A. Smith Elementary (7.2/10), and Paul Rogers Elementary (7.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.2/10 despite 90% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 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 Colton Joint Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Colton Joint Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Colton Joint Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (27 of 27). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crestmore Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Gerald A. Smith Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Paul Rogers Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Sycamore Hills Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Washington High | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Bloomington High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Grand Terrace High Sch at the Ray Abril Jr. Edal Complex | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Ulysses Grant Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Colton High | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Grand Terrace Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
See all 27 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Colton Joint Unified
Colton Joint Unified is a Colton, California school district serving 27 schools.The district educates 18,912 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.2:1. District-level spending was $18,938 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Colton Joint Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Crestmore Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.2/10.
In standardized testing, Colton Joint Unified students show an average math proficiency of 26.5% and ELA proficiency of 36.1%.
The district includes 18 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Colton Joint Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Colton Joint Unified with test data.
Schools in Colton Joint Unified
27 schoolsElementary Schools18
High Schools4
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Colton
- Total Enrollment
- 18,912
- Teachers (FTE)
- 894
- District spending per student
- $18,938NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Colton Joint Unified?
Colton Joint Unified has 27 schools in total — 18 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Colton Joint Unified?
The average composite rating for Colton Joint Unified is 5.6/10. 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 Colton Joint Unified?
Colton Joint Unified's district-level spending was $18,938 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 Colton Joint Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Colton Joint Unified is 21.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Colton Joint Unified?
Crestmore Elementary is the highest-rated school in Colton Joint Unified with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What are the test scores in Colton Joint Unified?
Across schools in Colton Joint Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 26.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 36.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Colton Joint Unified compare to other districts in California?
Colton Joint Unified has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 27 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
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 26.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 36.1%
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 Colton Joint 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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