Elk Grove Unified School District
School District · Elk Grove, California
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
67
43 elem, 9 mid, 13 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,966
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
67
43 elem, 9 mid, 13 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,966
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
Evaluating Elk Grove Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Elk Grove 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.
Zehnder Ranch Elementary
Elk Grove · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle
Elk Grove · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Elliott Ranch Elementary
Elk Grove · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#300 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.2
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,966
$1,681 vs California median
District size
62,603 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Elk Grove Unified ranks #300 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Elk Grove Unified's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 66 schools. Its top-rated schools are Zehnder Ranch Elementary (8.6/10), Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle (8.4/10), and Elliott Ranch Elementary (8.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.9/10 despite 72% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Elk Grove Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Elk Grove Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Elk Grove Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (66 of 67). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zehnder Ranch Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Elliott Ranch Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Katherine L. Albiani Middle | 8.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Carroll Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Stone Lake Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Roy Herburger Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Arnold Adreani Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Toby Johnson Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Pleasant Grove High | 7.9 / 10 |
See all 67 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Elk Grove Unified
Elk Grove Unified School District serves 62,603 students across 67 ranked schools in the Sacramento metropolitan area, making it one of California's largest districts by enrollment. With an average school score of 6.5 out of 10, the district performs at a solid mid-range level — a useful baseline as parents weigh individual campuses against district-wide trends.
Elliott Ranch Elementary leads the district with a score of 8.9 out of 10, placing it well above the district average and signaling strong academic delivery at the elementary level. Edna Batey Elementary follows at 8.4, and Robert J. Fite Elementary rounds out the top elementary tier at 8.0. Parents prioritizing elementary-level performance have multiple high-scoring options within the same district, which matters for families planning ahead across multiple school years.
At the middle school level, Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle scores 8.2 out of 10, making it the highest-rated middle school in the district and a standout among its peers. Edward Harris Jr. Middle scores 7.9, also clearing the district average by a meaningful margin. The gap between these top middle schools and the district average of 6.5 suggests that school selection within Elk Grove Unified carries real academic consequences — two schools in the same tier can deliver noticeably different outcomes.
With 67 ranked schools in total, Elk Grove Unified gives parents a wide field to compare. The range of scores across those campuses means neighborhood boundaries and school assignments deserve close attention. Parents should cross-reference individual school scores against their assigned campus and check whether interdistrict transfer or magnet options are available. The district's size also means resource distribution varies — top-rated schools like Elliott Ranch and Elizabeth Pinkerton demonstrate what's achievable within the system, while the 6.5 district average sets realistic expectations for the broader network. Researching individual campuses on MySchoolScout before committing to a home address is the most direct way to align where you live with where your child learns.
District Map
Schools in Elk Grove Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Elk Grove Unified with test data.
Schools in Elk Grove Unified
67 schools Elementary Schools 43
Middle Schools 9
High Schools 13
Other Schools 2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Elk Grove
- Total Enrollment
- 62,603
- Teachers (FTE)
- 2,746
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Elk Grove Unified?
Elk Grove Unified has 67 schools in total — 43 elementary, 9 middle, and 13 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Elk Grove Unified?
The average composite rating for Elk Grove Unified is 6.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Elk Grove Unified?
Elk Grove Unified spends $15,966 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Elk Grove Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Elk Grove Unified is 22.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Elk Grove Unified?
Zehnder Ranch Elementary is the highest-rated school in Elk Grove Unified with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Elk Grove Unified?
Across schools in Elk Grove Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 45.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 52.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Elk Grove Unified compare to other districts in California?
Elk Grove Unified has an average school rating of 6.4/10 across 67 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
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 45.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 52.0%
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 Elk Grove Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
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- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
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- Sacramento City Unified (73)
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- Irvine Unified (45)
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- Fremont Unified (44)
- Twin Rivers Unified (43)
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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