Golden Plains Unified School District
School District · San Joaquin, California
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
6
4 elem, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,627
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
6
4 elem, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,627
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
Evaluating Golden Plains Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Golden Plains 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.
Helm Elementary
San Joaquin · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Cantua Elementary
San Joaquin · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
San Joaquin Elementary
San Joaquin · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#439 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$20,627
+$2,980 vs California median
District size
1,388 students
Smaller than California median
The short answer
Golden Plains Unified ranks #439 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Golden Plains Unified's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 5 schools. Its top-rated schools are Helm Elementary (8.6/10), Cantua Elementary (5.8/10), and San Joaquin Elementary (5.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Golden Plains Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Golden Plains Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (5 of 6). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helm Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Cantua Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 3 | San Joaquin Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Tranquillity High | 5.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Tranquillity Elementary | 4.2 / 10 |
See all 6 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Golden Plains Unified
Golden Plains Unified is a San Joaquin, California school district serving 6 schools. The district educates 1,388 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.9:1. The district invests $20,627 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Golden Plains Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Helm Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Golden Plains Unified students show an average math proficiency of 23.8% and ELA proficiency of 25.8%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Golden Plains Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Golden Plains Unified with test data.
Schools in Golden Plains Unified
6 schools Elementary Schools 4
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- San Joaquin
- Total Enrollment
- 1,388
- Teachers (FTE)
- 82
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Golden Plains Unified?
Golden Plains Unified has 6 schools in total — 4 elementary, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Golden Plains Unified?
The average composite rating for Golden Plains Unified is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Golden Plains Unified?
Golden Plains Unified spends $20,627 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Golden Plains Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Golden Plains Unified is 16.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Golden Plains Unified?
Helm Elementary is the highest-rated school in Golden Plains Unified with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Golden Plains Unified?
Across schools in Golden Plains Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 23.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 25.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Golden Plains Unified compare to other districts in California?
Golden Plains Unified has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 6 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
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 23.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 25.8%
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 Golden Plains 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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