Golden Valley Unified School District
School District · Madera, California
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
9
3 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,158
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
9
3 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,158
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Evaluating Golden Valley Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Golden Valley 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.
Ranchos Middle
Madera · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Webster Elementary
Madera · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Independence Continuation High
Madera · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#502 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,158
$4,489 vs California median
District size
2,774 students
Typical than California median
The short answer
Golden Valley Unified ranks #502 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Golden Valley Unified's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ranchos Middle (7.6/10), Webster Elementary (6.6/10), and Independence Continuation High (6.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Golden Valley Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Golden Valley Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranchos Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Webster Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Independence Continuation High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Liberty High | 5.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Sierra View Elementary | 5.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Freedom Home | 4.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Stone Creek Elementary | 3.9 / 10 |
See all 9 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Golden Valley Unified
Golden Valley Unified is a Madera, California school district serving 9 schools. The district educates 2,774 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. The district invests $13,158 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Golden Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Ranchos Middle, which has a composite score of 7.6/10.
In standardized testing, Golden Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 43.3% and ELA proficiency of 55.1%.
The district includes 3 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Golden Valley Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Golden Valley Unified with test data.
Schools in Golden Valley Unified
9 schools Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Madera
- Total Enrollment
- 2,774
- Teachers (FTE)
- 126
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Golden Valley Unified?
Golden Valley Unified has 9 schools in total — 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Golden Valley Unified?
The average composite rating for Golden Valley 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 per-pupil spending in Golden Valley Unified?
Golden Valley Unified spends $13,158 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Golden Valley Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Golden Valley Unified is 22:1.
What is the top-rated school in Golden Valley Unified?
Ranchos Middle is the highest-rated school in Golden Valley Unified with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What are the test scores in Golden Valley Unified?
Across schools in Golden Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 43.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 55.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Golden Valley Unified compare to other districts in California?
Golden Valley Unified has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 9 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
- 43.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 55.1%
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 Valley 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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