Madera Unified School District
School District · Madera, California
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
28
18 elem, 3 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,565
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
28
18 elem, 3 mid, 6 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,565
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Evaluating Madera Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Madera 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.
Eastin Arcola Elementary
Madera · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Virginia Lee Rose Elementary
Madera · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Madera South High
Madera · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#466 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.5
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,565
+$918 vs California median
District size
20,142 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Madera Unified ranks #466 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Madera Unified's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 27 schools. Its top-rated schools are Eastin Arcola Elementary (8.2/10), Virginia Lee Rose Elementary (7.1/10), and Madera South High (6.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.2/10 despite 95% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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 Madera Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Madera Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Madera Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (27 of 28). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastin Arcola Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Virginia Lee Rose Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Madera South High | 6.9 / 10 |
| 4 | James Monroe Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | La Vina Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Jack G. Desmond Middle | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | James Madison Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Thomas Jefferson Middle | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Alpha Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | George Washington Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
See all 28 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Madera Unified
Madera Unified is a Madera, California school district serving 28 schools. The district educates 20,142 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22.6:1. The district invests $18,565 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.8/10, Madera Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Eastin Arcola Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.
In standardized testing, Madera Unified students show an average math proficiency of 27.4% and ELA proficiency of 33.4%.
The district includes 18 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Madera Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Madera Unified with test data.
Schools in Madera Unified
28 schools Elementary Schools 18
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 6
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Madera
- Total Enrollment
- 20,142
- Teachers (FTE)
- 890
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.4%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Madera Unified?
Madera Unified has 28 schools in total — 18 elementary, 3 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Madera Unified?
The average composite rating for Madera Unified is 5.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Madera Unified?
Madera Unified spends $18,565 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Madera Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Madera Unified is 22.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Madera Unified?
Eastin Arcola Elementary is the highest-rated school in Madera Unified with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What are the test scores in Madera Unified?
Across schools in Madera Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 27.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 33.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Madera Unified compare to other districts in California?
Madera Unified has an average school rating of 5.8/10 across 28 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
- 5.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 27.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 33.4%
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 Madera 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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