Mountain Empire Unified School District
School District · Pine Valley, California
Avg Rating
4.5
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,531
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Avg Rating
4.5
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,531
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Evaluating Mountain Empire Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Mountain Empire 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.
Descanso Elementary
Descanso · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Hillside Junior/senior High
Pine Valley · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Mountain Empire High
Pine Valley · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#675 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.8
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,531
+$884 vs California median
District size
1,871 students
Smaller than California median
The short answer
Mountain Empire Unified ranks #675 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Mountain Empire Unified's schools with real test data average 4.5/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Descanso Elementary (6.3/10), Hillside Junior/senior High (5.9/10), and Mountain Empire High (5.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Mountain Empire Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Mountain Empire Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Descanso Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Hillside Junior/senior High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Mountain Empire High | 5.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Potrero Elementary | 4.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Campo Elementary | 3.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Mountain Empire Junior High | 2.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Clover Flat Elementary | 2.8 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Mountain Empire Unified
Mountain Empire Unified is a Pine Valley, California school district serving 8 schools. The district educates 1,871 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. The district invests $18,531 per student annually.
With an average rating of 4.5/10, Mountain Empire Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Descanso Elementary, which has a composite score of 6.3/10.
In standardized testing, Mountain Empire Unified students show an average math proficiency of 26.9% and ELA proficiency of 35.9%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Mountain Empire Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Mountain Empire Unified with test data.
Schools in Mountain Empire Unified
8 schools Elementary Schools 4
Middle Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Pine Valley
- Total Enrollment
- 1,871
- Teachers (FTE)
- 85
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Mountain Empire Unified?
Mountain Empire Unified has 8 schools in total — 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Mountain Empire Unified?
The average composite rating for Mountain Empire Unified is 4.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Mountain Empire Unified?
Mountain Empire Unified spends $18,531 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mountain Empire Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Mountain Empire Unified is 22:1.
What is the top-rated school in Mountain Empire Unified?
Descanso Elementary is the highest-rated school in Mountain Empire Unified with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What are the test scores in Mountain Empire Unified?
Across schools in Mountain Empire Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 26.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 35.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Mountain Empire Unified compare to other districts in California?
Mountain Empire Unified has an average school rating of 4.5/10 across 8 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
- 4.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 26.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 35.9%
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 Mountain Empire 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.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.