Needles Unified School District
School District · Needles, California
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
7
3 elem, 1 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
930
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
7
3 elem, 1 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
930
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
How this district compares
California rank
#291 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$22,698
+$5,051 vs California median
District size
930 students
Smaller than California median
The short answer
Needles Unified ranks #291 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Needles Unified's schools with real test data average 6.5/10 across 5 schools. Its top-rated schools are Monument Peak (8.5/10), Vista Colorado Elementary (7.5/10), and Needles High (6.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Needles Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Needles Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (5 of 7). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monument Peak | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Vista Colorado Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Needles High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Chemehuevi Valley Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Needles Middle | 4.4 / 10 |
See all 7 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Needles Unified
Needles Unified is a Needles, California school district serving 7 schools.The district educates 930 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.6:1. District-level spending was $22,698 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.5/10, Needles Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Monument Peak, which has a composite score of 8.5/10.
In standardized testing, Needles Unified students show an average math proficiency of 23.2% and ELA proficiency of 29.1%.
The district includes 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Needles Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Needles Unified with test data.
Schools in Needles Unified
7 schoolsElementary Schools3
Middle Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Needles
- Total Enrollment
- 930
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- District spending per student
- $22,698NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 19.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Needles Unified?
Needles Unified has 7 schools in total — 3 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 Needles Unified?
The average composite rating for Needles Unified is 6.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Needles Unified?
Needles Unified's district-level spending was $22,698 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Needles Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Needles Unified is 18.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Needles Unified?
Monument Peak is the highest-rated school in Needles Unified with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What are the test scores in Needles Unified?
Across schools in Needles Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 23.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 29.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Needles Unified compare to other districts in California?
Needles Unified has an average school rating of 6.5/10 across 7 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
- 6.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 23.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 29.1%
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 Needles 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)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa 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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