Needles Unified School District
School District · Needles, California
Avg Rating
7.4
out of 10
Schools
7
3 elem, 1 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,698
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
Avg Rating
7.4
out of 10
Schools
7
3 elem, 1 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,698
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
Evaluating Needles Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Needles 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.
Chemehuevi Valley Elementary
Needles · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Needles High
Needles · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Needles Middle
Needles · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#137 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.1
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 #137 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Needles Unified's schools with real test data average 7.3/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Chemehuevi Valley Elementary (9.5/10), Needles High (7.3/10), and Needles Middle (6.3/10). 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 (4 of 7). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemehuevi Valley Elementary | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Needles High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Needles Middle | 6.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Vista Colorado Elementary | 5.9 / 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. The district invests $22,698 per student annually.
With an average rating of 7.4/10, Needles Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Chemehuevi Valley Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.5/10.
In standardized testing, Needles Unified students show an average math proficiency of 23.6% and ELA proficiency of 28.5%.
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 schools Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 3
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Needles
- Total Enrollment
- 930
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data 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 7.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Needles Unified?
Needles Unified spends $22,698 per student per year.
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?
Chemehuevi Valley Elementary is the highest-rated school in Needles Unified with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What are the test scores in Needles Unified?
Across schools in Needles Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 23.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 28.5%. 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 7.4/10 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
- 7.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 23.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 28.5%
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 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)
- 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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