Sierra Sands Unified School District
School District · Ridgecrest, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
10
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
5,122
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.3:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
10
6 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
5,122
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.3:1
How this district compares
California rank
#553 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,168
$2,479 vs California median
District size
5,122 students
Larger than California median
The short answer
Sierra Sands Unified ranks #553 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Sierra Sands Unified's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Pierce Elementary (7.8/10), Burroughs High (7.3/10), and Las Flores Elementary (7.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.8/10 despite 81% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 Sierra Sands Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Sierra Sands Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Sierra Sands Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierce Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Burroughs High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Las Flores Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Richmond Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Faller Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Gateway Elementary | 5.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Mesquite Continuation High | 4.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Inyokern Elementary | 4.4 / 10 |
| 9 | James Monroe Middle | 4.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Murray Middle | 3.5 / 10 |
See all 10 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Sierra Sands Unified
Sierra Sands Unified is a Ridgecrest, California school district serving 10 schools.The district educates 5,122 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.3:1. District-level spending was $15,168 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Sierra Sands Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Pierce Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.8/10.
In standardized testing, Sierra Sands Unified students show an average math proficiency of 36.1% and ELA proficiency of 44.5%.
The district includes 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Sierra Sands Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Sierra Sands Unified with test data.
Schools in Sierra Sands Unified
10 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- California
- City
- Ridgecrest
- Total Enrollment
- 5,122
- Teachers (FTE)
- 241
- District spending per student
- $15,168NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 15.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Sierra Sands Unified?
Sierra Sands Unified has 10 schools in total — 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Sierra Sands Unified?
The average composite rating for Sierra Sands Unified is 5.7/10. 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 Sierra Sands Unified?
Sierra Sands Unified's district-level spending was $15,168 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 Sierra Sands Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Sierra Sands Unified is 21.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Sierra Sands Unified?
Pierce Elementary is the highest-rated school in Sierra Sands Unified with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What are the test scores in Sierra Sands Unified?
Across schools in Sierra Sands Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 36.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 44.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Sierra Sands Unified compare to other districts in California?
Sierra Sands Unified has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 10 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
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 36.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 44.5%
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 Sierra Sands 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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