Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
School District · Valley Center, California
Avg Rating
5.0
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
3,711
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Avg Rating
5.0
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
3,711
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
How this district compares
California rank
#663 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,832
$1,815 vs California median
District size
3,711 students
Typical than California median
The short answer
Valley Center-Pauma Unified ranks #663 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Valley Center-Pauma Unified's schools with real test data average 5.2/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Lilac (7.3/10), Oak Glen High (5.5/10), and Pauma Elementary (5.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Valley Center-Pauma Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Valley Center-Pauma 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 | Lilac | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Oak Glen High | 5.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Pauma Elementary | 5.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Valley Center High | 5.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Valley Center Prep | 4.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Valley Center Elementary | 4.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Valley Center Middle | 4.2 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Valley Center-Pauma Unified
Valley Center-Pauma Unified is a Valley Center, California school district serving 8 schools.The district educates 3,711 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. District-level spending was $15,832 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.0/10, Valley Center-Pauma Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Lilac, which has a composite score of 7.3/10.
In standardized testing, Valley Center-Pauma Unified students show an average math proficiency of 26.7% and ELA proficiency of 37.9%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Valley Center-Pauma Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Valley Center-Pauma Unified with test data.
Schools in Valley Center-Pauma Unified
8 schoolsMiddle Schools1
High Schools2
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Valley Center
- Total Enrollment
- 3,711
- Teachers (FTE)
- 169
- District spending per student
- $15,832NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 7.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Valley Center-Pauma Unified?
Valley Center-Pauma Unified has 8 schools in total — 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Valley Center-Pauma Unified?
The average composite rating for Valley Center-Pauma Unified is 5.0/10. 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 Valley Center-Pauma Unified?
Valley Center-Pauma Unified's district-level spending was $15,832 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 Valley Center-Pauma Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Valley Center-Pauma Unified is 22:1.
What is the top-rated school in Valley Center-Pauma Unified?
Lilac is the highest-rated school in Valley Center-Pauma Unified with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What are the test scores in Valley Center-Pauma Unified?
Across schools in Valley Center-Pauma Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 26.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 37.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Valley Center-Pauma Unified compare to other districts in California?
Valley Center-Pauma Unified has an average school rating of 5.0/10 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
- 5.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 26.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 37.9%
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 Valley Center-Pauma 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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