Average
#4292 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 45% in state
Desert Garden Elementary
Elementary School · EL Centro Elementary · EL Centro, CA
An EL Centro Elementary elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1900 South Sixth St., EL Centro, CA 92243
- Math 26% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 41% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Garden Elementary score 34% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2018, to 33% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Desert Garden Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 65Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 51Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,607/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (EL Centro), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$55,890
Median home value
$286,100
Median rent
$992/mo
College educated
16.2%
Homeownership
51.5%
Poverty rate
20.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92243; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.9 | K–6 | 0.6 mi | 585 | Compare → |
| De Anza MagnetEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–8 | 1.0 mi | 492 | Compare → |
| Valley AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 219 | Compare → |
| Ballington Academy for the Arts and SciencesCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.5 | K–6 | 1.3 mi | 251 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
EL Centro Elementary
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #7 of 12
- District spending per student
- $17,901NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 30.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Garden Elementary is listed in El Centro Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Garden Elementary
Desert Garden Elementary is a public elementary school in EL Centro, CA, part of EL Centro Elementary, serving approximately 371 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10 and ranks #4,292 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Garden Elementary
What grades does Desert Garden Elementary serve?
Desert Garden Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Desert Garden Elementary?
Desert Garden Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 371 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Garden Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Garden Elementary is 21.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Garden Elementary rank in CA?
Desert Garden Elementary ranks #4,292 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Desert Garden Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Garden Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Desert Garden Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Garden Elementary has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Desert Garden Elementary a charter school?
No, Desert Garden Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Garden Elementary a Title I school?
No, Desert Garden Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Garden Elementary?
81.4% of students at Desert Garden Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 371
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Imperial County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 38.3%
- Phone
- (760) 352-2051
- Area population (ZIP 92243)
- 48,556
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 31.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92243; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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