Needs Improvement
#9482 of 9,539 schools in CA
Desert Knolls Elementary
Elementary School · Apple Valley Unified · Apple Valley, CA
An Apple Valley Unified elementary school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
18213 Symeron Dr., Apple Valley, CA 92307
- Math 13% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 12% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Knolls Elementary score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 19 points since 2018, to 13% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 32% (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
76.9%
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 Knolls 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 10Car-Dependent
- Transit 23Minimal Transit
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,137/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Apple Valley), 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
$74,715
Median home value
$396,900
Median rent
$1,379/mo
College educated
22%
Homeownership
70.2%
Poverty rate
14.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92307; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy for Academic ExcellenceCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.6 | K–12 | 0.7 mi | 1,496 | Compare → |
| Apple Valley Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–12 | 1.6 mi | 124 | Compare → |
| Apple Valley Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–12 | 1.6 mi | 129 | Compare → |
| Sixth Street PrepCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.6 | K–6 | 1.7 mi | 228 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Apple Valley Unified
- Schools in district
- 15
- Rank in district
- #13 of 14
- District spending per student
- $12,735NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Knolls Elementary is listed in Apple Valley Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Knolls Elementary
Desert Knolls Elementary is a public elementary school in Apple Valley, CA, part of Apple Valley Unified, serving approximately 584 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.3 out of 10 and ranks #9,482 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 32% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Knolls Elementary
What grades does Desert Knolls Elementary serve?
Desert Knolls Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Desert Knolls Elementary?
Desert Knolls Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 584 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Knolls Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Knolls Elementary is 22.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Knolls Elementary rank in CA?
Desert Knolls Elementary ranks #9,482 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Desert Knolls Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Knolls Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.3 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 Knolls Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Knolls Elementary has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 32% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Desert Knolls Elementary a charter school?
No, Desert Knolls Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Knolls Elementary a Title I school?
No, Desert Knolls Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Knolls Elementary?
76.9% of students at Desert Knolls 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
- 584
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- San Bernardino County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 40.2%
- Phone
- (760) 242-3441
- Area population (ZIP 92307)
- 40,666
- Area average commute
- 41.1 min
- Area median age
- 35
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 92307; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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