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#6285 of 9,539 schools in CA

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad

Middle School · Palmdale Elementary · Palmdale, CA

A Palmdale Elementary middle school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.

36555 Sunny Ln., Palmdale, CA 93550

  • Math 11% vs CA 34% (2024)
  • Reading 29% vs CA 47% (2024)
  • 24.9:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.33 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.5Below Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency11.1% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency28.7% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-23.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-17.2 pts
Overall Proficiency20% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)23% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-3.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile26th
Resources & Environment5.9Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio24.9:1
District spending per student$17,861
Chronic Absenteeism15.8%

Students at Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency11%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
34%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency29%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
47%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 15 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 20% recently.

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
28%
ELA
41%
2010
Math
26%
ELA
39%
2011
Math
25%
ELA
43%
2012
Math
25%
ELA
36%
2013
Math
55%
ELA
45%
2014
Math
13%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
13%
ELA
28%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
25%
2017
Math
12%
ELA
30%
2018
Math
13%
ELA
30%
2019
Math
13%
ELA
30%
2022
Math
10%
ELA
27%
2024
Math
11%
ELA
29%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 18% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

90.8%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 8Car-Dependent
  • Bike 17Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,441/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Palmdale), 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

$63,811

Median home value

$378,700

Median rent

$1,573/mo

College educated

10%

Homeownership

52.8%

Poverty rate

19.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93550; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Cactus Medical Health and Technology Magnet AcademyEnrollment path unverified6.36–81.6 mi845Compare →
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet AcademyEnrollment path unverified5.86–82.0 mi786Compare →
Palmdale Academy CharterCharter · enrollment unverified5.7K–122.2 mi751Compare →
Antelope Valley Learning AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified3.9K–122.4 mi1,057Compare →

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.

Palmdale Elementary

Schools in district
29
Rank in district
#14 of 29
District spending per student
$17,861NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
21.1%Census SAIPE · 2024

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad is listed in Palmdale Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad is a public middle school in Palmdale, CA, part of Palmdale Elementary, serving approximately 1,020 students in grades 6th-8th with a 24.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 out of 10 and ranks #6,285 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 32% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad

What grades does Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad serve?

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad?

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad has an enrollment of approximately 1,020 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad is 24.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad rank in CA?

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad ranks #6,285 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 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 Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad has 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 32% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad a charter school?

No, Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad a Title I school?

No, Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad?

90.8% of students at Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad 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
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,020
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
41
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Los Angeles County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.8%
Area population (ZIP 93550)
79,929
Area average commute
42.2 min
Area median age
31.2
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 93550; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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