Below Average
#7393 of 9,539 schools in CA
Gifford C. Cole Middle
Middle School · Eastside Union Elementary · Lancaster, CA
An Eastside Union Elementary middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3126 East Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93535
- Math 8% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 25% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Gifford C. Cole Middle score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 17 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 17% recently.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 18% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 31% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
86.3%
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 Gifford C. Cole Middle 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 16Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,788/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lancaster), 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
$65,989
Median home value
$336,200
Median rent
$1,650/mo
College educated
14.2%
Homeownership
65%
Poverty rate
15.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93535; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 381 | Compare → |
| Piute MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | 6–8 | 2.8 mi | 767 | Compare → |
| Fulton and Alsbury Academy of Arts and EngineeringEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 419 | Compare → |
| New Vista MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | 3.1 mi | 938 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Eastside Union Elementary
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #4 of 5
- District spending per student
- $18,598NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Gifford C. Cole Middle is listed in Eastside Union Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Gifford C. Cole Middle
Gifford C. Cole Middle is a public middle school in Lancaster, CA, part of Eastside Union Elementary, serving approximately 687 students in grades 7th-8th with a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #7,393 of 9,539 schools in CA.
State assessment records show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Gifford C. Cole Middle
What grades does Gifford C. Cole Middle serve?
Gifford C. Cole Middle serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Gifford C. Cole Middle?
Gifford C. Cole Middle has an enrollment of approximately 687 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gifford C. Cole Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Gifford C. Cole Middle is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Gifford C. Cole Middle rank in CA?
Gifford C. Cole Middle ranks #7,393 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Gifford C. Cole Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Gifford C. Cole Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 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 Gifford C. Cole Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Gifford C. Cole Middle has 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Gifford C. Cole Middle a charter school?
No, Gifford C. Cole Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Gifford C. Cole Middle a Title I school?
No, Gifford C. Cole Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gifford C. Cole Middle?
86.3% of students at Gifford C. Cole Middle 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
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 687
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 42.5%
- Phone
- (661) 946-1041
- Area population (ZIP 93535)
- 80,478
- Area average commute
- 33.5 min
- Area median age
- 31.9
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 93535; 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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