Below Average
#8587 of 9,539 schools in CA
Helms Middle
Middle School · West Contra Costa Unified · San Pablo, CA
A West Contra Costa Unified middle school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2500 Road 20, San Pablo, CA 94806
- Math 5% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 10% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Helms Middle score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2018, to 7% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 14% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 25% (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
96%
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 Helms 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 San Francisco Bay Area map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 83Very Walkable
- Transit 49Some Transit
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,196/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (San Pablo), 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
$82,818
Median home value
$582,000
Median rent
$2,013/mo
College educated
22.7%
Homeownership
50.6%
Poverty rate
11.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94806; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Independent Study / Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | K–12 | 0.9 mi | 531 | Compare → |
| Manzanita MiddleCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | 6–8 | 1.8 mi | 89 | Compare → |
| Lovonya Dejean MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 4.4 | 7–8 | 2.0 mi | 384 | Compare → |
| Arlington Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–11 | 2.1 mi | 24 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
West Contra Costa Unified
- Schools in district
- 54
- Rank in district
- #39 of 52
- District spending per student
- $19,205NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Helms Middle is listed in West Contra Costa Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Helms Middle
Helms Middle is a public middle school in San Pablo, CA, part of West Contra Costa Unified, serving approximately 579 students in grades 7th-8th with a 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #8,587 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Helms Middle
What grades does Helms Middle serve?
Helms Middle serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Helms Middle?
Helms Middle has an enrollment of approximately 579 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helms Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Helms Middle is 22.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Helms Middle rank in CA?
Helms Middle ranks #8,587 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Helms Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Helms Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 Helms Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Helms Middle has 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Helms Middle a charter school?
No, Helms Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Helms Middle a Title I school?
No, Helms Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Helms Middle?
96.0% of students at Helms 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
- 579
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Contra Costa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 42.8%
- Phone
- (510) 233-3988
- Area population (ZIP 94806)
- 61,749
- Area average commute
- 34.1 min
- Area median age
- 36.3
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 94806; 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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