Average
#4985 of 9,533 schools in CA
Imperial County Special Education
School · Imperial County Office of Education
1398 Sperber Rd., EL Centro, CA 92243
Enrollment
491
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
491
Student-Teacher
12:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In EL Centro
#11 of 21
public schools
California schools
#164 of 475
In district
#3 of 3
Imperial County Office of Education
School environment
10.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Imperial County Special Education
Imperial County Special Education is a public school located in El Centro, California, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. With an enrollment of 491 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12:1, the school provides personalized attention to each learner. The staff consists of 41 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to supporting students with diverse needs.
The school's MySchoolScout rating is 3.7 out of 10, reflecting areas for academic growth in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math proficiency, where only 2% of students are rated as proficient or above across all grade levels. Despite these challenges, the school focuses on student development and offers a supportive environment that caters to individual learning requirements. Imperial County Special Education is situated in a rural area near El Centro, providing a unique setting for its community.
The surrounding region lacks specific neighborhood data but offers a close-knit atmosphere where students receive tailored educational support.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Imperial County Special Education are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Located in a rural area, Imperial County Special Education may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Imperial County Special Education — Students at Imperial County Special Education score 2% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
70.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.1/10.
How Imperial County Special Education Compares
See how Imperial County Special Education performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 2.5% (2019) to 2.5% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 2.5% (2019) to 2.5% (2021).
Location
1398 Sperber Rd., EL Centro, CA 92243
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Imperial County Special Education may also want to explore other schools in the area. Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences (rated 8.4/10, 2.7 miles away, in nearby San Diego), which scores notably higher. Another option is Southwest High (rated 7.4/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, De Anza Magnet (rated 6.8/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in EL Centro, see our EL Centro schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial County Juvenile Hall/Community El Centro | 0.0 mi | — |
| Imperial Pathways Charter El Centro | 0.0 mi | 6.6 |
| Christian Home Academy El Centro | 1.7 mi | — |
| Desert Garden Elementary El Centro | 1.7 mi | 6.4 |
| Mt. Signal Virtual Academy El Centro | 1.8 mi | 5.2 |
| De Anza Magnet El Centro | 2.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Southwest High El Centro | 1.9 mi | 7.4 |
| McCabe Elementary El Centro | 1.8 mi | 4.6 |
| Desert Oasis High (Continuation) El Centro | 2.2 mi | 5.2 |
| Phoenix Rising High El Centro | 2.2 mi | — |
| Harding Elementary El Centro | 2.3 mi | 5.7 |
| Dogwood Elementary Heber | 2.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Wilson Jr. High El Centro | 2.4 mi | 6.3 |
| ST MARY S SCHOOL El Centro | 2.5 mi | 4.3 |
| Central Union High El Centro | 2.5 mi | 6.7 |
| St. Marys School El Centro | 2.5 mi | — |
| Valley Academy El Centro | 2.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Margaret Hedrick Elementary El Centro | 2.6 mi | 3.8 |
| Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences San Diego | 2.7 mi | 8.4 |
| Lincoln Elementary El Centro | 2.9 mi | 5.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92243 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$55,890
Median Home Value
$286,100
Median Rent
$992/mo
Population
48,556
College Educated
16.2%
Homeownership
51.5%
Avg Commute
22.6 min
Poverty Rate
20.2%
Median Age
31.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Imperial County Special Education has a median household income of $55,890. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $286,100, with a median rent of $992/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.2%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Castle Rock Crescent City, CA | 6.3 |
| LANCASTER BAPTIST SCHOOL Lancaster, CA | 6.3 |
| REDWOOD CHRISTIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL San Lorenzo, CA | 6.3 |
| Stanislaus County Special Education Modesto, CA | 6.3 |
| Urban Discovery Academy Charter San Diego, CA | 6.3 |
| CAPITAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sacramento, CA | 6.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Imperial County Special Education
What grades does Imperial County Special Education serve?
Imperial County Special Education serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Imperial County Special Education?
Imperial County Special Education has an enrollment of approximately 491 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Imperial County Special Education?
The student-teacher ratio at Imperial County Special Education is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Imperial County Special Education rank in CA?
Imperial County Special Education is ranked #4985 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Imperial County Special Education's MySchoolScout rating?
Imperial County Special Education has a composite rating of 6.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Imperial County Special Education?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Imperial County Special Education has 2.5% math proficiency and 2.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Imperial County Special Education a charter school?
No, Imperial County Special Education is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Imperial County Special Education a Title I school?
No, Imperial County Special Education is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Imperial County Special Education?
70.1% of students at Imperial County Special Education qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,607/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (EL Centro). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 491
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 41
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 70.1%
- Type
- special_ed
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Imperial County
- Phone
- (760) 312-6428
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Imperial County Office of Education- District Enrollment
- 958
- Schools in District
- 4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $89,771
- District Rank
- #3 of 3
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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