Skip to main content

Average

#6137 of 9,539 schools in CA

Joe Walker Middle

Middle School · Westside Union Elementary · Lancaster, CA

A Westside Union Elementary middle school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.

5632 West Ave. L-8, Lancaster, CA 93536

  • Math 36% vs CA 34% (2024)
  • Reading 56% vs CA 47% (2024)
  • 24.1:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.6Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-10.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.4 pts
Overall Proficiency33% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)40% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-6.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile39th
Resources & Environment3.2Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio24.1:1
District spending per student$13,325
Chronic Absenteeism25.8%

Students at Joe Walker Middle score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency36%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
34%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency56%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
47%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 6 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 46% recently.

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
41%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
41%
ELA
66%
2011
Math
44%
ELA
65%
2012
Math
43%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
31%
ELA
50%
2015
Math
35%
ELA
55%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
56%
2017
Math
28%
ELA
50%
2018
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2022
Math
20%
ELA
45%
2024
Math
36%
ELA
56%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 57% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

61.5%

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 Joe Walker 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 23Car-Dependent
  • Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,788/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

$102,927

Median home value

$484,900

Median rent

$1,946/mo

College educated

26.5%

Homeownership

69.3%

Poverty rate

12.4%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93536; 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
Endeavour MiddleEnrollment path unverified3.36–82.1 mi780Compare →
Hillview MiddleEnrollment path unverified5.26–82.5 mi1,029Compare →
Amargosa Creek MiddleEnrollment path unverified4.06–83.8 mi954Compare →
Calvary Chapel Christian SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–114.6 mi27Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Westside Union Elementary

Schools in district
12
Rank in district
#2 of 12
District spending per student
$13,325NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
9.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Joe Walker Middle is listed in Westside Union Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Joe Walker Middle

Joe Walker Middle is a public middle school in Lancaster, CA, part of Westside Union Elementary, serving approximately 818 students in grades 6th-8th with a 24.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #6,137 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Joe Walker Middle

What grades does Joe Walker Middle serve?

Joe Walker Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Joe Walker Middle?

Joe Walker Middle has an enrollment of approximately 818 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Joe Walker Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Joe Walker Middle is 24.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Joe Walker Middle rank in CA?

Joe Walker Middle ranks #6,137 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Joe Walker Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Joe Walker Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Joe Walker Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Joe Walker Middle has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Joe Walker Middle a charter school?

No, Joe Walker Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Joe Walker Middle a Title I school?

No, Joe Walker Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Joe Walker Middle?

61.5% of students at Joe Walker 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
6th – 8th
Enrollment
818
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Los Angeles County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.8%
Area population (ZIP 93536)
72,013
Area average commute
32.7 min
Area median age
36.8
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 93536; 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

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.