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#6448 of 9,539 schools in CA

Mountain Empire High

High School · Mountain Empire Unified · Pine Valley, CA

A Mountain Empire Unified high school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.

3305 Buckman Springs Rd., Pine Valley, CA 91962

  • Math 20% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 43% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 95%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.33 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.9Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-13 pts
Overall Proficiency31% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)45% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-13.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile31th
College Readiness5.6Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate95%+
AP Participation2.1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.9Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.2:1
District spending per student$18,531
Chronic Absenteeism60.4%

Students at Mountain Empire High score 31% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency20%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency43%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency has held near 31% across the 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2010
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2011
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2012
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
12%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
3%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
37%
2024
Math
20%
ELA
43%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 26% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

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

51.7%

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 Mountain Empire High 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 Diego map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 5Car-Dependent
  • Bike 24Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Low114/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$140,270

Median home value

$496,800

Median rent

$2,222/mo

College educated

41%

Homeownership

92.6%

Poverty rate

7.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 91962; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Athletics9sports offered
5 boys'·4 girls'·9 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses3of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

2 in Mountain Empire Unified

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Hillside Junior/senior HighEnrollment path unverified5.97–12Not available41Compare →
Sunrise High (continuation)Enrollment path unverifiedNot rated9–12Not available17Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Mountain Empire Unified

Schools in district
10
Rank in district
#3 of 7
District spending per student
$18,531NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
12.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Mountain Empire High is listed in Mountain Empire Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Mountain Empire High

Mountain Empire High is a public high school in Pine Valley, CA, part of Mountain Empire Unified, serving approximately 422 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #6,448 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Mountain Empire High

What grades does Mountain Empire High serve?

Mountain Empire High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Mountain Empire High?

Mountain Empire High has an enrollment of approximately 422 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mountain Empire High?

The student-teacher ratio at Mountain Empire High is 19.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mountain Empire High rank in CA?

Mountain Empire High ranks #6,448 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Mountain Empire High's MySchoolScout rating?

Mountain Empire High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 Mountain Empire High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mountain Empire High has 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Mountain Empire High a charter school?

No, Mountain Empire High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mountain Empire High a Title I school?

No, Mountain Empire High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mountain Empire High?

51.7% of students at Mountain Empire High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
422
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
San Diego County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
60.4%
4-Year Graduation
95%+
Area population (ZIP 91962)
2,457
Area median age
57.6
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 91962; 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

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