Needs Improvement
#9381 of 9,539 schools in CA
Mountain Empire Junior High
Middle School · Mountain Empire Unified · Pine Valley, CA
A Mountain Empire Unified middle school where students score 24 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3305 Buckman Springs Rd., Pine Valley, CA 91962
- Math 9% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 21% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 27.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mountain Empire Junior High score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 35 points across the 13-year record (2012–2024) and has held near 15% recently.
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 15% (multi-year average, 2012-2024) · reading/ELA 29% (multi-year average, 2012-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
62.8%
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 Mountain Empire Junior 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
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.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Mountain Empire Unified
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #7 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 Junior High is listed in Mountain Empire Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mountain Empire Junior High
Mountain Empire Junior High is a public middle school in Pine Valley, CA, part of Mountain Empire Unified, serving approximately 298 students in grades 7th-8th with a 27.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.8 out of 10 and ranks #9,381 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2024) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mountain Empire Junior High
What grades does Mountain Empire Junior High serve?
Mountain Empire Junior High serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Mountain Empire Junior High?
Mountain Empire Junior High has an enrollment of approximately 298 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mountain Empire Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Mountain Empire Junior High is 27.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mountain Empire Junior High rank in CA?
Mountain Empire Junior High ranks #9,381 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Mountain Empire Junior High's MySchoolScout rating?
Mountain Empire Junior High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.8 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 Junior High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mountain Empire Junior High has 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2024) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2024).
Is Mountain Empire Junior High a charter school?
No, Mountain Empire Junior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mountain Empire Junior High a Title I school?
No, Mountain Empire Junior High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mountain Empire Junior High?
62.8% of students at Mountain Empire Junior 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
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 298
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 27.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.1%
- Phone
- (619) 326-6662
- 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.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2012-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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