Needs Improvement
#8897 of 9,539 schools in CA
Pauma Elementary
Elementary School · Valley Center-pauma Unified · Pauma Valley, CA
A Valley Center-pauma Unified elementary school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO Box 409, Pauma Valley, CA 92061
- Math 8% vs CA 37% (2024)
- Reading 18% vs CA 46% (2024)
- 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pauma Elementary score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 24 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 13% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 16% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 28% (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 40 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
76.9%
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 Pauma Elementary 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 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 18Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low114/100K
Powered by
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
$92,500
Median home value
$785,100
College educated
42.9%
Homeownership
86.3%
Poverty rate
9.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92061; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Tribes Elementary CharterCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.9 | K–5 | 3.7 mi | 58 | Compare → |
| Morning Star Ranch Training ProgramPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 1–8 | 3.8 mi | 22 | Compare → |
| LilacEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–5 | Not available | 456 | Compare → |
| Valley Center ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | 3–5 | Not available | 459 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
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.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Valley Center-pauma Unified
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #4 of 8
- District spending per student
- $15,832NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pauma Elementary is listed in Valley Center-Pauma Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pauma Elementary
Pauma Elementary is a public elementary school in Pauma Valley, CA, part of Valley Center-pauma Unified, serving approximately 260 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #8,897 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 28% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pauma Elementary
What grades does Pauma Elementary serve?
Pauma Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Pauma Elementary?
Pauma Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 260 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pauma Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pauma Elementary is 21.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pauma Elementary rank in CA?
Pauma Elementary ranks #8,897 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Pauma Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Pauma Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 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 Pauma Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pauma Elementary has 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 28% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Pauma Elementary a charter school?
No, Pauma Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pauma Elementary a Title I school?
No, Pauma Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pauma Elementary?
76.9% of students at Pauma Elementary 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
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 260
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 53.8%
- Phone
- (760) 742-3741
- Area population (ZIP 92061)
- 1,693
- Area median age
- 55.6
Official sources & links
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 92061; 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
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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.