Needs Improvement
#9263 of 9,539 schools in CA
Pierce Elementary
Elementary School · Sierra Sands Unified · Ridgecrest, CA
A Sierra Sands Unified elementary school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.
674 North Gold Canyon, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
- Math 16% vs CA 39% (2024)
- Reading 20% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pierce Elementary score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 37 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 18% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 35% (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 34 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.1%
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 Pierce Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 30Car-Dependent
- Bike 58Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,757/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Ridgecrest), 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
$84,141
Median home value
$235,400
Median rent
$1,180/mo
College educated
30.5%
Homeownership
62.7%
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93555; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 377 | Compare → |
| Gateway ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 371 | Compare → |
| Heritage Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 37 | Compare → |
| Ridgecrest Montessori Children's HousePrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–6 | 1.2 mi | 36 | Compare → |
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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Sierra Sands Unified
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #10 of 10
- District spending per student
- $15,168NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pierce Elementary is listed in Sierra Sands Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pierce Elementary
Pierce Elementary is a public elementary school in Ridgecrest, CA, part of Sierra Sands Unified, serving approximately 318 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #9,263 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pierce Elementary
What grades does Pierce Elementary serve?
Pierce Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Pierce Elementary?
Pierce Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 318 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pierce Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pierce Elementary is 19.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pierce Elementary rank in CA?
Pierce Elementary ranks #9,263 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Pierce Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Pierce Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Pierce Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pierce Elementary has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Pierce Elementary a charter school?
No, Pierce Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pierce Elementary a Title I school?
No, Pierce Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pierce Elementary?
81.1% of students at Pierce 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 318
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Kern County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 38.4%
- Phone
- (760) 499-1670
- Area population (ZIP 93555)
- 33,629
- Area average commute
- 16.3 min
- Area median age
- 35.9
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 93555; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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