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Very Good

#3571 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 37% in state

Pioneer Valley High

High School · Santa Maria Joint Union High · Santa Maria, CA

A Santa Maria Joint Union High high school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.

675 Panther Dr., Santa Maria, CA 93454

  • Math 23% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 51% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 96.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.06 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22.7% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency51.1% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-5.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-4.8 pts
Overall Proficiency37% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)31% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+6.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile59th
College Readiness6.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation11%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.4Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.2:1
District spending per student$17,168
Chronic Absenteeism17.6%

Students at Pioneer Valley High score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency23%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency51%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 10 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 37% recently.

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
50%
ELA
44%
2010
Math
53%
ELA
56%
2011
Math
56%
ELA
48%
2012
Math
55%
ELA
53%
2013
Math
54%
ELA
46%
2014
Math
20%
ELA
55%
2015
Math
23%
ELA
56%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
59%
2017
Math
20%
ELA
55%
2018
Math
28%
ELA
61%
2019
Math
28%
ELA
61%
2024
Math
23%
ELA
51%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 26 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

77.8%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Pioneer Valley High 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 16Car-Dependent
  • Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,611/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Santa Maria), 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

$84,178

Median home value

$477,600

Median rent

$1,750/mo

College educated

17.8%

Homeownership

53.1%

Poverty rate

13.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93454; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
11% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics22sports offered
12 boys'·10 girls'·50 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Agape School of Christian EducationPrivate · tuitionNot rated3–111.9 mi3Compare →
Trivium CharterCharter · enrollment unverified5.8K–122.1 mi320Compare →
Santa Maria HighEnrollment path unverified6.89–122.3 mi3,110Compare →
Eagles Christian AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot rated3–122.8 mi18Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

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

Santa Maria Joint Union High

Schools in district
4
Rank in district
#1 of 4
District spending per student
$17,168NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
21.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Pioneer Valley High is listed in Santa Maria Joint Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Pioneer Valley High

Pioneer Valley High is a public high school in Santa Maria, CA, part of Santa Maria Joint Union High, serving approximately 3,112 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #3,571 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Pioneer Valley High

Sources:School's websiteWikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Pioneer Valley High School (PVHS) is a public comprehensive high school located in Santa Maria, California, within the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 2. It is the newest campus in the district, having opened on August 11, 2004, with an initial enrollment of freshmen and sophomores 2. The school's vision focuses on preparing students to be productive citizens and ready for college or careers through challenging learning experiences and high expectations 1. In the 2023/24 academic year, the school reported a student-to-teacher ratio of 23:1, with all students receiving a laptop or iPad 1. Recent activities include participation in the Migrant Speech and Debate Tournament at California Polytechnic State University in March 2026 1. The school also hosts theatrical productions, such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” and community service initiatives, including an FFA partnership that donated crops to local food banks 1. Additionally, student Yaretzi Salazar was elected as the California FCCLA State 1st Vice President for the 2025–2026 term 1.
Sources (2)
  1. www.pvhspanthers.org
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Pioneer Valley High

What grades does Pioneer Valley High serve?

Pioneer Valley High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Pioneer Valley High?

Pioneer Valley High has an enrollment of approximately 3,112 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Valley High?

The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Valley High is 22.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pioneer Valley High rank in CA?

Pioneer Valley High ranks #3,571 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Pioneer Valley High's MySchoolScout rating?

Pioneer Valley High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Pioneer Valley High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Pioneer Valley High has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Pioneer Valley High a charter school?

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

Is Pioneer Valley High a Title I school?

No, Pioneer Valley High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pioneer Valley High?

77.8% of students at Pioneer Valley 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
3,112
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
140
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Santa Barbara County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.6%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%
Area population (ZIP 93454)
41,710
Area average commute
23 min
Area median age
31.5
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 93454; 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

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