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Average

#6512 of 9,539 schools in CA

Valley Academy

School · Imperial County Office of Education

253 East Ross Ave., EL Centro, CA 92243

Enrollment

219

Student-Teacher

19.9:1

Score

5.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#6,512 of 9,539

In EL Centro

#14 of 21

public schools

In district

#1 of 3

Imperial County Office of Education

Academic growth

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Valley Academy

5.5/10

School in EL Centro · grades Kindergarten – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Desert Oasis High (continuation)

5.6/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Phoenix Rising High

Nearby

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Valley Academy

Valley Academy is a public school in EL Centro, CA, part of Imperial County Office of Education. Valley Academy serves approximately 219 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-12th, and has a 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Valley Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #6,512 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Valley Academy show 2% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2024) and 14% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2024).

How it compares0.9 pts above district
  • This school 5.5 · Average
  • District avg 4.6
  • CA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Valley Academy sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

68% of students at Valley Academy were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data7
Annual Change+0.36 pts/yr
Data Period2015–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.6Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency1.3% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency13.3% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-32.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-34 pts
Overall Proficiency7% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-12.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile9th
College Readiness3.5Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate34.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$89,771
Chronic Absenteeism67.6%

Valley Academy — Students at Valley Academy score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

96.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 2.3% (multi-year average, 2015-2024)
School
State
32.3% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 13.8% (multi-year average, 2015-2024)
School
State
49.1% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 19 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2015
Math
2.5%
ELA
7.5%
2016
Math
5%
ELA
15%
2017
Math
2.5%
ELA
12%
2018
Math
2.5%
ELA
12%
2019
Math
2.5%
ELA
12%
2022
ELA
25%
2024
Math
1.5%
ELA
13.6%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How Valley Academy Compares

See how Valley Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.5/10
32th percentile in CA
Academic
2.6/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
9.6/10
Excellent
Environment
6.9/10
Average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
97%
Teaching Staff
20:1 student-teacher ratio
11 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
67.6%

Location

253 East Ross Ave., EL Centro, CA 92243

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Valley Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences (rated 8.5/10, 1.9 miles away, in nearby San Diego), which scores notably higher. Another option is McKinley Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Kennedy Middle (rated 7.6/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in EL Centro, see our EL Centro schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Desert Oasis High (Continuation) El Centro 0.5 mi 5.6
Phoenix Rising High El Centro 0.5 mi
Mt. Signal Virtual Academy El Centro 0.7 mi 3.2
Booker T. Washington Elementary El Centro 0.8 mi 5.1
Desert Garden Elementary El Centro 1.0 mi 6.6
Harding Elementary El Centro 1.2 mi 6.9
Christian Home Academy El Centro 1.4 mi
Central Union High El Centro 1.5 mi 6.9
Kennedy Middle El Centro 1.8 mi 7.6
Wilson Jr. High El Centro 1.7 mi 6.9
Lincoln Elementary El Centro 1.8 mi 4.4
McKinley Elementary El Centro 1.9 mi 7.7
Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences San Diego 1.9 mi 8.5
De Anza Magnet El Centro 2.0 mi 5.5
Margaret Hedrick Elementary El Centro 2.1 mi 3.4
ST MARY S SCHOOL El Centro 2.1 mi 4.3
St. Marys School El Centro 2.2 mi
Imperial County Special Education El Centro 2.4 mi 3.2
Imperial County Juvenile Hall/Community El Centro 2.4 mi
Imperial Pathways Charter El Centro 2.4 mi 5.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92243 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$55,890

Median Home Value

$286,100

Median Rent

$992/mo

Population

48,556

College Educated

16.2%

Homeownership

51.5%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

20.2%

Median Age

31.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Independence Charter Academy Helendale, CA 5.5
Insight @ San Joaquin Simi Valley, CA 5.5
Pioneer Technical Center Madera, CA 5.5
California Pacific Charter - San Diego Costa Mesa, CA 5.4
Harbor Springs Charter Temecula, CA 5.6
Las Flores Home Education Independent Study Academy Bellflower, CA 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Valley Academy

What grades does Valley Academy serve?

Valley Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Valley Academy?

Valley Academy has an enrollment of approximately 219 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Valley Academy 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 Valley Academy rank in CA?

Valley Academy ranks #6,512 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Valley Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Valley Academy 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 Valley Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Academy has 2% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2024) and 14% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2024).

Is Valley Academy a charter school?

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

Is Valley Academy a Title I school?

No, Valley Academy is not currently a Title I school.

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

96.8% of students at Valley Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
35 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
219
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Free/Reduced Lunch
96.8%
Type
alternative
Setting
Small City
County
Imperial County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
67.6%
4-Year Graduation
34.5%

District

Imperial County Office of Education
District Enrollment
958
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$89,771
District Rank
#1 of 3

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