Needs Improvement
#9322 of 9,539 schools in CA
Valley Center Middle
Middle School · Valley Center-pauma Unified · Valley Center, CA
A Valley Center-pauma Unified middle school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
28751 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center, CA 92082
- Math 11% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 24% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Valley Center Middle score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 45 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 17% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 42% (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 36 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
67.6%
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 Valley Center Middle 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 14Car-Dependent
- Bike 14Somewhat 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
$118,602
Median home value
$779,500
Median rent
$1,473/mo
College educated
31.5%
Homeownership
87.9%
Poverty rate
9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92082; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Center PrepEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | K–12 | 2.7 mi | 78 | 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.
Valley Center-pauma Unified
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #8 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
Valley Center Middle is listed in Valley Center-Pauma Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Valley Center Middle
Valley Center Middle is a public middle school in Valley Center, CA, part of Valley Center-pauma Unified, serving approximately 778 students in grades 6th-8th with a 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 out of 10 and ranks #9,322 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Valley Center Middle
What grades does Valley Center Middle serve?
Valley Center Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Valley Center Middle?
Valley Center Middle has an enrollment of approximately 778 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Center Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Center Middle 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 Valley Center Middle rank in CA?
Valley Center Middle ranks #9,322 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Valley Center Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Center Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 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 Center Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Center Middle has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Valley Center Middle a charter school?
No, Valley Center Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valley Center Middle a Title I school?
No, Valley Center Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Center Middle?
67.6% of students at Valley Center Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 778
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.9%
- Phone
- (760) 751-4295
- Area population (ZIP 92082)
- 20,596
- Area average commute
- 35.8 min
- Area median age
- 41.7
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 92082; this does not measure the attendance area.
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.