Sierra Sands Unified School District

113 West Felspar Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555-3520
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Sierra Sands Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 3,501 students in Sierra Sands Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Sierra Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
11 Schools
7,693 Schools
# Students
5,122 Students
3,821,898 Students
# Teachers
241 Teachers
173,967 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
21:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Sierra Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #1071 of all 1,908 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 78% has decreased from 86% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#1028 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
26%
34%
41%
47%
24%
29%
78%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.65
0.64
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
3%
12%
% Hispanic
33%
55%
% Black
7%
5%
% White
49%
21%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,944 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,978. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,945 is less than the state median of $18,399. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (CA)
Total Revenue
$102 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$71 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,944
$19,978
Spending / Student
$13,945
$18,399

Best Sierra Sands Unified School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Gateway Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
501 South Gateway
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1850
Gr: K-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #22.
Las Flores Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
720 West Las Flores
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1860
Gr: K-5 | 550 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #33.
Richmond Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
348 Rowe St.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1840
Gr: K-5 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #44.
Faller Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1500 West Upjohn St.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1690
Gr: K-5 | 504 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #55.
Inyokern Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6601 Locust St.
Inyokern, CA 93527
(760) 499-1683
Gr: K-5 | 153 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #66.
Murray Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
200 East Drummond Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1820
Gr: 6-8 | 686 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #77.
James Monroe Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
340 West Church St.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1830
Gr: 6-8 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #88.
Pierce Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
674 North Gold Canyon
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 499-1670
Gr: K-5 | 318 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 67%

Recent Articles

Standardized Tests in 2025: What Parents & Educators Must Know
Standardized Tests in 2025: What Parents & Educators Must Know
Explore the 2025 landscape of standardized tests—policies, performance trends, and practical insights for students, parents, and schools.
Navigating Kindergarten Enrollment: What Parents Need to Know (2025)
Navigating Kindergarten Enrollment: What Parents Need to Know (2025)
A step-by-step 2025 guide to kindergarten enrollment—deadlines, documents, readiness tips, and expert advice for parents.
Understanding Public School Lotteries, Magnet Programs & Dual-Language Schools
Understanding Public School Lotteries, Magnet Programs & Dual-Language Schools
A comprehensive 2025 guide for parents on public school lotteries, magnet programs and dual-language schools: how they work, benefits and how to apply.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 5,122 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 51%
  • : 78% (Top 50% in CA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 26% (Btm 50%)
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • : 24% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links