Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District

28751 Cole Grade Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082-6599
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 2,543 students in Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 17% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 29% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 80% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
8 Schools
7,693 Schools
# Students
3,700 Students
3,821,898 Students
# Teachers
169 Teachers
173,967 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
22:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District, which is ranked #1533 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 94% has increased from 90% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#1520 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
18%
34%
29%
47%
19%
29%
94%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.55
0.64
% American Indian
8%
1%
% Asian
1%
12%
% Hispanic
63%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
21%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,677 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 $13,480 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
$58 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$50 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,677
$19,978
Spending / Student
$13,480
$18,399

Best Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lilac
(Math: 28% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
30109 Lilac Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082
(760) 751-1042
Gr: K-5 | 456 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #22.
Valley Center Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
28751 Cole Grade Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082
(760) 749-1631
Gr: 3-5 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #33.
Valley Center Prep
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
28751-u Cole Grade Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082
(760) 751-0455
Gr: K-12 | 78 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #44.
Valley Center Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
28102 North Lake Wohlford Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082
(760) 751-4295
Gr: 6-8 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #55.
Pauma Elementary School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
33158 Cole Grade Rd.
Pauma Valley, CA 92061
(760) 742-3741
Gr: K-8 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: n/an/a
Valley Center Primary
14249 Fruitvale Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082
(760) 749-8282
Gr: K-2 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 78%

Recent Articles

2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
A 2025 update on U.S. classroom sizes, policy battles, student outcomes, and whether class sizes continue to expand.
Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Explore how personalized learning is reshaping education in 2025—insights, policy, impact, and real-world models for students, parents, and educators.
How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
Explore how bullying harms student achievement, attendance, and well-being — and strategies schools use in 2025 to mitigate its effects.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 3,700 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 79%
  • : 94% (Top 10% in CA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 18% (Btm 50%)
  • : 29% (Btm 50%)
  • : 19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links