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Gifford C. Cole Middle School

3126 East Avenue I
Lancaster, CA 93535

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Bottom 50%

Tel: (661) 946-1041

cole.eastsideusd.org

SAVE SCHOOL

Serving 697 students in grades 7-8, Gifford C. Cole Middle School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 8% (which is lower than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 26% (which is lower than the California state average of 47%).

The student-teacher ratio of 21:1 is equal to the California state level of 21:1.

Minority enrollment is 95% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: 7-8
Enrollment: 697 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
Minority Enrollment: 95%
: Bottom 50% in CA
: 8% (Btm 50%)
: 26% (Btm 50%)
: 7% (Btm 50%)
: Gifford C. Cole Middle's attendance zone encompasses the entire school district in Lancaster, CA, covering approximately 254.2 square miles. The typical drive to the school takes around 20-30 minutes, with an average distance of 13 miles to the zone's edge and the furthest point being 24.5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

School Overview

Gifford C. Cole Middle School's student population of 697 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 33 teachers has declined by 10% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 7-8

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Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Gifford C. Cole Middle School
7	338
8	359

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Total Students

697 students

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School
2025	697
2024	687
2023	703
2022	661
2021	719
2020	755
2019	716
2018	715
2017	678
2015	649
2014	830
2013	879
2012	918
2011	889
2010	842
2009	886
2008	916
2007	953
2006	1,016
2005	1,014
2004	1,019
2003	950
2002	917
2001	843
2000	736
1999	674
1998	628
1997	753
1996	775
1995	754
1994	838
1993	829
1992	716
1991	548
1990	384

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Total Classroom Teachers

33 teachers

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Showing 2014–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School
2025	33
2024	36
2023	34
2022	36
2021	37
2019	31
2018	30
2017	28
2015	30
2014	35
2013	37
2012	39
2010	39
2009	38
2008	40
2007	41
2006	53
2005	42
2004	42
2003	39
2002	40
2001	35
2000	31
1999	28
1998	27
1997	32
1996	31
1995	32
1994	34
1993	31
1992	21
1991	21
1990	16

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School Calendar

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School Rankings

Gifford C. Cole Middle School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Gifford C. Cole Middle School is 0.49, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (CA)

#8661 out of 9523 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School
2023	#8661
2022	#8738
2019	#9128
2018	#9317
2017	#8771
2016	#8458
2015	#8001
2014	#1043
2013	#8127
2012	#8242
2011	#8486
2010	#8013

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34%

View Data

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2023	8%	34%	12%
2022	7%	33%	11%
2019	7%	40%	15%
2018	4%	39%	14%
2017	7%	38%	14%
2016	12%	37%	15%
2015	10%	34%	13%
2014	50%	63%	49%
2013	26%	59%	36%
2012	35%	59%	40%
2011	25%	58%	36%
2010	30%	56%	34%

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26%

47%

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Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2022	26%	47%	22%
2019	23%	51%	27%
2018	21%	50%	14%
2017	26%	48%	23%
2016	24%	48%	23%
2015	19%	44%	19%
2014	50%	58%	69%
2013	33%	57%	35%
2012	39%	58%	38%
2011	36%	56%	35%
2010	38%	54%	36%

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29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

21:1

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Showing 2014–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	21:1	21:1
2024	19:1	22:1
2023	21:1	22:1	24:1
2022	18:1	22:1	24:1
2021	19:1	22:1	24:1
2019	23:1	23:1	23:1
2018	24:1	23:1	23:1
2017	24:1	23:1	23:1
2015	22:1	24:1	23:1
2014	24:1	24:1	23:1
2013	24:1	24:1	24:1
2012	24:1	23:1	23:1
2010	22:1	21:1	21:1
2009	23:1	20:1	22:1
2008	23:1	18:1	20:1
2007	23:1	21:1	22:1
2006	19:1	20:1	20:1
2005	24:1	21:1	23:1
2004	24:1	21:1	23:1
2003	24:1	20:1	22:1
2002	23:1	20:1	21:1
2001	24:1	20:1	21:1
2000	24:1	21:1	21:1
1999	24:1	21:1	23:1
1998	23:1	21:1	23:1
1997	24:1	23:1	27:1
1996	25:1	25:1	27:1
1995	24:1	25:1	26:1
1994	25:1	25:1	27:1
1993	27:1	25:1	29:1
1992	34:1	24:1	31:1
1991	26:1	24:1	27:1
1990	24:1	24:1	26:1

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Asian

12%

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	1%	12%
2024	1%	12%
2023	2%	12%	2%
2022	2%	12%	2%
2021	1%	12%	2%
2020	2%	12%	2%
2019	2%	12%	2%
2018	1%	12%	1%
2017	2%	11%	1%
2015	2%	11%	1%
2014	2%	11%	2%
2013	2%	11%	3%
2012	3%	11%	3%
2011	3%	11%	3%
2010	2%	11%	3%
2008	2%	12%	3%
2007	2%	12%	4%
2006	3%	12%	4%
2005	2%	12%	3%
2004	1%	12%	1%
2003	3%	12%	2%
2002	3%	11%	3%
2001	3%	11%	3%
2000	2%	11%	3%
1999	2%	11%	3%
1998	2%	11%	4%
1997	2%	11%	3%
1996	3%	11%	3%
1995	3%	11%	3%
1994	4%	11%	3%
1993	4%	11%	4%
1992	4%	11%	3%
1991	2%	11%	2%
1990	2%	10%	3%

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Hispanic

68%

56%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	68%	56%
2024	67%	56%
2023	68%	55%	68%
2022	67%	56%	66%
2021	67%	56%	66%
2020	66%	55%	64%
2019	66%	55%	64%
2018	65%	54%	64%
2017	64%	54%	64%
2015	62%	54%	65%
2014	62%	53%	62%
2013	59%	53%	61%
2012	58%	52%	61%
2011	59%	51%	61%
2010	46%	50%	53%
2009	35%	49%	39%
2008	52%	50%	55%
2007	48%	49%	53%
2006	43%	48%	48%
2005	45%	47%	46%
2004	42%	46%	43%
2003	38%	45%	40%
2002	33%	44%	38%
2001	33%	43%	35%
2000	34%	42%	34%
1999	33%	41%	32%
1998	32%	40%	32%
1997	30%	40%	32%
1996	27%	39%	29%
1995	28%	38%	27%
1994	27%	37%	25%
1993	25%	36%	23%
1992	23%	35%	22%
1991	23%	34%	20%
1990	18%	33%	17%

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Black

22%

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	22%	5%
2024	23%	5%
2023	21%	5%	22%
2022	22%	5%	23%
2021	25%	5%	23%
2020	26%	5%	23%
2019	24%	5%	23%
2018	22%	5%	23%
2017	24%	6%	23%
2015	25%	6%	23%
2014	26%	6%	24%
2013	28%	6%	24%
2012	27%	6%	24%
2011	26%	7%	23%
2010	33%	7%	27%
2009	33%	7%	32%
2008	31%	8%	28%
2007	29%	8%	26%
2006	29%	8%	27%
2005	26%	8%	26%
2004	27%	8%	25%
2003	25%	8%	24%
2002	24%	9%	23%
2001	25%	9%	22%
2000	22%	9%	21%
1999	20%	9%	21%
1998	17%	9%	19%
1997	15%	9%	16%
1996	14%	9%	15%
1995	14%	9%	15%
1994	12%	9%	12%
1993	10%	9%	10%
1992	9%	9%	8%
1991	7%	8%	6%
1990	5%	9%	5%

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White

20%

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Showing 2015–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	5%	20%
2024	5%	20%
2023	6%	21%	5%
2022	6%	21%	6%
2021	5%	22%	6%
2020	4%	22%	8%
2019	6%	23%	8%
2018	8%	23%	9%
2017	8%	24%	9%
2015	9%	25%	10%
2014	9%	25%	10%
2013	10%	25%	10%
2012	11%	26%	11%
2011	12%	27%	12%
2010	16%	27%	15%
2009	17%	28%	21%
2008	15%	29%	14%
2007	20%	30%	17%
2006	24%	31%	21%
2005	26%	32%	25%
2004	29%	33%	29%
2003	34%	34%	34%
2002	39%	35%	36%
2001	38%	36%	39%
2000	42%	37%	42%
1999	45%	38%	44%
1998	49%	39%	45%
1997	52%	39%	48%
1996	55%	40%	53%
1995	54%	41%	55%
1994	57%	42%	60%
1993	61%	43%	63%
1992	63%	44%	66%
1991	68%	46%	72%
1990	75%	47%	75%

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Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2012-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	4%	6%
2024	4%	6%
2023	3%	6%	3%
2022	3%	5%	3%
2021	2%	5%	3%
2020	2%	5%	3%
2019	2%	4%	3%
2018	3%	4%	3%
2017	2%	4%	3%
2015	1%	3%	1%
2014	1%	3%	2%
2013	1%	3%	2%
2012	1%	3%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

95%

80%

0.49

0.63

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	0.49	0.63
2024	0.50	0.63
2023	0.49	0.64	0.49
2022	0.50	0.63	0.52
2021	0.49	0.62	0.52
2020	0.50	0.64	0.53
2019	0.51	0.63	0.53
2018	0.53	0.64	0.54
2017	0.53	0.64	0.54
2015	0.55	0.64	0.52
2014	0.54	0.65	0.55
2013	0.57	0.65	0.56
2012	0.58	0.65	0.57
2011	0.57	0.66	0.57
2010	0.66	0.67	0.62
2009	0.72	0.67	0.71
2008	0.62	0.65	0.61
2007	0.65	0.66	0.62
2006	0.68	0.66	0.66
2005	0.67	0.66	0.66
2004	0.67	0.67	0.67
2003	0.68	0.67	0.68
2002	0.69	0.67	0.68
2001	0.69	0.67	0.68
2000	0.67	0.67	0.67
1999	0.65	0.67	0.67
1998	0.63	0.67	0.66
1997	0.62	0.67	0.64
1996	0.61	0.67	0.62
1995	0.62	0.67	0.61
1994	0.59	0.67	0.57
1993	0.56	0.67	0.54
1992	0.55	0.67	0.51
1991	0.48	0.66	0.44
1990	0.41	0.66	0.40

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(22-23)

41.9%

27.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2023	41.9%	27.7%	49.2%
2022	29.3%	33%	47.3%
2021	24.3%	15.4%	31.4%

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Eligible for

76%

54%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1992-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	76%	54%
2024	82%	54%
2023	87%	51%	83%
2022	84%	51%	81%
2021	93%	53%	92%
2020	90%	52%	83%
2019	83%	52%	83%
2018	83%	53%	79%
2017	78%	49%	79%
2015	82%	50%	82%
2014	85%	49%	82%
2013	75%	48%	75%
2011	71%	46%	74%
2010	65%	46%	68%
2009	73%	43%	56%
2008	68%	41%	72%
2007	60%	40%	63%
2006	60%	40%	62%
2005	58%	40%	62%
2004	39%	40%	47%
2003	52%	39%	57%
2002	50%	39%	56%
2001	24%	39%	45%
2000	47%	40%	51%
1999	46%	40%	46%
1998	68%	47%	61%
1997	52%	47%	57%
1996	46%	46%	56%
1995	47%	45%	49%
1994	42%	43%	43%
1993	43%	41%	45%
1992	33%	38%	36%

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Eligible for

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Gifford C. Cole Middle School	California	Eastside Union Elementary School District
2025	6%	8%
2024	4%	8%
2023	5%	8%	7%
2022	5%	7%	6%
2021	3%	6%	3%
2020	4%	7%	4%
2019	4%	7%	4%
2018	6%	7%	5%
2017	6%	9%	5%
2015	8%	9%	7%
2014	8%	9%	7%
2013	6%	7%	6%
2011	13%	8%	11%
2010	15%	9%	14%
2009	20%	10%	31%
2008	19%	10%	20%
2007	18%	10%	19%
2006	14%	9%	17%
2005	15%	9%	17%
2004	10%	9%	12%
2003	14%	9%	15%
2002	13%	8%	13%
2001	18%	8%	14%
2000	9%	7%	9%
1999	8%	7%	8%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Eastside Union Elementary School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gifford C. Cole Middle School's ranking?

Gifford C. Cole Middle School is ranked #8661 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in California.

What schools are Gifford C. Cole Middle School often compared to?

Gifford C. Cole Middle Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Joe Walker Middle School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

8% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 26% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).

How many students attend Gifford C. Cole Middle School?

697 students attend Gifford C. Cole Middle School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

68% of Gifford C. Cole Middle School students are Hispanic, 22% of students are Black, 5% of students are White, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Gifford C. Cole Middle School?

Gifford C. Cole Middle School has a student ration of 21:1, which is equal to the California state average of 21:1.

What grades does Gifford C. Cole Middle School offer ?

Gifford C. Cole Middle School offers enrollment in grades 7-8

What school district is Gifford C. Cole Middle School part of?

Gifford C. Cole Middle School is part of Eastside Union Elementary School District.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: 7-8
Enrollment: 697 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
Minority Enrollment: 95%
: Bottom 50%
: 8% (Btm 50%)
: 26% (Btm 50%)
: 7% (Btm 50%)
: Gifford C. Cole Middle's attendance zone encompasses the entire school district in Lancaster, CA, covering approximately 254.2 square miles. The typical drive to the school takes around 20-30 minutes, with an average distance of 13 miles to the zone's edge and the furthest point being 24.5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education