Summary:
The Upland Unified school district includes ten elementary schools serving grades K-6, with one K-8 academy, showing a wide range of academic performance and student demographics across the area.
Standout high-performing schools include Pepper Tree Elementary, which ranks highest in the district with exceptional test scores and a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 4.8%, followed by Magnolia Elementary and Valencia Elementary. In contrast, schools like Citrus Elementary, Baldy View Elementary, and Cabrillo Elementary face significant challenges, with much lower proficiency rates in math and science and higher rates of chronic absenteeism, which correlates with lower academic outcomes.
Key takeaways for parents are that the district overall performs above state averages in core subjects, but performance varies greatly between schools. There is a strong connection between economic disadvantage, measured by free/reduced lunch rates, and school performance, with the top schools having the lowest rates. Additionally, per-student spending does not directly predict success, as some higher-spending schools have middling results, suggesting factors like attendance and consistent teaching practices, as seen at Pepper Tree, are critical for student achievement.
Thank you for your feedback!