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High Desert

Q: Is High Desert a good school?

High Desert ranks 1994 th of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 5-8

1994^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Middle Schools

Better than 28% of California middle schools

Summary

High Desert is a public middle school located in Acton, CA, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 287 students. Over the past several years, the school has seen a decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from a high of 793 out of 2,715 California middle schools in 2018-2019 to a ranking of 1,994 out of 2,761 in the most recent 2024-2025 school year. Its overall SchoolDigger rating has also decreased from 4 stars to 1 star during this time period.

High Desert faces significant challenges in terms of student engagement, academic performance, and socioeconomic factors. The school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.4% to 40.0% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Academically, High Desert's performance on Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST Science tests is well below state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, only 32.24% of High Desert students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 48.81% statewide, and the math proficiency rate was just 18.89%, compared to 37.3% for California. Additionally, High Desert has a very high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 64.05% to 77% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch over the past few years.

When comparing High Desert to nearby middle schools, such as Hillview Middle, which is part of the Westside Union Elementary district, it becomes clear that High Desert is underperforming academically. Hillview Middle has significantly higher test scores and a higher statewide ranking than High Desert. While High Desert's performance on subgroups like English Language Learners and Special Education students has been more mixed, the school's overall struggles suggest that more comprehensive and targeted interventions may be necessary to improve outcomes and better serve the community.

307

Students ?

21.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

71.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3620 Antelope Woods Rd.
Acton, CA 93510-1757

(661) 269-0310

District: Acton-Agua Dulce Unified

Students who attend High Desert usually attend:

High:

Vasquez High

Feeder schools for High Desert:

Elementary:

Meadowlark Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

58.3%

White:

36.5%

African American:

2.0%

See top rated California middle schools

Compare High Desert to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2013 → 28th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (24% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (27% vs 19% California)

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school24%

District avg25%

California avg41%

1,994^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 26 pts since 2015

From top 46% (2015) to bottom 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.1	1994 of 2761	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.8	1963 of 2783	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.2	1971 of 2781	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.3	1812 of 2740	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.0	793 of 2715	70.8%	★★★★☆
2018	56.1	944 of 2480	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.2	937 of 2508	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	50.4	1102 of 2497	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	48.5	1139 of 2477	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	39.3	1449 of 2379	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.1	1190 of 2259	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	50.1	1094 of 2236	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.2	973 of 2179	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	41.5	1169 of 2063	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	58.1	736 of 2005	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	61.1	658 of 1999	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	64.6	551 of 1804	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	69.0	460 of 1777	74.1%	★★★★☆
2004	70.4	421 of 1769	76.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	37.6	836 of 1531	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	93.0	69 of 1491	95.4%	★★★★★
2018	44.0	604 of 1369	55.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	32.2	1112 of 1521	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	86.5	84 of 1442	94.2%	★★★★★
2018	73.4	185 of 1364	86.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	24.0	1914 of 2533	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.8	1586 of 2551	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.3	1727 of 2531	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.3	1333 of 2509	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.2	723 of 2380	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.4	731 of 2262	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.4	2000 of 2395	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.6	2069 of 2388	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.5	1967 of 2374	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.7	1635 of 2359	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.5	799 of 2213	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	870 of 2072	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.2	1951 of 2542	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.2	1723 of 2579	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.4	1947 of 2531	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.6	1914 of 2458	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	66.7	572 of 2369	75.9%	★★★★☆
2018	50.7	941 of 2230	57.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.4	1813 of 2534	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.0	2011 of 2552	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.0	1857 of 2538	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.3	1966 of 2527	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	61.2	777 of 2407	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.0	1074 of 2273	52.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	25.7	1248 of 1552	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.2	1335 of 1531	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	21.2	1206 of 1520	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.9	1203 of 1537	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.4	1236 of 1543	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.9	1240 of 1555	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.7	677 of 1602	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.9	712 of 1496	52.4%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2022)45th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)28th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2023)27th percentile~ school

Female (2025)24th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)23rd percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)21st percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2024)20th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)16th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy32%-17 vs state

Mathematics19%-18 vs state

Science18%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near High Desert

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
High Desert	Public	5-8	3620 Antelope Woods Rd.	Acton	93510	Los Angeles County	Acton-Agua Dulce Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 269-0310	307	14	21.6	71.3%	112 (36.5%)	6 (2.0%)	179 (58.3%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	25.1	1994^th of 2761 public middle schools	27.8%		26.8	1963^rd of 2783 public middle schools	29.5%	31	20.2	15.1	17.8	28.6	29.9	36.1	34.3	32.2	17.9	22.4	22.9	12.3	18.9
David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy	Public	6-8	39221 22nd St. West	Palmdale	93551	Los Angeles County	Palmdale Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 947-3075	952	42	22.7	75.3%	46 (4.8%)	187 (19.6%)	659 (69.2%)	24 (2.5%)	5 (0.5%)	5 (0.5%)	26 (2.7%)	15.4	2417^th of 2761 public middle schools	12.5%		17.1	2390^th of 2783 public middle schools	14.1%	27		12.8	12.8		23.0	25.4	27.2	25.4		12.1	13.7	10.3	11.9	$19,045	$2,692	$16,353
Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Technical Magnet Academy	Public	6-8	36555 Sunny Ln.	Palmdale	93550	Los Angeles County	Palmdale Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 285-5866	948	44	21.5	89.7%	36 (3.8%)	125 (13.2%)	754 (79.5%)	9 (0.9%)	8 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (1.6%)	17	2353^rd of 2761 public middle schools	14.8%		19.1	2295^th of 2783 public middle schools	17.5%	58		10.7	10.7		26.6	30.5	33.2	30.5		8.2	8.5	12.7	10.0	$18,897	$2,699	$16,198
Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy	Public	6-8	38060 20th St. East	Palmdale	93550	Los Angeles County	Palmdale Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 537-6101	747	38	19.4	90.2%	25 (3.3%)	130 (17.4%)	562 (75.2%)	5 (0.7%)	3 (0.4%)	4 (0.5%)	18 (2.4%)	15.6	2409^th of 2761 public middle schools	12.7%		10.9	2639^th of 2783 public middle schools	5.2%	230		8.8	8.8		22.1	26.1	31.0	26.5		16.1	8.3	12.3	12.4	$20,069	$2,748	$17,321
Cactus Medical Health and Technology Magnet Academy	Public	6-8	3243 East Ave. R-8	Palmdale	93550	Los Angeles County	Palmdale Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 273-0847	822	40	20.7	89.3%	33 (4.0%)	119 (14.5%)	643 (78.2%)	8 (1.0%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	13 (1.6%)	15.2	2429^th of 2761 public middle schools	12.0%		15	2477^th of 2783 public middle schools	11.0%	48		7.5	7.5		22.7	34.7	25.1	27.8		7.7	13.9	8.8	10.3	$18,903	$2,472	$16,431
Hillview Middle	Public	6-8	40525 Peonza Ln.	Palmdale	93551	Los Angeles County	Westside Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 722-9993	1,100	45	24.6	53.0%	214 (19.5%)	108 (9.8%)	648 (58.9%)	60 (5.5%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	62 (5.6%)	55.9	1009^th of 2761 public middle schools	63.5%		53.8	1046^th of 2783 public middle schools	62.4%	37		32.5	32.5		87.5	53.3	43.9	52.4		78.4	32.7	31.7	36.2	$15,383	$1,174	$14,209
Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy	Public	6-8	37315 60th St. East	Palmdale	93552	Los Angeles County	Palmdale Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 533-7400	813	37	22.0	83.0%	20 (2.5%)	144 (17.7%)	618 (76.0%)	13 (1.6%)	5 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	10 (1.2%)	21.2	2177^th of 2761 public middle schools	21.2%		21.2	2210^th of 2783 public middle schools	20.6%	33		14.4	14.4		25.5	34.6	28.0	29.5		23.7	15.6	13.4	17.6	$19,489	$2,915	$16,574
Joe Walker Middle	Public	6-8	5632 West Ave. L-8	Lancaster	93536	Los Angeles County	Westside Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 943-3258	781	33	23.7	59.2%	201 (25.7%)	95 (12.2%)	405 (51.9%)	21 (2.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (7.2%)	37	1584^th of 2761 public middle schools	42.6%		40.7	1437^th of 2783 public middle schools	48.4%	147		24.5	24.5		97.0	39.9	39.1	42.0		75.8	23.8	21.7	25.1	$14,867	$1,047	$13,820
Endeavour Middle	Public	6-8	43755 45th St. West	Lancaster	93536	Los Angeles County	Lancaster Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 943-8270	805	40	20.3	81.7%	94 (11.7%)	225 (28.0%)	410 (50.9%)	27 (3.4%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (5.2%)	9.4	2636^th of 2761 public middle schools	4.5%		11.9	2591^st of 2783 public middle schools	6.9%	45		11.3	11.3		15.5	20.1	16.9	17.4		5.6	8.8	3.1	5.8	$21,776	$2,817	$18,959
New Vista Middle	Public	6-8	753 East Avenue K-2	Lancaster	93535	Los Angeles County	Lancaster Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 726-4271	835	46	18.1	91.3%	38 (4.6%)	312 (37.4%)	450 (53.9%)	8 (1.0%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	20 (2.4%)	7.6	2690^th of 2761 public middle schools	2.6%		9.1	2692^nd of 2783 public middle schools	3.3%	2		4.4	4.4		14.0	14.4	15.9	14.8		4.1	8.6	3.8	5.6	$23,441	$2,849	$20,592

Frequently Asked Questions about High Desert

How many students attend High Desert?

In the 2024-25 school year, 307 students attended High Desert.

What district is High Desert in?

Acton-Agua Dulce Unified

What is the racial makeup of High Desert?

Students at High Desert are 58% Hispanic, 36% White, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is High Desert a good school?

High Desert ranks 1994^th of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What high school do graduates of High Desert attend?

Students who attend High Desert usually go on to attend Vasquez High

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.