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Pauma Elementary

Q: Is Pauma Elementary a good school?

Pauma Elementary ranks in the bottom 9.0% of California elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Pauma Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 245 students attended Pauma Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Pauma Elementary?

Students at Pauma Elementary are 78% Hispanic, 17% American Indian, 4% White, 1% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of Pauma Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pauma Elementary usually go on to attend: High : Valley Center High

Public Grades K-8

5293^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,817 California Elementary Schools

Better than 9% of California elementary schools

Summary

Pauma Elementary is a K–8 school in Pauma Valley, California, serving 245 students in the Valley Center-Pauma Unified district. Its most important challenge is low academic proficiency: in 2025–2026, results were below both district and state levels in ELA, math, and science, with science the weakest subject.

ELA is Pauma’s relative bright spot, but it still trails the state: proficiency was 23% in ELA, 14% in math, and 7% in science, compared with state rates of 49%, 38%, and 36%. The gaps with the district were smaller but remained: 8 points in ELA, 5 in math, and 11 in science. Among nearby schools with reported all-grades results, Pauma ranked second-lowest in ELA and math and lowest in science. There are exceptions by grade: seventh- and eighth-grade math were 12 and 10 points above the district, respectively, although both were below state results. In contrast, fifth- and sixth-grade math and eighth-grade ELA and science were at 0%. Pauma was also below nearby Vallecitos Elementary in middle-school ELA and math. Nearby schools serve different grade spans, so all-grades comparisons are not fully like-for-like.

ELA and math have improved since 2022–2023, rising 10 and 7 percentage points, while science fell 2 points; the state gaps narrowed in ELA and math but widened in science. Chronic absenteeism also fell, from 52% in 2021–2022 to 33% in 2025–2026, but remained above the district’s 27% and the state’s 18%. SchoolDigger ranked Pauma at the 9th percentile (0 stars) statewide in 2025–2026, the lowest among seven nearby schools with current rankings, which ranged from the 26th to the 89th percentile. Its 22.2 students per teacher was near the nearby average of 23.3. Pauma reported 77% free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025. One notable subgroup shift in SchoolDigger’s measure of how well the school serves English Language Learner students: the group’s ranking fell from the 74th percentile in 2021–2022 to the 14th in 2022–2023 and 0 in 2023–2024.

245

Students ?

22.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$37,429

Per pupil spending ?

76.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

≥ 95%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

33158 Cole Grade Rd.
Pauma Valley, CA 92061-9578

(760) 742-3741

District: Valley Center-Pauma Unified

Students who attend Pauma Elementary usually attend:

High:

Valley Center High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

77.6%

American Indian:

17.1%

White:

4.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Pauma Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 2nd percentile in 2023 → 9th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 9th (2026) from a 2nd-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (17% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (33% vs 18% California)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg24%

California avg42%

Elementary school

5,293^rd of 5,817

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 18% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

2,513^th of 2,740

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 18% (2016) to bottom 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Valley Center-Pauma Unified

1347^th of 1,530Valley Center-Pauma Unified among California districts

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	14.1	5293 of 5817	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.7	5648 of 5857	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.5	5749 of 5869	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.6	5760 of 5859	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	4758 of 5883	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.7	1297 of 1417	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.8	4556 of 5789	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.4	4728 of 5662	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.3	5003 of 5692	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	20.2	4602 of 5614	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	29.2	3770 of 5611	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	18.0	4870 of 5530	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	11.4	5148 of 5390	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	15.1	4947 of 5377	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	17.8	4722 of 5314	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	21.8	4292 of 5193	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	28.5	3710 of 5113	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	23.6	4029 of 5113	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	23.2	3783 of 4818	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	21.1	3894 of 4822	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	10.8	4626 of 4809	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	15.1	3158 of 3162	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.2	2796 of 3245	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.7	856 of 3311	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	26.8	536 of 602	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.8	1313 of 3275	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.0	894 of 3246	72.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	12.7	5228 of 5581	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.7	5490 of 5597	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.2	5542 of 5612	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.1	5601 of 5609	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.0	5275 of 5635	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.9	1129 of 1267	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	4385 of 5492	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.2	4829 of 5413	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	19.0	4484 of 5094	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.8	4946 of 5107	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	4979 of 5107	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.8	5040 of 5087	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	33.3	3425 of 5084	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.0	3471 of 4963	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.5	3518 of 4830	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	17.1	4892 of 5423	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.7	5363 of 5460	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.8	5490 of 5517	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.4	5333 of 5363	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	27.4	4052 of 5264	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.7	935 of 1110	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.8	3951 of 5173	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.5	4513 of 5084	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	18.7	4796 of 5603	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.4	5096 of 5628	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.7	5335 of 5643	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	5295 of 5638	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	33.0	3543 of 5663	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	12.8	1202 of 1272	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.3	4536 of 5510	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.6	3803 of 5431	30.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	12.6	2513 of 2740	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	19.3	2254 of 2761	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	2342 of 2783	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.8	2457 of 2781	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.0	2573 of 2740	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.2	2217 of 2715	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.1	2179 of 2508	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	19.2	2050 of 2497	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	33.8	1503 of 2477	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.0	1564 of 2379	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	26.7	1742 of 2259	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.4	1432 of 2236	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	18.1	1895 of 2179	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	31.6	1430 of 2063	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	30.5	1418 of 2005	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	35.2	1246 of 1999	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	24.7	1377 of 1804	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	16.5	1541 of 1777	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	27.7	1249 of 1769	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	34.7	1479 of 2388	38.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.8	1554 of 2542	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.3	2126 of 2579	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	2387 of 2531	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Male (2026)14th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)12th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)10th percentile~ school

Female (2026)6th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)<1st percentile~ school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)39th percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2024)38th percentile+22 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy23%-26 vs state

Mathematics14%-24 vs state

Science7%-29 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pauma Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)							Vaccination (2024-25)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	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 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pauma Elementary	Public	K-8	33158 Cole Grade Rd.	Pauma Valley	92061	San Diego County	Valley Center-Pauma Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 742-3741	245	11	22.2	76.7%	10 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	190 (77.6%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (17.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	14.1	5293^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	9.0%		9.7	5648^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.6%	355	9.4	0.0	7.0	27.8	33.3	16.1	28.6	16.7	0.0	23.1	22.2	20.0	0.0	0.0	25.0	18.2	14.1	≥ 95%		$37,429	$35,498	$1,931
All Tribes Elementary Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	34320 Valley Center Rd. Ste. B	Valley Center	92082	San Diego County	All Tribes Elementary Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 749-4375	84	2	41.5	96.4%	7 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (59.5%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (15.5%)	6	5765^th of 5817 public elementary schools	0.9%		2.8	5856^th of 5857 public elementary schools	0.0%	91				8.3	20.0					13.9	5.9						8.3	≥ 95%
Valley Center Primary	Public	K-2	14249 Fruitvale Rd.	Valley Center	92082	San Diego County	Valley Center-Pauma Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 749-8282	496	24	20.3	59.7%	104 (21.0%)	1 (0.2%)	312 (62.9%)	15 (3.0%)	37 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.4%)								(n/a)																		95%	0%	$34,178	$32,388	$1,790
Vivian Banks Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	11800 Pala Mission Rd.	Pala	92059	San Diego County	Bonsall Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 742-3300	71	5	14.2	73.2%	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (50.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (46.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)								(n/a)					9.1					12.0		9.1					12.0			$50,710	$48,822	$1,888
Lilac	Public	K-5	30109 Lilac Rd.	Valley Center	92082	San Diego County	Valley Center-Pauma Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 751-1042	438	20	21.9	56.4%	115 (26.3%)	5 (1.1%)	277 (63.2%)	7 (1.6%)	11 (2.5%)	2 (0.5%)	21 (4.8%)	25.7	4320^th of 5817 public elementary schools	25.7%		43.1	3001^st of 5857 public elementary schools	48.8%	1319	23.9		23.9	24.7	36.0	32.6				31.1	28.2	26.7	25.0				26.6	≥ 98%		$34,273	$33,106	$1,167
Valley Center Elementary	Public	3-5	28751 Cole Grade Rd.	Valley Center	92082	San Diego County	Valley Center-Pauma Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 749-1631	476	19	25.1	63.9%	97 (20.4%)	4 (0.8%)	294 (61.8%)	7 (1.5%)	38 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.6%)	30.6	3956^th of 5817 public elementary schools	32.0%		29.5	3995^th of 5857 public elementary schools	31.8%	39	25.9		25.9	38.5	25.2	38.8				34.3	39.6	23.7	24.3				29.4			$31,007	$29,706	$1,301
Vallecitos Elementary	Public	K-8	5211 Fifth St.	Fallbrook	92028	San Diego County	Vallecitos Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 728-7092	195	9	21.6	81.0%	26 (13.3%)	1 (0.5%)	164 (84.1%)	3 (1.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31.6	3855^th of 5817 public elementary schools	33.7%		48.1	2693^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	54.0%	1162	21.1	31.3	25.7	66.7	46.2	21.1	36.0	56.5	68.8	47.2	33.3	38.5	5.3	24.0	52.2	43.8	32.4	87%	0%	$31,236	$30,598	$638
Reidy Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	2869 North Broadway	Escondido	92026	San Diego County	Escondido Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 739-5800	626	33	18.9	49.8%	186 (29.7%)	5 (0.8%)	320 (51.1%)	50 (8.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (10.2%)	70.3	1570^th of 5817 public elementary schools	73.0%		77.6	1258^th of 5857 public elementary schools	78.5%	312	46.5		46.5	48.7	50.0	61.6				53.8	54.1	51.0	58.6				54.5	98%	0%	$24,423	$23,184	$1,239
Helen Hunt Jackson Elementary	Public	K-5	32400 Camino San Dimas	Temecula	92592	Riverside County	Temecula Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 302-5199	438	19	23.0	22.8%	152 (34.7%)	9 (2.1%)	149 (34.0%)	83 (18.9%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (8.9%)	90.4	624^th of 5817 public elementary schools	89.3%		85.6	899^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.7%	275	64.8		64.8	71.0	68.3	77.5				72.4	72.5	58.7	71.8				68.0	91%	0%	$20,916	$19,992	$924
Tony Tobin Elementary	Public	K-5	45200 Morgan Hill Dr.	Temecula	92592	Riverside County	Temecula Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 294-6355	718	31	23.1	23.1%	317 (44.2%)	24 (3.3%)	197 (27.4%)	83 (11.6%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	92 (12.8%)	86.8	813^th of 5817 public elementary schools	86.0%		78.5	1218^th of 5857 public elementary schools	79.2%	405	56.2		56.2	72.6	69.2	68.6				70.1	70.8	64.9	53.7				62.6	≥ 99%		$19,730	$18,868	$862

Frequently Asked Questions about Pauma Elementary

What district is Pauma Elementary in?

Valley Center-Pauma Unified

Is Pauma Elementary a good school?

Pauma Elementary ranks in the bottom 9.0% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend Pauma Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 245 students attended Pauma Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Pauma Elementary?

Students at Pauma Elementary are 78% Hispanic, 17% American Indian, 4% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Pauma Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pauma Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Valley Center High

Rate Pauma Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

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.