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Valley Center Prep

Q: Is Valley Center Prep a good school?

Valley Center Prep ranks 1095 th of 2162 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades K-12

1095^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California Alternative Schools

Better than 49% of California alternative schools

Summary

Valley Center Prep is a small, K-12 alternative school of 56 students within the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District, serving a community where over half of the students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school faces significant challenges, most critically with student attendance, where a chronic absenteeism rate of 61.4% is more than triple the state average and the highest among nearby alternative schools; this issue likely impacts all other areas of performance. Academically, results are mixed: while English Language Arts proficiency is a relative strength and outperforms the district, mathematics proficiency is critically low at 12.9%, and graduation rates have been volatile while remaining below state averages. Compared to schools like Coastal Academy Charter, which excels in academics and attendance, or Dimensions Collaborative, which reports near-perfect attendance, Valley Center Prep's higher per-student spending has not yet translated into comparable outcomes.

Key takeaways for parents are that the school's very small size allows for potential personalization, but current data indicates urgent needs in improving daily attendance and mathematics instruction. Families may want to explore how the school plans to address these specific areas, potentially by adopting strategies from higher-performing local alternatives, to better support student success and graduation.

Students ?

22.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,625

Per pupil spending ?

57.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

28751-U Cole Grade Rd.
Valley Center, CA 92082

(760) 751-0455

District: Valley Center-Pauma Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

60.7%

American Indian:

21.4%

White:

10.7%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Valley Center Prep to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 45th percentile in 2010 → 49th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (25% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Dropout rate above the California average (11% vs 8%)

!High chronic absenteeism (61% vs 19% California)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg23%

California avg41%

1,095^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 49%▲ up 15 pts since 2018

From bottom 34% (2018) to bottom 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1237^th of 1,543Valley 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.1	1095 of 2162	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.7	1197 of 2159	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.0	1621 of 2170	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.8	1743 of 2123	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.0	1467 of 2133	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.5	1330 of 2017	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.3	1005 of 2426	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	42.2	1001 of 2354	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	41.1	1026 of 2367	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	30.9	1257 of 2281	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	33.4	1248 of 2238	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	28.8	1207 of 2117	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	14.6	1735 of 2063	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	12.7	1719 of 1968	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	25.9	1175 of 1901	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	26.1	1038 of 1653	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	46.2	983 of 1915	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.0	1339 of 1915	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	23.5	1468 of 1917	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.0	1656 of 1861	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	23.2	1548 of 2030	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.3	1370 of 1943	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2024)49th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)24th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)23rd percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy39%-10 vs state

Science21%-11 vs state

Mathematics13%-24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Valley Center Prep

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)								% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Valley Center Prep	Public, Alternative	K-12	28751-U Cole Grade Rd.	Valley Center	92082	San Diego County	Valley Center-Pauma Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 751-0455	56	3	22.4	57.1%	6 (10.7%)	1 (1.8%)	34 (60.7%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.4%)								(n/a)			27.3		21.4							45.5	38.9								12.9							$16,625	$4,195	$12,430
Dimensions Collaborative	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1441 Montiel Rd. Ste. 143	Escondido	92026	San Diego County	Dimensions Collaborative District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 743-7880	568	27	21.2	38.6%	233 (41.0%)	60 (10.6%)	192 (33.8%)	32 (5.6%)	6 (1.1%)	8 (1.4%)	32 (5.6%)								(n/a)	54.3	45.5	41.7		47.7	41.2	44.2	54.3	41.7	43.9	52.3	61.8	47.9	42.0	44.2	37.1	44.4	32.5	29.6	24.2	36.7	63.0	65.2	80.4	65.2	65.2	65.2
Motivated Youth Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	500 La Terraza Blvd. #150	Escondido	92025	San Diego County	Motivated Youth Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(619) 343-2048	251	14	17.9	77.7%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)		21.1	20.4	15.4	19.8					42.9	35.0	25.0	30.0					7.1	10.0	16.1	13.5							$19,454	$1,251	$18,203
North Coastal Consortium Schools	Public, Alternative	K-12	255 Pico Ave. Rm. 220	San Marcos	92069	San Diego County	San Diego County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 761-5110	46	6	7.6	37.0%	18 (39.1%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.7%)								(n/a)													26.7								6.7							$125,341	$12	$125,329
Vista Visions Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	1575 Bonair Dr.	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 724-4785	68	4	15.5	72.1%	16 (23.5%)	2 (2.9%)	43 (63.2%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)	3 (4.4%)								(n/a)			42.9		34.6							85.7	51.4							38.5	33.3							$19,082	$3,779	$15,303
Vista Springs Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	700 East Bobier Ave.	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Springs Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 252-8800	251	11	23.7	70.1%	40 (15.9%)	6 (2.4%)	186 (74.1%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.0%)								(n/a)	15.2	10.0			13.2	33.3	30.4	30.3	41.7	52.4	10.0		32.3	47.6	47.8	15.2	25.0	14.3	5.0		25.4
Guajome Park Academy Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2000 North Santa Fe Ave.	Vista	92083	San Diego County	Guajome Park Academy Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 631-8500	1,355	72	18.7	75.4%	203 (15.0%)	10 (0.7%)	1,003 (74.0%)	33 (2.4%)	5 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	95 (7.0%)								(n/a)	44.2	24.7	53.6		36.9	68.6	64.2	67.3	39.3	42.3	37.0	67.6	48.6	54.9	54.7	50.0	19.2	13.8	22.1	24.3	25.9							$16,515	$2,438	$14,077
Guajome Learning Centers	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2000 North Santa Fe Ave.	Vista	92083	San Diego County	Guajome Learning Centers District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 631-8500	61	4	16.2	50.8%	9 (14.8%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (73.8%)	2 (3.3%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.6%)								(n/a)			42.9		30.4							75.0	61.8							6.3	20.6							$13,613	$00	$13,613
Pivot Charter School - San Diego II	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1030 La Bonita Dr.	San Marcos	92078	San Diego County	Pivot Charter School - San Diego II District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(760) 591-0217	90	8	10.6	44.4%	37 (41.1%)	1 (1.1%)	39 (43.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (11.1%)								(n/a)			23.1		20.0					53.9		38.5	42.1					41.7		15.4	21.4							$19,460	$1,340	$18,120
Coastal Academy Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4096 Calle Platino	Oceanside	92056	San Diego County	Coastal Academy Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 631-4020	2,015	82	24.4	30.6%	1,107 (54.9%)	37 (1.8%)	567 (28.1%)	55 (2.7%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	240 (11.9%)								(n/a)	45.7	48.1	39.9		44.2	59.6	52.5	63.8	66.4	66.2	61.5	68.1	63.2	63.3	52.5	49.6	57.8	53.4	48.7	39.8	51.4	78.5	85.3	83.4	81.0	82.8	81.6	$12,490	$153	$12,337

Frequently Asked Questions about Valley Center Prep

How many students attend Valley Center Prep?

In the 2024-25 school year, 56 students attended Valley Center Prep.

What district is Valley Center Prep in?

Valley Center-Pauma Unified

What is the racial makeup of Valley Center Prep?

Students at Valley Center Prep are 61% Hispanic, 21% American Indian, 11% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Valley Center Prep a good school?

Valley Center Prep ranks 1095^th of 2162 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Valley Center Prep!

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Schools in Valley Center, CA

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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.