Best Public Schools in Zip Code 93555

This analysis examines 10 public schools in zip code 93555, serving the Ridgecrest, CA area, which include six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools, collectively educating around 4,652 students primarily within the Sierra Sands Unified district.

Academic performance varies significantly across these schools. Burroughs High stands out as the top performer with strong test scores and an 86% graduation rate, while Mesquite Continuation High faces severe challenges with very low graduation and high absenteeism rates. At the elementary level, Las Flores Elementary and Richmond Elementary show particular strengths in math and science, respectively, whereas Ridgecrest Elementary Academy for Language Music and Sci and Pierce Elementary rank lower in statewide comparisons.

Key district-wide issues include chronic absenteeism that exceeds the state average and middle schools—Murray Middle and James Monroe Middle—that rank in the bottom third statewide, presenting a notable drop in performance before students reach the higher-performing high school. Interestingly, higher per-student spending and smaller class sizes, as seen at Mesquite Continuation High, do not always correlate with better academic outcomes in this area.