Sierra Sands Unified on the map

Click a type to show or hide its schools.

District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Each marker is a graded school; click it for its grade and scores.

Gateway ElementaryBurroughs HighInyokern ElementaryJames Monroe MiddleLas Flores ElementaryMesquite Continuation HighMurray MiddlePierce ElementaryRichmond ElementaryFaller Elementary
District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file; each dot is a graded school, tap or hover for its name.

SchoolGrade summary for Sierra Sands Unified

Average SchoolGrade
D+
Meeting or exceeding expectations
50%
Exceeding
20%
Avg actual scores
25.8%
Avg projected
29.8%

10 of 10 schools in Sierra Sands Unified carry a SchoolGrade. Grade distribution:

B: 1C: 3D: 6

Best schools in Sierra Sands Unified

Statewide rankings: all 1051 high schools in California · all 513 middle schools in California · all 1758 elementary schools in California

The ten highest SchoolGrades in the district. Grades reward actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact.

  1. B Burroughs High (High school, exceeds expectations)
  2. C+ Las Flores Elementary (Elementary school, meets expectations)
  3. C Richmond Elementary (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
  4. C- Murray Middle (Middle school, meets expectations)
  5. D+ Gateway Elementary (Elementary school, doesn't meet expectations)
  6. D+ Faller Elementary (Elementary school, meets expectations)
  7. D James Monroe Middle (Middle school, doesn't meet expectations)
  8. D- Inyokern Elementary (Elementary school, doesn't meet expectations)
  9. D- Pierce Elementary (Elementary school, doesn't meet expectations)
  10. D- Mesquite Continuation High (High school, underperforms expectations)

Every school in Sierra Sands Unified

High schools (2)

Middle and junior high schools (2)

Elementary and primary schools (6)

Where Sierra Sands Unified schools are

Cities and towns served (2)

About this district

  • State: Best schools in California
  • County: Kern County
  • Type: regular local school district
  • Setting: remote town (NCES locale of the district office)
  • Enrollment: 5,122 students with 241 full-time-equivalent teachers and 561 total staff FTE (NCES CCD, 2023-24)
  • NCES district ID: 0636800
  • Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model: each school's actual proficiency against the level projected for its student context. How SchoolGrade works

Nearby school districts

Questions about Sierra Sands Unified

How many schools are in Sierra Sands Unified?

SchoolGrade grades 10 public schools in Sierra Sands Unified, across 2 cities and towns. Every one of them is listed on this page with a link to its own report.

Which cities does Sierra Sands Unified serve?

The largest by graded schools: Ridgecrest, Inyokern.

How good are the schools in Sierra Sands Unified?

Across the 10 graded schools, the average SchoolGrade is D+, with 25.8% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 29.8%. 50% of schools meet or exceed the expectation for their student context.

How many students attend Sierra Sands Unified?

5,122 students were enrolled in Sierra Sands Unified in the 2023-24 school year, about 21.3 students per full-time teacher (NCES Common Core of Data).

Where is Sierra Sands Unified?

Sierra Sands Unified is in California, based in Kern County, with its district office in Ridgecrest. Its boundary covers about 975 sq mi.