Central Unified
Public school district · Fresno County · California · NCES district ID 0607970
Central Unified spent $16,198 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 60% of the other California districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $16,855). Its 24 schools enrolled 15,956 students in 2024-25; 72.7% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $17,761 per student, up 9.6% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 88% (California: 86.2%).
NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method
Spending per student among California districts of similar size
Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Central Unified in enrollment (15,192 to 16,347 students) and Central Unified itself.
Where the money came from
$326,983,000 in revenue: 72.7% state, 15.5% local and 11.8% federal. Total spending including $43,237,000 of capital outlay was $313,114,000, or $19,890 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.
- State$237,770,000 73%
- Local$50,644,000 15%
- Federal$38,569,000 12%
Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 646 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).
Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25
15,735 students in 2022-23, 15,954 students in 2023-24, 15,956 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.
Teachers and students per teacher
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 15,735 | 676.8 | 23.2 |
| 2023-24 | 15,954 | 686.2 | 23.3 |
| 2024-25 | 15,956 | 689.7 | 23.1 |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.
$73,385,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,662 per student
Central Unified booked $73,385,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 677 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $108,431 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 65 in 100 California districts with a figure (state median $99,744, 1,149 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average California teacher salary at $87,275 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
| Program | Teacher salaries | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Regular programs | $60,705,000 | 82.7% |
| Special education | $8,527,000 | 11.6% |
| Vocational | $2,072,000 | 2.8% |
| Other programs | $2,081,000 | 2.8% |
Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23
The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,660 in 2018-19, $3,822 in 2019-20, $3,825 in 2020-21, $4,217 in 2021-22, $4,662 in 2022-23.
Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).
State test results, 2021-22
In 2021-22, the students tested in Central Unified scored proficient or above: 41% in reading and 27% in math, against 45% in reading and 34% in math across California. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within California, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.
| Subject | This district | California | Students tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and language arts | 41% | 45% | 7,176 |
| Math | 27% | 34% | 7,174 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.
Graduation rate, class of 2023
88% of the 1,104 students in Central Unified's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.2% across California. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.
| This district | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Four-year graduation rate | 88% | 86.2% |
| Students in the class | 1,104 | 495,492 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.
14 elementary schools, 8,451 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Elementary | 1,010 | 28.9 | 58.1% | Not reported |
| Central Elementary | 762 | 26.3 | 65.4% | Not reported |
| Herndon-Barstow Elementary | 754 | 27.2 | 52.8% | Not reported |
| William Saroyan Elementary | 697 | 24.0 | 61.3% | Not reported |
| River Bluff Elementary | 694 | 26.7 | 56.1% | Not reported |
| John Steinbeck Elementary | 689 | 27.5 | 76.5% | Not reported |
| McKinley Elementary | 671 | 26.8 | 72.3% | Not reported |
| Norman Liddell Elementary | 628 | 24.9 | 54.3% | Not reported |
| Hanh Phan Tilley Elementary | 622 | 25.9 | 84.6% | Not reported |
| Teague Elementary | 551 | 24.0 | 86.0% | Not reported |
| Roosevelt Elementary | 489 | 24.5 | 81.6% | Not reported |
| Madison Elementary | 487 | 23.2 | 79.3% | Not reported |
The other 2 elementary schools
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton-Kearney Elementary | 199 | 22.1 | 72.4% | Not reported |
| Biola-Pershing Elementary | 198 | 22.0 | 89.4% | Not reported |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
3 middle schools, 2,536 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Point Middle | 947 | 21.6 | 74.6% | Not reported |
| Rio Vista Middle | 851 | 23.0 | 53.7% | Not reported |
| El Capitan Middle | 738 | 19.9 | 75.9% | Not reported |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
5 high schools, 4,572 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Garza High | 2,095 | 22.9 | 58.5% | Not reported |
| Central East High | 1,741 | 20.5 | 68.2% | Not reported |
| Central High | 625 | 15.9 | 60.8% | Not reported |
| Pershing Continuation High | 101 | 16.0 | 80.2% | Not reported |
| Pathway Community Day | 10 | 2.2 | 100.0% | Not reported |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
2 other schools, 397 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Unified Alternative/Opportunity | 260 | 25.0 | 73.1% | Not reported |
| Central Online Home | 137 | 19.7 | 67.2% | Not reported |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
Contact Central Unified
- Website: centralunified.org
- Phone: (559) 274-4700
- Office: 5652 West Gettysburg Ave., Fresno, CA 93722
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.
What to look at next about Central Unified
- California districts by spending per studentCentral Unified ranks 386 of 646 California districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($16,198).#386 of 646
- Every school district in CaliforniaCentral Unified is the number 87 by size of 1,991 California districts, with 15,742 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#87 of 1,991
- Oceanside UnifiedThe next larger California district: 15,855 students in fall 2022, $18,118 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$18,118
- Modesto City HighThe next smaller California district: 15,579 students in fall 2022.
- Compare Central Unified with Oceanside UnifiedEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
- Justin Garza High, its largest high school2,095 students in 2024-25, 22.9 per teacher.2,095
- Teacher salary spending across CaliforniaCentral Unified spent $108,431 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $99,744); spending, not a salary.$108,431
- Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.
Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).
Questions about Central Unified
How many schools and students are in Central Unified?
24 schools were open in 2024-25 (14 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high, 2 other), enrolling 15,956 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.How much does Central Unified spend per student?
$16,198 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the California median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $16,855 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $17,761 per student, up 9.6% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).Where does Central Unified's money come from?
$326,983,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 72.7% state, 15.5% local and 11.8% federal (NCES F-33).How many children in Central Unified live in poverty?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,966 of the 17,527 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 22.6%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.How much does Central Unified spend on teacher salaries?
$73,385,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,662 per student. Divided by the 677 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $108,431 per teacher, more than 65 in 100 California districts (state median $99,744). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average California teacher salary at $87,275 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).How do students in Central Unified do on state tests?
In 2021-22, the students tested in Central Unified scored proficient or above: 41% in reading and 27% in math, against 45% in reading and 34% in math across California. California's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.What is the graduation rate in Central Unified?
88% of the 1,104 students in Central Unified's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.2% across California. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.What is Central Unified's NCES district ID?
0607970. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.
Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.
Sources
Every federal file behind this record
- NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
- NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
- Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
- EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
- EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
- EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
- NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
- NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25