Palo Verde Unified

Public school district · Riverside County · California · NCES district ID 0629640

Palo Verde Unified spent $17,741 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 61% of the other California districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $16,855). Its 5 schools enrolled 2,610 students in 2024-25; 64.0% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $20,435 per student, up 15.2% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 93% (California: 86.2%).

Spending per student among California districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Palo Verde Unified in enrollment (2,748 to 2,889 students) and Palo Verde Unified itself.

Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Palo Verde Unified, FY23Coronado Unified $19,058; Vaughn Next Century Learning Center District $18,788; Palo Verde Unified $17,741; Cabrillo Unified $17,654; Empire Union Elementary $17,501; San Marino Unified $16,945; South Monterey County Joint Union High $15,479; Pacifica $15,380; The Cottonwood School $12,667; Loomis Union $11,712; State median, 1,000+ students $16,855.10k12.5k15k17.5k20kCoronado Unified$19,058Vaughn Next Century Learning C…$18,788Palo Verde Unified$17,741Cabrillo Unified$17,654Empire Union Elementary$17,501San Marino Unified$16,945South Monterey County Joint Un…$15,479Pacifica$15,380The Cottonwood School$12,667Loomis Union$11,712State median, 1,000+ students $16,855
Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Palo Verde Unified, FY23Coronado Unified $19,058; Vaughn Next Century Learning Center District $18,788; Palo Verde Unified $17,741; Cabrillo Unified $17,654; Empire Union Elementary $17,501; San Marino Unified $16,945; South Monterey County Joint Union High $15,479; Pacifica $15,380; The Cottonwood School $12,667; Loomis Union $11,712; State median, 1,000+ students $16,855.10k12.5k15k17.5k20kCoronado Unified$19,058Vaughn Next Century Learning Center…$18,788Palo Verde Unified$17,741Cabrillo Unified$17,654Empire Union Elementary$17,501San Marino Unified$16,945South Monterey County Joint Union H…$15,479Pacifica$15,380The Cottonwood School$12,667Loomis Union$11,712State median, 1,000+ students $16,855
Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Palo Verde Unified, FY23Coronado Unified $19,058; Vaughn Next Century Learning Center District $18,788; Palo Verde Unified $17,741; Cabrillo Unified $17,654; Empire Union Elementary $17,501; San Marino Unified $16,945; South Monterey County Joint Union High $15,479; Pacifica $15,380; The Cottonwood School $12,667; Loomis Union $11,712; State median, 1,000+ students $16,855.10k15k20kCoronado Unified$19,058Vaughn Next Century Learning Center District$18,788Palo Verde Unified$17,741Cabrillo Unified$17,654Empire Union Elementary$17,501San Marino Unified$16,945South Monterey County Joint Union High$15,479Pacifica$15,380The Cottonwood School$12,667Loomis Union$11,712State median, 1,000+ students $16,855
Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Palo Verde Unified, FY23Coronado Unified $19,058; Vaughn Next Century Learning Center District $18,788; Palo Verde Unified $17,741; Cabrillo Unified $17,654; Empire Union Elementary $17,501; San Marino Unified $16,945; South Monterey County Joint Union High $15,479; Pacifica $15,380; The Cottonwood School $12,667; Loomis Union $11,712; State median, 1,000+ students $16,855.10k15k20kCoronado Unified$19,058Vaughn Next Century Learning Center Dis…$18,788Palo Verde Unified$17,741Cabrillo Unified$17,654Empire Union Elementary$17,501San Marino Unified$16,945South Monterey County Joint Union High$15,479Pacifica$15,380The Cottonwood School$12,667Loomis Union$11,712State median, 1,000+ students $16,855

Where the money came from

$65,896,000 in revenue: 64.0% state, 21.9% local and 14.0% federal. Total spending including $359,000 of capital outlay was $51,383,000, or $18,266 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Palo Verde Unified revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $42,191,000; Local $14,450,000; Federal $9,255,000; total $65,896,000.
  • State$42,191,000 64%
  • Local$14,450,000 22%
  • Federal$9,255,000 14%

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 fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

2,813 students in 2022-23, 2,704 students in 2023-24, 2,610 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Palo Verde Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 2,813, 2023-24: 2,704, 2024-25: 2,61001k2k3k2022-232,8132023-242,7042024-252,610
Palo Verde Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 2,813, 2023-24: 2,704, 2024-25: 2,61001k2k3k2022-232,8132023-242,7042024-252,610
Palo Verde Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 2,813, 2023-24: 2,704, 2024-25: 2,61001k2k3k2022-232,8132023-242,7042024-252,610
Palo Verde Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 2,813, 2023-24: 2,704, 2024-25: 2,61001k2k3k2022-232,8132023-242,7042024-252,610

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-232,813126.722.2
2023-242,704122.722.0
2024-252,610116.422.4

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$12,567,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,467 per student

Palo Verde Unified booked $12,567,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 127 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 $99,156 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 49 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).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$10,207,00081.2%
Special education$1,870,00014.9%
Vocational$4,0000.0%
Other programs$486,0003.9%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,705 in 2018-19, $3,905 in 2019-20, $3,598 in 2020-21, $4,216 in 2021-22, $4,467 in 2022-23.

Palo Verde Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,705, 2019-20: $3,905, 2020-21: $3,598, 2021-22: $4,216, 2022-23: $4,46702k4k6k2018-19$3,7052019-20$3,9052020-21$3,5982021-22$4,2162022-23$4,467
Palo Verde Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,705, 2019-20: $3,905, 2020-21: $3,598, 2021-22: $4,216, 2022-23: $4,46702k4k6k2018-19$3,7052019-20$3,9052020-21$3,5982021-22$4,2162022-23$4,467
Palo Verde Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,705, 2019-20: $3,905, 2020-21: $3,598, 2021-22: $4,216, 2022-23: $4,46702k4k6k2018-19$3,7052019-20$3,9052020-21$3,5982021-22$4,2162022-23$4,467
Palo Verde Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,705, 2019-20: $3,905, 2020-21: $3,598, 2021-22: $4,216, 2022-23: $4,46702k4k6k2018-19$3,7052019-20$3,9052020-21$3,5982021-22$4,2162022-23$4,467

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 Palo Verde Unified scored proficient or above: 26-30% in reading and 13-17% 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.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtCaliforniaStudents tested
Reading and language arts26-30%45%1,222
Math13-17%34%1,224

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

93% of the 245 students in Palo Verde 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.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtCalifornia
Four-year graduation rate93%86.2%
Students in the class245495,492

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.

3 elementary schools, 1,785 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Felix J. Appleby Elementary61724.774.9%Not reported
Ruth Brown Elementary60922.674.5%Not reported
Margaret White Elementary55922.466.5%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 high schools, 825 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Palo Verde High74021.064.9%Not reported
Twin Palms Continuation8520.488.2%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 Palo Verde Unified

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 Palo Verde Unified

  1. California districts by spending per studentPalo Verde Unified ranks 254 of 646 California districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($17,741).#254 of 646
  2. Every school district in CaliforniaPalo Verde Unified is the number 402 by size of 1,991 California districts, with 2,813 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#402 of 1,991
  3. Empire Union ElementaryThe next larger California district: 2,875 students in fall 2022, $17,501 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$17,501
  4. Coronado UnifiedThe next smaller California district: 2,799 students in fall 2022, $19,058 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$19,058
  5. Compare Palo Verde Unified with Empire Union ElementaryEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Palo Verde High, its largest high school740 students in 2024-25, 21.0 per teacher.740
  7. Teacher salary spending across CaliforniaPalo Verde Unified spent $99,156 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $99,744); spending, not a salary.$99,156
  8. 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 Palo Verde Unified

  1. How many schools and students are in Palo Verde Unified?
    5 schools were open in 2024-25 (3 elementary, 2 high), enrolling 2,610 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Palo Verde Unified spend per student?
    $17,741 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 $20,435 per student, up 15.2% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Palo Verde Unified's money come from?
    $65,896,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 64.0% state, 21.9% local and 14.0% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Palo Verde Unified live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 419 of the 2,979 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 14.1%, 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.
  5. How much does Palo Verde Unified spend on teacher salaries?
    $12,567,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,467 per student. Divided by the 127 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $99,156 per teacher, more than 49 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).
  6. How do students in Palo Verde Unified do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Palo Verde Unified scored proficient or above: 26-30% in reading and 13-17% 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.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Palo Verde Unified?
    93% of the 245 students in Palo Verde 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.
  8. What is Palo Verde Unified's NCES district ID?
    0629640. 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