West Covina Unified

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

West Covina, California - 15 schools

An equity score of 63/100 ranks West Covina Unified #428 of 1526 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,629 per pupil, West Covina Unified ranks #705 of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

7,965
Total Enrollment
15
Schools
$18,629
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Covina Unified operates 15 public schools serving 7,965 students, placing it among the smaller districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 elementary, 4 high, 3 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Los Angeles County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,629 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 22.9% local, 65.2% state, and 11.9% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 63/100, ranked #428 of 1526 in California against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 15 schools offering Advanced Placement (21 AP courses district-wide), a 375.8:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 29.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.7% White across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Merced Elementary, with a diversity index of 49.1/100.

Its largest campus is West Covina High, enrolling 1,756 students (23% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Coronado High (Continuation), at 120 students, a 15x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

West Covina High accounts for 22.0% of all West Covina Unified student enrollment

That concentration means West Covina Unified-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

West Covina Unified school enrollment varies 15× across entities

West Covina Unified school enrollment ranges from 120 students (lowest) to 1,756 students (highest), a spread of 1,636 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

West Covina Unified reports 61.6% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

West Covina Unified student-counselor ratio is 376:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

West Covina Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 29.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within West Covina Unified is typically wider than the West Covina Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.9%
Federal
65.2%
State
22.9%
Local

Funding Equity

63
Equity Score
428 / 1526
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 15 schools in West Covina Unified.

White 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino 75.5%
African American 2.2%
Asian 17.0%
Multiracial 2.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 39.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across West Covina Unified's schools, below the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Merced Elementary 49.1
  2. 2 Hollencrest Middle 45.4
  3. 3 Merlinda Elementary 43.5
  4. 4 Cameron Elementary 42.0
  5. 5 Wescove Elementary 42.0

Programs & Resources

1 / 15
Schools with AP
21 AP courses total
375.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in West Covina Unified

School Enrollment
West Covina High
1,756
Hollencrest Middle
737
Edgewood High
712
Merced Elementary
617
Edgewood Middle
597
Orangewood Elementary
580
Merlinda Elementary
460
Monte Vista Elementary
448
Cameron Elementary
363
Vine Elementary
346
Mt. Sac Early College Academy at West Covina
264
Walnut Grove Intermediate
259
Wescove Elementary
224
California Elementary
220
Coronado High (Continuation)
120

How West Covina Unified Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Snowline Joint Unified Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Sylvan Union Elementary Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Morgan Hill Unified Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
El Monte Union High Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
South San Francisco Unified Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to West Covina Unified's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $22,606/pupil
Compare vs West Covina Unified →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $20,783/pupil
Compare vs West Covina Unified →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,909/pupil
Compare vs West Covina Unified →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $18,419/pupil
Compare vs West Covina Unified →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $15,921/pupil
Compare vs West Covina Unified →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare West Covina Unified

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in West Covina Unified?

West Covina Unified has 15 schools, including 4 high, 3 middle, 8 elementary. Total enrollment is 7,965 students.

How much does West Covina Unified spend per student?

West Covina Unified spends $18,629 per student. The district has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #428 in California.

What is the demographic composition of West Covina Unified?

West Covina Unified students are 75.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.7% White, 2.2% African American, averaged across 15 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Covina Unified?

West Covina Unified has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #428 out of 1526 districts in California.