Can I use Imperial County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Imperial County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Imperial County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Imperial County?

Start with the 75 listed public schools and 19 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Imperial County Schools & Education

Name: Imperial County, California Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Imperial County, California

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

86.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,181

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

56/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#27

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Imperial County

Measured School Summary

Imperial County performs at an average level with a school score of 56/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.8%.

Funding Context

Imperial County spends $9,181 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 1% above the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Imperial County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

75 public schools and 19 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

56/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #27 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

86.8%

0.7 pts below the state average

Funding context

$9,181

$419 above the state average

School coverage

19 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Imperial County has 75 public schools across 19 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Imperial County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Imperial County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#27

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Calexico Unified

Elementary to high school visible

8,353 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 3Other 0

12 listed schools in this county slice.

El Centro Elementary

Elementary and middle visible

5,256 students

Elementary 10Middle 2High 0Other 1

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Imperial Unified

Elementary to high school visible

4,539 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Central Union High

High school only in this slice

4,093 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 4Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

El Centro Elementary is the largest listed district slice, with 13 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Imperial County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Imperial County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Data Story

Imperial County Per-Pupil Expenditure Surpasses California State Average

Education data brief for Imperial County, California.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:Per-pupil spending

Imperial County allocates $9,181 per pupil for education, an amount that exceeds the California state average of $8,762, though it remains below the national average of $13,000. The county’s system comprises 75 schools and 19 districts, with a total enrollment of 37,420 students. Calexico Unified is the largest district by enrollment, serving 8,353 students. Calexico High is the largest individual school in the county, with 2,836 students. The graduation rate is 86.8%, which is just below the state average of 87.5% and the national average of 87.0%. The composite school score of 55.5 is nearly identical to the state average of 55.4 and slightly above the national median of 50.0. Charter schools represent 4% of the county's total public school count. Compare district boundaries before drawing conclusions.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Imperial County

Reported Enrollment

37,420

74 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

4% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary38

Middle10

High21

Other6

19 School Districts in Imperial County

Calexico Unified

El Centro Elementary

Imperial Unified

Central Union High

Brawley Elementary

Brawley Union High

3 schools

2,055 students

Holtville Unified

6 schools

1,573 students

McCabe Union Elementary

1 school

1,209 students

Heber Elementary

2 schools

1,186 students

Calipatria Unified

4 schools

1,172 students

75 Public Schools in Imperial County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 75 matching schools

Public schools in Imperial County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Calexico High	Profile	Calexico Unified	Calexico, 92231Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	2,836
Central Union High	Profile	Central Union High	El Centro, 92243City: Small	9–12	High	1,957
Southwest High	Profile	Central Union High	El Centro, 92243City: Small	9–12	High	1,889
Brawley Union High	Profile	Brawley Union High	Brawley, 92227Town: Fringe	9–12	High	1,868
Imperial High	Profile	Imperial Unified	Imperial, 92251Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,362
McCabe Elementary	Profile	McCabe Union Elementary	El Centro, 92243Rural: Fringe	KG–8	Primary	1,209
Frank M. Wright Middle	Profile	Imperial Unified	Imperial, 92251Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,023
Barbara Worth Junior High	Record	Brawley Elementary	Brawley, 92227Town: Fringe	7–8	Middle	933
Phil D. Swing Elementary	Record	Brawley Elementary	Brawley, 92227Town: Fringe	KG–6	Primary	849
Ben Hulse Elementary	Record	Imperial Unified	Imperial, 92251Suburb: Midsize	KG–5	Primary	794
Cesar Chavez Elementary	Record	Calexico Unified	Calexico, 92231Suburb: Midsize	KG–6	Primary	790
Myron D. Witter Elementary	Record	Brawley Elementary	Brawley, 92227Town: Fringe	KG–6	Primary	781
J. W. Oakley Elementary	Record	Brawley Elementary	Brawley, 92227Town: Fringe	KG–6	Primary	740
Imperial Cross Elementary	Record	Imperial Unified	Imperial, 92251Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	710
Enrique Camarena Jr. High	Record	Calexico Unified	Calexico, 92231Suburb: Midsize	7–8	Middle	669
Sea View Elementary	Record	Coachella Valley Unified	Salton City, 92275Rural: Distant	KG–6	Primary	652
Dogwood Elementary	Record	Heber Elementary	Heber, 92249Rural: Fringe	KG–4	Primary	646
Dool Elementary	Record	Calexico Unified	Calexico, 92231Suburb: Midsize	KG–6	Primary	645
William Moreno Junior High	Record	Calexico Unified	Calexico, 92231Suburb: Midsize	7–8	Middle	643
Jefferson Elementary	Record	Calexico Unified	Calexico, 92231Suburb: Midsize	KG–6	Primary	631

Calexico High

Calexico Unified

Calexico, 92231 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,836 students

Central Union High

El Centro, 92243 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,957 students

Southwest High

Central Union High

El Centro, 92243 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,889 students

Brawley Union High

Brawley, 92227 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,868 students

Imperial High

Imperial Unified

Imperial, 92251 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,362 students

McCabe Elementary

McCabe Union Elementary

El Centro, 92243 / Rural: Fringe

ProfileKG–8Primary1,209 students

Frank M. Wright Middle

Imperial Unified

Imperial, 92251 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,023 students

Barbara Worth Junior High

Brawley Elementary

Brawley, 92227 / Town: Fringe

Record7–8Middle933 students

Phil D. Swing Elementary

Brawley Elementary

Brawley, 92227 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–6Primary849 students

Ben Hulse Elementary

Imperial Unified

Imperial, 92251 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary794 students

Cesar Chavez Elementary

Calexico Unified

Calexico, 92231 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–6Primary790 students

Myron D. Witter Elementary

Brawley Elementary

Brawley, 92227 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–6Primary781 students

J. W. Oakley Elementary

Brawley Elementary

Brawley, 92227 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–6Primary740 students

Imperial Cross Elementary

Imperial Unified

Imperial, 92251 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary710 students

Enrique Camarena Jr. High

Calexico Unified

Calexico, 92231 / Suburb: Midsize

Record7–8Middle669 students

Sea View Elementary

Coachella Valley Unified

Salton City, 92275 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary652 students

Dogwood Elementary

Heber Elementary

Heber, 92249 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–4Primary646 students

Dool Elementary

Calexico Unified

Calexico, 92231 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–6Primary645 students

William Moreno Junior High

Calexico Unified

Calexico, 92231 / Suburb: Midsize

Record7–8Middle643 students

Jefferson Elementary

Calexico Unified

Calexico, 92231 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–6Primary631 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,181

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Imperial County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?

Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in California?

Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Imperial County?

Imperial County has a school score of 56/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Imperial County?

The high school graduation rate in Imperial County is 86.8%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Imperial County spend per student?

Imperial County spends $9,181 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Alameda County

California

+0 pts

56/100

School score

Nevada County

California

+1 pts

57/100

School score

Sacramento County

California

-1 pts

54/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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