Borrego Springs Unified, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Borrego Springs Unified

Borrego Springs Unified is a small, rural district in San Diego County serving kindergarten through twelfth grade across three schools. The district's enrollment is small, with a population that is predominantly Hispanic, alongside a small white student body and students from other backgrounds. The racial and ethnic makeup is concentrated, and the data provided does not include free-or-reduced-price-lunch counts or English-learner enrollment figures, so a parent interested in understanding the full economic or language-support profile would need to contact the district directly.

The district's academic performance is well below proficiency benchmarks statewide. In English language arts, districtwide proficiency averaged in the low range across tested grades, with elementary grades performing relatively stronger than middle grades, where performance drops considerably. Mathematics proficiency is substantially lower, with the highest elementary-grade results in the low range and middle-grade proficiency dropping sharply. Science proficiency, tested in grades five and eight, sits in the low range for both cohorts. The district ranks in the bottom quartile among San Diego County districts on an overall proficiency index. These results reflect a student population facing academic headwinds that the schools are working to address, and a parent evaluating this district should understand that proficiency gaps are substantial and would merit direct conversation with school leaders about support systems and academic interventions in place.

Chronic absenteeism sits above the county median, a factor that often correlates with academic performance and worth exploring with the school, since attendance directly shapes learning gains.

On the positive side, the district has undertaken major infrastructure investment in recent years. The high school underwent comprehensive modernization funded by voter-approved bond measures, with phase one delivering new heating and cooling systems, interior and exterior refreshes, new carpeting, and flexible furniture. Phase two added upgraded classrooms, a new science laboratory, a digital media classroom, and a life skills and home economics classroom. These upgrades represent a tangible shift in the physical learning environment for high school students, many of whom previously attended classes in buildings that had not been substantially renovated for decades.

The district has also positioned itself as a Community School, adopting a whole-child model that integrates wraparound services including food assistance, mental health support, clothing, housing help, health screenings, and additional learning support. This approach signals a commitment to addressing barriers beyond academics that affect student attendance and engagement.

Career and Technical Education programming at the high school has expanded, incorporating hands-on training, internships, job shadowing, and a Senior Seminar focused on college and career readiness. For students seeking direct pathways into workforce or postsecondary training, this represents a meaningful local option.

Per-pupil spending in the district falls in the upper range among county districts, suggesting that funding is not the constraint on performance.

The community is rural; housing values are modest relative to the state benchmark. A parent considering this district faces a trade-off between a small, cohesive school environment with recent facility improvements and clear support services, and below-benchmark academic results that will require direct engagement with the schools about how learning gaps are being narrowed and what tutoring or intervention supports exist for their child.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

345

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 87%

Black 0%

White 9%

Asian 1%

Two+ 3%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

28%

—

Gr 3

33%

—

Gr 4

33%

—

Gr 5

30%

—

Gr 6

25%

—

Gr 7

32%

—

Gr 8

26%

—

Gr 11

19%

—

Math

Gr ALL

14%

—

Gr 3

21%

—

Gr 4

—

Gr 5

13%

—

Gr 6

—

Gr 7

16%

—

Gr 8

17%

—

Gr 11

14%

—

Science

Gr ALL

18%

—

Gr 5

17%

—

Gr 8

22%

—

Gr 12

18%

—

Gr HS

19%

—

Gr UG_SEC

18%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

Borrego Springs Elementary

Borrego Springs High

Borrego Springs Middle

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

29%

Grade 3

17%

Grade 4

15%

Grade 5

Grade 6

18%

Grade 7

15%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

39%

Grade 4

39%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 6

32%

Grade 7

23%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

19%

Grade 5

19%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

52%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$354,551

Year-over-year change-3.9%

vs. state typical0.46x

vs. national typical0.96x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
92004	Borrego Springs	$355K	-3.9%	100.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,789/mo

Home price / national median income4.2x

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.