Colton Joint Unified, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Colton Joint Unified

Colton Joint Unified is a large K-12 district centered in the industrial-residential corridor of San Bernardino County, serving cities including Colton, Bloomington, Grand Terrace, and parts of surrounding areas. The district operates a traditional school structure spanning early elementary through high school, with a branch continuation school for students needing alternative pathways.

Academic performance across the district is significantly below state expectations. English language arts proficiency hovers in the low thirties across elementary grades, declining to the low to mid-twenties in middle school. Mathematics proficiency is weaker still, starting in the low thirties in third grade and dropping sharply through the upper elementary years, bottoming at around thirteen percent in eighth grade. Science assessment results show similarly low proficiency, in the mid-to-high teens for the grades tested. These results are consistent across all student groups. Proficiency across tested subjects and grade levels sits below the midpoint among San Bernardino County's districts, reflecting a district-wide pattern of under-performance on state standards.

The student body is large and predominantly Hispanic, reflecting the demographic character of the region. The district's enrollment is substantial and fairly consistent across grades, with a complete K-12 pathway. Specific data on free-or-reduced-price lunch rates, English learner identification, or special education enrollment are not available in the public reports reviewed, so a parent seeking those details should contact the district directly.

The district faces a significant chronic absenteeism challenge, with rates that exceed the county median. This may compound academic difficulties and is a factor a family should understand when considering the schools. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for the county, suggesting resources are being invested, though test results indicate those resources have not yet moved overall performance upward.

The housing market in the Colton Unified area spans modest valuations in the city itself to higher values in nearby communities like Redlands. Rental costs are moderate relative to median income. The affordability picture reflects typical Inland Empire dynamics: housing is available at lower price points than coastal California, but monthly mortgage obligations for a median home require a substantial share of household income.

A significant development for families is the November 2024 passage of Measure BB, a school facilities bond. This represents the district's first major bond authorization in decades and targets repairs, modernization, and facility upgrades across aging neighborhood schools. Most district facilities are over a span of decades old. The bond carries a property-tax levy that will persist for the life of the bonds, adding a tangible annual cost for homeowners while funding long-term improvements to school buildings and infrastructure. For a family buying or renting in the district, this tax implication and the associated facility improvements merit careful consideration.

The district maintains a diverse set of school sites, including traditional elementary, middle, and high schools alongside a continuation high school serving students with non-traditional pathways. Parents should review individual school profiles within the district, as performance and program offerings may vary by site. State testing data was available only for 2024-25, so multi-year trend analysis was not possible.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

18,912

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 88%

Black 5%

White 4%

Asian 2%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

31%

—

Gr 3

29%

49%

Gr 4

32%

47%

Gr 5

30%

52%

Gr 6

34%

53%

Gr 7

23%

31%

Gr 8

25%

38%

Gr 11

44%

—

Math

Gr ALL

18%

—

Gr 3

28%

48%

Gr 4

24%

44%

Gr 5

14%

35%

Gr 6

20%

38%

Gr 7

14%

24%

Gr 8

12%

18%

Gr 11

16%

—

Science

Gr ALL

18%

—

Gr 5

15%

34%

Gr 8

12%

25%

Gr 11

20%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

15%

—

Gr UG_SEC

19%

—

Schools in this District

28 schools are officially reported under this district.

Grand Terrace Elementary

Ulysses Grant Elementary

Abraham Lincoln Elementary

Mary B. Lewis Elementary

William McKinley Elementary

Paul Rogers Elementary

Ruth Grimes Elementary

Slover Mountain High (Continuation)

Terrace Hills Middle

Terrace View Elementary

Walter Zimmerman Elementary

Woodrow Wilson Elementary

Ruth O. Harris Middle

Michael D'Arcy Elementary

Alice Birney Elementary

Washington High

Gerald A. Smith Elementary

Reche Canyon Elementary

Jurupa Vista Elementary

Cooley Ranch Elementary

Sycamore Hills Elementary

Grand Terrace High Sch at the Ray Abril Jr. Edal Complex

San Salvador Preschool

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

31%

Grade 3

26%

Grade 4

16%

Grade 5

22%

Grade 6

15%

Grade 7

13%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

32%

Grade 3

34%

Grade 4

33%

Grade 5

36%

Grade 6

23%

Grade 7

27%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 5

13%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

40%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$546,755

Year-over-year change-0.7%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$443K to $726K

vs. state typical0.70x

vs. national typical1.48x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
92324	Colton	$501K	-0.8%	48.3%
92316	Bloomington	$567K	-0.1%	23.9%
92337	Fontana	$613K	-1.8%	8.9%
92313	Grand Terrace	$589K	-2.0%	7.6%
92373	Redlands	$726K	+0.3%	5.0%
92408	San Bernardino	$480K	+0.3%	3.4%
92335	Fontana	$569K	-0.8%	1.3%
92354	Loma Linda	$645K	+0.9%	0.7%
92509	Jurupa Valley	$638K	-0.7%	0.4%
92376	Rialto	$569K	+0.1%	0.4%
92507	Riverside	$610K	-1.2%	0.1%
92410	San Bernardino	$443K	-0.3%	0.1%
92501	Riverside	$564K	-1.9%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,251/mo

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$1,785 to $3,501/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
92324	Colton	$2,021	+3.0%	48.3%
92337	Fontana	$3,501	—	8.9%
92313	Grand Terrace	$2,070	-2.2%	7.6%
92373	Redlands	$2,316	-0.3%	5.0%
92408	San Bernardino	$2,448	—	3.4%
92335	Fontana	$2,374	+1.6%	1.3%
92354	Loma Linda	$2,201	+3.6%	0.7%
92509	Jurupa Valley	$2,508	+1.6%	0.4%
92376	Rialto	$2,641	+2.2%	0.4%
92507	Riverside	$2,306	+0.1%	0.1%
92410	San Bernardino	$1,785	+7.0%	0.1%
92501	Riverside	$2,188	+0.7%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,759/mo

Home price / national median income6.5x

Annual rent / national median income32.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$508/mo

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.