Morongo Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Morongo Unified

Morongo Unified serves an enrollment spread across the towns of Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, and Landers in San Bernardino County's high desert. The district spans kindergarten through twelfth grade and operates a mix of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and an alternative/continuation program.

On state assessments in English language arts, the district's proficiency sits in the low-to-middle range. Third-graders score lower than middle elementary grades; fourth and fifth graders perform comparatively better. By middle school, ELA proficiency stays steady in the mid-to-upper thirty percentile range through eighth grade. Math proficiency is notably lower across all tested grades, with only the third grade near the low-thirty mark and grades five through eight dropping into the teens. Science proficiency in fifth and eighth grades sits in the low-to-mid twenty percentile range. When aggregated across all tested subjects and grades, Morongo Unified's overall proficiency index positions it above the midpoint among San Bernardino County's districts, though the absolute numbers reflect widespread academic challenge.

Enrollment is substantial, drawn from a community with a clear demographic split. White and Hispanic students each make up roughly equal shares of the student body, together accounting for most of the population. Black, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students together comprise less than a tenth. The median home value in the district's service area is near the national benchmark and has declined slightly year-over-year. Rental costs are moderate and have risen modestly. Housing remains relatively affordable given regional context.

A major concern surfaces in chronic absenteeism. The district reports a rate well above the county median, meaning a substantial share of students miss school at rates that disrupt learning. This pattern often correlates with and compounds academic performance gaps. A parent may want to look into this further with the district, as it signals either barriers to regular attendance or challenges in engagement that the district is working to address.

Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education identification, and English learner enrollment were not available in the records reviewed. Graduation rate data was also not provided, which typically reflects that the comparison metric is computed only for districts with sufficient high school completion data reported to the state. Without those details, a full picture of student economic need and support systems remains incomplete.

The district operates schools across multiple small towns with some distance between them. This geography creates both an opportunity for community-rooted schools and logistical considerations for families choosing where to live or how to access programs. The housing market appears modestly stable and affordable compared to many California regions, which may appeal to families seeking lower entry costs, though the academic and attendance climate will be central to any household decision.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,359

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 38%

Black 8%

White 46%

Asian 2%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

31%

—

Gr 3

25%

49%

Gr 4

33%

53%

Gr 5

29%

54%

Gr 6

34%

48%

Gr 7

31%

57%

Gr 8

30%

50%

Gr 11

35%

—

Math

Gr ALL

19%

—

Gr 3

27%

47%

Gr 4

27%

44%

Gr 5

15%

29%

Gr 6

20%

38%

Gr 7

13%

34%

Gr 8

12%

26%

Gr 11

14%

—

Science

Gr ALL

19%

—

Gr 5

18%

40%

Gr 8

22%

40%

Gr 10

14%

—

Gr 11

17%

—

Gr 12

14%

—

Gr HS

18%

—

Gr UG_SEC

15%

—

Schools in this District

17 schools are officially reported under this district.

Joshua Tree Elementary

Morongo Valley Elementary

Oasis Elementary

Palm Vista Elementary

Black Rock Alternative/Continuation

Twentynine Palms Elementary

Twentynine Palms High

Twentynine Palms Junior High

Yucca Valley Elementary

Yucca Valley High

Onaga Elementary

Yucca Mesa Elementary

La Contenta Middle

Friendly Hills Elementary

Condor Elementary

Landers Elementary

Preschool

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

32%

Grade 3

32%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

25%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

15%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

32%

Grade 3

38%

Grade 4

35%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

37%

Grade 7

35%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

24%

Grade 5

27%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

48%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$292,977

Year-over-year change-4.0%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$211K to $542K

vs. state typical0.38x

vs. national typical0.80x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
92277	Twentynine Palms	$248K	-3.8%	50.5%
92284	Yucca Valley	$358K	-2.3%	12.3%
92285	Landers	$211K	-10.3%	11.0%
92252	Joshua Tree	$346K	-4.5%	10.8%
92256	Morongo Valley	$321K	-0.3%	6.1%
92268	Morongo Valley	$542K	-1.0%	5.8%
92339	Forest Falls	$348K	-4.0%	3.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,581/mo

Year-over-year change+4.9%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,369 to $2,195/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
92277	Twentynine Palms	$1,369	+2.8%	50.5%
92284	Yucca Valley	$1,912	+7.5%	12.3%
92252	Joshua Tree	$2,195	+11.4%	10.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,478/mo

Home price / national median income3.5x

Annual rent / national median income22.6%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$102/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.