Needles Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Needles Unified

Needles Unified serves a small district in San Bernardino County, in the high desert near the Nevada and Arizona borders. The enrollment spans from kindergarten through grade twelve across seven schools, including an elementary pair in outlying communities, a middle school, a high school, a vocational training center, and an alternative day school.

The district faces significant academic headwinds. Across tested grades and subjects, fewer than one in three students meet state proficiency standards. In mathematics, the picture is particularly weak, with proficiency rates ranging from low-teens percentages in the middle grades to just under a third in the fourth grade. English language arts shows somewhat more strength, especially in grades four and seven where proficiency hovers around four in ten students, but drops sharply below one in four in grade three and grade eight. Science results are similarly modest. The overall proficiency index sits below the county midpoint when compared to other San Bernardino districts, placing Needles in the lower portion of its peer group regionally.

Chronic absenteeism is another area of concern. The rate runs substantially higher than the county median, suggesting attendance patterns may be compounding academic challenges. A parent evaluating this district should look closely at what steps the district is taking to improve attendance and address underlying barriers.

The student body reflects the district's location and character. About four in ten students are White, a third identify as Hispanic, and a meaningful share are Native American. The district also serves small numbers of Black and Asian students. There is diversity in the enrollment, though specific counts of English learners or students with disabilities were not available in the data provided.

Per-pupil spending in Needles sits in the upper range among county districts, so resources are not uniformly scarce. Graduation rate data was not available, so a parent should seek that information directly from the school if a high school pathway is a consideration.

The Needles area housing market is notably affordable by state standards. Median home values are roughly a quarter of the California benchmark, and rental costs are similarly low. Mortgage affordability metrics are favorable. This makes the district potentially attractive to families prioritizing affordability, though the academic profile warrants careful consideration of fit alongside other factors.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

930

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 35%

Black 4%

White 43%

Asian 1%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 12%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

28%

—

Gr 3

17%

21%

Gr 4

33%

54%

Gr 5

37%

43%

Gr 6

25%

—

Gr 7

33%

63%

Gr 8

18%

31%

Gr 11

33%

—

Math

Gr ALL

15%

—

Gr 3

28%

29%

Gr 4

27%

54%

Gr 5

11%

36%

Gr 6

12%

—

Gr 7

11%

44%

Gr 8

10%

19%

Gr 11

13%

—

Science

Gr ALL

24%

—

Gr 5

14%

29%

Gr 8

18%

44%

Gr 11

17%

—

Gr HS

16%

—

Gr UG_SEC

16%

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Needles High

Vista Colorado Elementary

Educational Training Center

Needles Middle

Chemehuevi Valley Elementary

Needles Community Day

Monument Peak

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

28%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

15%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

17%

Grade 7

12%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

18%

Grade 3

38%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

26%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

21%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

35%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$226,987

Year-over-year change-3.6%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$190K to $248K

vs. state typical0.29x

vs. national typical0.62x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
92277	Twentynine Palms	$248K	-3.8%	34.5%
92363	Needles	$190K	-4.5%	17.8%
92242	Earp	$192K	+6.4%	2.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,369/mo

Year-over-year change+2.8%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
92277	Twentynine Palms	$1,369	+2.8%	34.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,145/mo

Home price / national median income2.7x

Annual rent / national median income19.6%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$224/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.