Palmdale Elementary, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Palmdale Elementary

Palmdale Elementary is a district serving kindergarten through grade 12 across the Antelope Valley region in Los Angeles County. The enrollment is substantial, with the largest concentrations in the elementary and early middle grades. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black enrollment and smaller Asian and white populations. The district reports no data on free-or-reduced-price lunch status or the count of English learners and students with individualized education plans, so a parent seeking those details would need to contact the district directly.

Academic performance across the district is notably weak across tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from around a quarter of students in third grade to about a third in seventh grade. Mathematics proficiency is lower still, dropping from roughly a quarter in third grade to around one-sixth in eighth grade. Science proficiency at the tested grade levels is in the mid-range of English language arts performance. These results place Palmdale Elementary in the bottom quartile among Los Angeles County's school districts on overall proficiency, a gap that merits close attention from any family considering enrollment.

The district has undertaken significant recent investments. A bond measure passed in late 2022 funds facility modernization including roof and window replacement, school safety upgrades, and renovation of science and technology labs. More directly relevant to learning, the district deployed one-to-one Chromebooks and interactive classroom panels districtwide, and launched a bilingual early-literacy program called Footsteps to Brilliance. This technology infrastructure and literacy focus reflect a stated commitment to serving a student population roughly one-third English learners.

A structural shift bears mention: the district recently acquired a high school, transitioning from a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade system to a full K-12district. Related changes include moving sixth grade to middle school and extending school days at the high school level. For families with multiple children, this reconfiguration changes how students progress through the district over time.

The housing market in Palmdale and the surrounding area is moderately valued, with a weighted home price somewhat below the state benchmark. Rental costs are moderate for the region, and rent absorbs a substantial share of typical household income, so affordability is a real consideration for families in the area. Chronic absenteeism across the district is above the midpoint among county districts, a signal that attendance barriers or engagement challenges may play a role in outcomes. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle range of the county's districts, neither notably high nor notably low.

State test data covers only a handful of grades due to California's assessment calendar, and trend data is unavailable, so parents cannot yet see whether recent investments in technology and literacy are moving the needle on results. The high school grades reported in the enrollment count very few students so far, reflecting the newness of that expansion. A parent evaluating this district would benefit from asking directly about high school program breadth, graduation rates once those are available, and how the district plans to address the significant proficiency gaps in elementary and middle school mathematics.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

17,935

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 78%

Black 14%

White 4%

Asian 1%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

28%

—

Gr 3

24%

42%

Gr 4

24%

47%

Gr 5

30%

48%

Gr 6

25%

45%

Gr 7

31%

50%

Gr 8

30%

41%

Gr 11

56%

—

Math

Gr ALL

17%

—

Gr 3

25%

42%

Gr 4

20%

40%

Gr 5

16%

26%

Gr 6

13%

27%

Gr 7

14%

28%

Gr 8

12%

21%

Gr 11

11%

—

Science

Gr ALL

20%

—

Gr 5

16%

27%

Gr 8

11%

20%

Gr 11

23%

—

Gr HS

14%

—

Gr UG_SEC

23%

—

Schools in this District

29 schools are officially reported under this district.

Barrel Springs Elementary

Palmdale Learning Plaza

Ocotillo Elementary

Manzanita Elementary

Tamarisk Elementary

Tumbleweed Elementary

Yucca Elementary

Cimarron Elementary

Quail Valley Elementary

Shadow Hills Engineering and Design Magnet Academy

Golden Poppy Elementary

Los Amigos - Dual Immersion

Cactus Medical Health and Technology Magnet Academy

Desert Rose Elementary

Joshua Hills Elementary

Chaparral Prep Academy

Palm Tree Elementary

Buena Vista Elementary

Mesquite Elementary

Summerwind Elementary

Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad

Yellen Learning Center

Oak Tree Community Day

Dos Caminos Dual Immersion

David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy

Innovations Academy of Palmdale

Palmdale Discovery Center

Space Aeronautics Gateway to Exploration Magnet Academy

Palmdale Academy Charter

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

27%

Grade 3

23%

Grade 4

17%

Grade 5

15%

Grade 6

16%

Grade 7

13%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

26%

Grade 3

27%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

28%

Grade 6

34%

Grade 7

32%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 5

13%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

38%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$502,741

Year-over-year change-1.1%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$430K to $594K

vs. state typical0.65x

vs. national typical1.37x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93550	Palmdale	$451K	-1.5%	40.1%
93552	Palmdale	$499K	-1.0%	32.7%
93551	Palmdale	$594K	-0.7%	25.5%
93535	Lancaster	$430K	-2.3%	1.7%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,735/mo

Year-over-year change+2.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$2,454 to $3,188/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93550	Palmdale	$2,454	+0.4%	40.1%
93551	Palmdale	$3,188	+4.9%	25.5%
93535	Lancaster	$2,536	+0.3%	1.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,537/mo

Home price / national median income6.0x

Annual rent / national median income39.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$198/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.