The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Math. The lowest is 13% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Robert P. Ulrich Elementary
Robert P. Ulrich Elementary serves kindergarten through second grade in California City, a sprawling master-planned Mojave Desert town where the majority of originally platted land remains undeveloped. The school enrolls a small, economically disadvantaged student population in a community anchored by a handful of large employers, among them Edwards Air Force Base, a vehicle-testing facility, and regional aerospace and aviation activity.
The school's enrollment is about average for its grade band, with families broadly reflective of inland Southern California demographics. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is majority Hispanic with a sizable Black population and smaller shares of white students and students of multiple races. Data on English learner status and students in special education were not available.
The only state assessment data reported is from the 2014-15 school year, when the state moved to a new test, the Smarter Balanced. Third-grade math results from that year show proficiency well below the state median for tested subjects and grades; third-grade English language arts results were similarly low. Because this assessment is a decade old and the state discontinued it that year, it is not a current picture of the school's academic standing. No state testing results for later years appear in the data, which is expected for a school serving only K-2, since California does not test those grades. A parent would need to ask the school directly about more recent assessments, common formative tools, early literacy screening, and instructional focus at the primary level.
The school sits within Mojave Unified, which has undertaken a multi-year curriculum and professional-development partnership focused on standards alignment and teacher practice in K-5 English language arts and math. The district also planned new curriculum adoptions in science and social studies and has emphasized implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. These are systemwide changes that shape the academic pathway at this school. The district recently increased developer fees for new construction, a cost factor that may affect families considering building or purchasing new homes in the attendance area.
California City itself offers limited walkability and public transit. The town is car-dependent, with development scattered across a vast desert landscape of empty platted lots. Most residents own single-family ranch-style homes on individual lots along quiet roads. A Kern County library branch sits on the main boulevard, and the city operates parks and a golf course. Public transit is sparse, running only a few days a week, so families generally rely on personal vehicles. Housing costs are well below state and national medians, making the area relatively affordable. Major employers are located on separated campuses away from the residential core, including the Air Force base and the vehicle-proving ground.
The school is small and situated in a low-density, economically modest community. A parent choosing this school should understand that it serves an early grade band, so standardized testing does not yet apply, and should connect directly with the school about current literacy and math instruction, assessment practices, and how the district's curriculum work is landing in the classroom. The school's location and the district's ongoing instructional changes are the main features shaping the environment here.
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