Bernardo Heights Middle

Summary:

Bernardo Heights Middle is a highly successful public middle school in San Diego, California, serving 1,416 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Poway Unified School District. The school consistently ranks among the top middle schools in California, with a current ranking of 290 out of 2,777 middle schools in the state and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bernardo Heights Middle stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics significantly higher than the state and district averages. The school also demonstrates strong equity and inclusion, with high-performing student subgroups across diverse demographics, including female students, male students, Asian students, African American students, Hispanic students, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities. Additionally, the school has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and a low percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch compared to state and district averages.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Challenger Middle, Wangenheim Middle, and Marshall Middle, Bernardo Heights Middle generally outperforms its counterparts in academic achievement and other key metrics, making it a standout institution in the San Diego region.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 12990 Paseo Lucido
       San Diego, CA  92128-4479


(858) 485-4850

District: Poway Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
290th of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,505 Help


Students who attend Bernardo Heights Middle usually attend:

High:    Rancho Bernardo High

Feeder schools for Bernardo Heights Middle:

Elementary:    Chaparral Elementary
    Highland Ranch Elementary
    Turtleback Elementary
    Westwood Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  23.0 Help
Number of students:  1,416

Racial breakdown:

White:
42.4%
Asian:
24.0%
Hispanic:
18.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  13.8% Help


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 Compare Bernardo Heights Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bernardo Heights Middle ranks better than 89.6% of middle schools in California. It also ranks 3rd among 6 ranked middle schools in the Poway Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.37. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Bernardo Heights Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (42.4%), Asian (24%), Hispanic (18.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 13.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bernardo Heights Middle is 23, which is the 3rd best among 6 middle schools in the Poway Unified School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bernardo Heights Middle employs 61.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bernardo Heights Middle is $6,505. 4 middle schools in the Poway Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bernardo Heights Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Bernardo Heights Middle 290th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Bernardo Heights Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Poway Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Poway Unified 125th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Bernardo Heights Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 91.44 96th 1769 94.6%
2005 91.71 90th 1777 94.9%
2006 91.38 98th 1804 94.6%
2007 90.68 107th 1999 94.6%
2008 90.62 97th 2005 95.2%
2009 84.68 201st 2063 90.3%
2010 80.17 295th 2179 86.5%
2011 76.87 368th 2236 83.5%
2012 77.24 370th 2259 83.6%
2013 75.65 434th 2379 81.8%
2015 92.54 166th 2477 93.3%
2016 91.59 191st 2497 92.4%
2017 87.06 311th 2508 87.6%
2018 87.86 285th 2480 88.5%
2019 90.41 257th 2715 90.5%
2022 90.31 274th 2740 90.0%
2023 92.29 225th 2802 92.0%
2024 89.37 290th 2777 89.6%
See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.59 192nd 462 58.4%
2019 69.38 172nd 554 69.0%
2022 71.21 182nd 665 72.6%
2023 70.34 204th 678 69.9%
2024 64.42 252nd 699 63.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.40 107th 1364 92.2%
2019 75.90 161st 1442 88.8%
2022 95.36 28th 1540 98.2%
2023 76.23 132nd 1529 91.4%
2024 63.14 232nd 1477 84.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 96.81 41st 1538 97.3%
2024 93.00 72nd 1550 95.4%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 82.89 234th 2230 89.5%
2019 87.42 180th 2369 92.4%
2022 86.49 195th 2458 92.1%
2023 84.72 253rd 2549 90.1%
2024 76.43 413th 2575 84.0%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.21 253rd 2262 88.8%
2019 90.33 217th 2380 90.9%
2022 90.32 228th 2509 90.9%
2023 91.97 201st 2547 92.1%
2024 87.04 305th 2546 88.0%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.29 304th 1369 77.8%
2019 65.78 324th 1491 78.3%
2022 90.36 89th 1531 94.2%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 87.23 12th 193 93.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.93 306th 2273 86.5%
2019 88.95 265th 2407 89.0%
2022 88.66 280th 2527 88.9%
2023 90.87 227th 2558 91.1%
2024 89.04 273rd 2547 89.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.35 309th 700 55.9%
2019 72.21 228th 745 69.4%
2022 67.31 271st 733 63.0%
2023 70.99 221st 718 69.2%
2024 74.87 183rd 741 75.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 72.83 122nd 600 79.7%
2022 97.03 11th 637 98.3%
2023 73.98 111th 614 81.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.25 205th 2072 90.1%
2019 87.19 178th 2213 92.0%
2022 88.39 160th 2359 93.2%
2023 91.40 120th 2391 95.0%
2024 87.48 180th 2383 92.4%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bernardo Heights Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.05 429th 1496 71.3%
2019 73.97 378th 1602 76.4%
2022 74.38 336th 1555 78.4%
2023 77.26 287th 1552 81.5%
2024 66.98 471st 1535 69.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bernardo Heights Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Bernardo Heights Middle

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 337 14 37 12 0 n/a n/a 0 400
1990 746 29 110 44 2 n/a n/a 0 931
1991 1271 54 230 84 2 n/a n/a 0 1641
1992 1280 64 267 127 3 n/a n/a 0 1741
1993 1283 61 257 110 9 n/a n/a 0 1720
1994 1203 70 299 138 10 n/a n/a 0 1720
1995 1228 63 231 125 10 n/a n/a 0 1657
1996 1228 63 231 125 10 n/a n/a 0 1657
1997 1244 64 225 124 10 n/a n/a 0 1667
1998 1290 57 217 123 11 n/a n/a 0 1698
1999 1279 52 224 129 10 n/a n/a 0 1694
2000 1174 62 270 155 8 n/a n/a 51 1720
2001 1206 72 297 155 9 n/a n/a 46 1785
2002 1217 64 364 173 10 n/a n/a 39 1867
2003 1217 64 364 173 10 n/a n/a 39 1867
2004 1205 69 378 164 10 n/a n/a 43 1869
2005 1084 60 362 147 6 n/a n/a 48 1707
2006 885 50 290 104 5 n/a n/a 44 1378
2007 822 55 291 114 4 n/a n/a 60 1346
2008 845 53 305 135 7 n/a n/a 0 1345
2009 833 49 283 161 9 13 54 0 1402
2010 810 45 288 161 9 7 91 0 1411
2011 806 48 303 147 9 5 39 0 1357
2012 771 50 331 149 8 5 62 0 1376
2013 794 55 295 180 3 8 57 0 1392
2014 803 49 308 195 3 9 66 0 1433
2015 809 46 302 200 3 9 80 0 1449
2016 797 38 322 206 3 8 100 0 1474
2017 810 38 327 201 3 4 111 0 1494
2018 812 36 343 221 2 4 128 0 1546
2019 778 27 342 255 3 5 152 0 1562
2020 649 24 339 279 1 3 236 1 1532
2021 601 29 336 288 3 3 192 1 1453
2022 580 35 315 270 4 1 174 2 1381
2023 600 38 340 258 1 1 171 7 1416

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bernardo Heights Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 400 18.0 22.2 n/a
1990 931 37.7 24.6 n/a
1991 1641 70.0 23.4 n/a
1992 1741 71.1 24.4 7.1
1993 1720 72.0 23.9 6.6
1994 1720 72.5 23.7 4.8
1995 1657 68.3 24.3 10.4
1996 1657 68.3 24.3 10.4
1997 1667 66.6 25.0 8.1
1998 1698 69.9 24.3 9.6
1999 1694 70.0 24.2 6.6
2000 1720 68.6 25.1 6.4
2001 1785 73.0 24.5 7.1
2002 1867 77.2 24.2 4.6
2003 1867 77.2 24.2 4.6
2004 1869 77.2 24.2 4.9
2005 1707 67.0 25.5 5.1
2006 1378 54.3 25.4 5.8
2007 1346 53.8 25.0 8.1
2008 1345 60.4 22.3 13.7
2009 1402 55.1 22.4 7.9
2010 1411 50.8 27.7 10.8
2011 1357 n/a n/a 11.7
2012 1376 47.2 29.1 n/a
2013 1392 46.9 29.6 12.4
2014 1433 51.3 27.9 15.6
2015 1449 55.0 26.3 14.2
2016 1474 58.0 25.4 15
2017 1494 57.9 25.7 12.9
2018 1546 59.8 25.8 18.6
2019 1562 60.1 25.9 19.5
2020 1532 n/a n/a 16.6
2021 1453 59.9 24.2 15.2
2022 1381 62.1 22.2 14.3
2023 1416 61.5 23.0 13.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bernardo Heights Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 400 18.0 22.2 n/a
1990 931 37.7 24.6 n/a
1991 1641 70.0 23.4 n/a
1992 1741 71.1 24.4 7.1
1993 1720 72.0 23.9 6.6
1994 1720 72.5 23.7 4.8
1995 1657 68.3 24.3 10.4
1996 1657 68.3 24.3 10.4
1997 1667 66.6 25.0 8.1
1998 1698 69.9 24.3 9.6
1999 1694 70.0 24.2 6.6
2000 1720 68.6 25.1 6.4
2001 1785 73.0 24.5 7.1
2002 1867 77.2 24.2 4.6
2003 1867 77.2 24.2 4.6
2004 1869 77.2 24.2 4.9
2005 1707 67.0 25.5 5.1
2006 1378 54.3 25.4 5.8
2007 1346 53.8 25.0 8.1
2008 1345 60.4 22.3 13.7
2009 1402 55.1 22.4 7.9
2010 1411 50.8 27.7 10.8
2011 1357 n/a n/a 11.7
2012 1376 47.2 29.1 n/a
2013 1392 46.9 29.6 12.4
2014 1433 51.3 27.9 15.6
2015 1449 55.0 26.3 14.2
2016 1474 58.0 25.4 15
2017 1494 57.9 25.7 12.9
2018 1546 59.8 25.8 18.6
2019 1562 60.1 25.9 19.5
2020 1532 n/a n/a 16.6
2021 1453 59.9 24.2 15.2
2022 1381 62.1 22.2 14.3
2023 1416 61.5 23.0 13.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bernardo Heights Middle

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $6,505

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bernardo Heights Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 257th of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 225th of 2802 Middle schools
 1.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Bernardo Heights Middle)72.770.7
 2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Poway Unified)7370.4
 2.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.544.2
 4.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Bernardo Heights Middle)63.559.8
 3.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Poway Unified)63.161.4
 1.7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (California)38.533.2
 5.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Bernardo Heights Middle)73.372.4
 0.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Poway Unified)75.174.3
 0.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Bernardo Heights Middle)56.757.6
 0.9%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Poway Unified)65.761.7
 4.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Bernardo Heights Middle)78.172.8
 5.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Poway Unified)74.572
 2.5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Bernardo Heights Middle)61.154.5
 6.6%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Poway Unified)68.660.7
 7.9%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (Bernardo Heights Middle)60.658.2
 2.4%
   8th Grade Science (Poway Unified)61.861.5
 0.3%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students15621416
 9.3%
African American2738
 40.7%
American Indian31
 66.7%
Asian342340
 0.6%
Hispanic255258
 1.2%
Pacific Islander51
 80%
White778600
 22.9%
Two or More Races152171
 12.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients19.5%13.8%
 5.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Bernardo Heights Middle

Bernardo Heights Middle ranks 290th of 2777 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,416 students attended Bernardo Heights Middle.

Students at Bernardo Heights Middle are 42% White, 24% Asian, 18% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Students who attend Bernardo Heights Middle usually go on to attend Rancho Bernardo High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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