Elementary Schools in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California has 12 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 63.8/100 — 20.0 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Santa Monica High at 82/100, where 46.3% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Santa Monica schools average 40.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 12 schools, 3 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 16.5% (near the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
How Santa Monica schools compare
Santa Monica's 12 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 63.8 — 20.0 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 24.1 to 82.0, a 57.9-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Santa Monica High with a Scope Score of 82 and 46.3% of students exceeding standard.
High-ceiling schools: Santa Monica schools average 40.3% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.6%. These schools aren't just getting students to proficiency, they're pushing them further.
Chronic absenteeism in Santa Monica averages 16.5%, which is near the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
School archetypes in Santa Monica
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in Santa Monica ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Score | County | Exceeded | Met+ | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Monica High Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Strong All-Around | 82 | Los Angeles | 46.3% | 69.9% | 20.8% | 1.5% |
| 2 | Canyon Charter Elementary Los Angeles Unified High Ceiling | 82 | Los Angeles | 61.1% | 85.6% | 8.5% | 0.2% |
| 3 | Franklin Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified High Ceiling | 81 | Los Angeles | 57.7% | 83.5% | 12.1% | 0.3% |
| 4 | Edison Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified High Ceiling | 77 | Los Angeles | 50.4% | 81.3% | 12.1% | 0.1% |
| 5 | Roosevelt Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Strong All-Around | 72 | Los Angeles | 47.4% | 72.5% | 11.7% | 0.1% |
| 6 | Lincoln Middle Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Strong All-Around | 67 | Los Angeles | 42.1% | 70.7% | 12.3% | 2.5% |
| 7 | Grant Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Strong All-Around | 67 | Los Angeles | 46.0% | 70.2% | 9.4% | 0.3% |
| 8 | McKinley Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Strong All-Around | 59 | Los Angeles | 36.4% | 62.2% | 13.2% | 0.9% |
| 9 | Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Culture First | 55 | Los Angeles | 31.4% | 58.5% | 8.7% | 0.7% |
| 10 | John Adams Middle Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Building Momentum | 55 | Los Angeles | 28.2% | 56.0% | 14.2% | 3.0% |
| 11 | Will Rogers Elementary Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Building Momentum | 45 | Los Angeles | 25.0% | 47.8% | 21.3% | 3.0% |
| 12 | Olympic High (Continuation) Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Building Momentum | 24 | Los Angeles | 11.9% | 15.7% | 53.9% | 4.0% |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in Santa Monica
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Santa Monica
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology
Frequently asked questions
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