Manhattan Beach Unified
Manhattan Beach Unified has 7 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 83.5/100 — 39.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Opal Robinson Elementary at 90/100, where 67.0% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,289 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 6.2%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 85.2 | 5 | 62.8% | 4.1% |
| Middle | 75.6 | 1 | 48.3% | 8.0% |
| High | 83.4 | 1 | 42.7% | 15.2% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Manhattan Beach Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Manhattan Beach Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 85.2.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +6.8pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.
Consistency: Score range of 14.5 points — moderately consistent between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 6.2%, 11.9pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 0.9%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Opal Robinson Elementary leads the district at 90 with 67.0% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Manhattan Beach Unified
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Manhattan Beach Unified spends $15,289 per student in current expenditures — $474 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (5)
Manhattan Beach Unified has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 85.2 — 41.4 points above the state average of 43.8. 1 of 5 elementary schools have Scope Scores above 90.
District-wide growth averages +6.8pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Opal Robinson Elementary with a Scope Score of 90 and 67.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Growth | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opal Robinson Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 90 | 67.0% | 88.9% | +7.6pp | 4.9% | 0.7% |
| 2 | Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 90 | 71.2% | 90.3% | +0.6pp | 3.5% | 0.1% |
| 3 | Pacific Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 85 | 61.1% | 83.3% | +10.3pp | 2.8% | 0.5% |
| 4 | Meadows Avenue Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 81 | 61.8% | 86.9% | -0.6pp | 4.4% | 1.4% |
| 5 | Grand View Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 80 | 53.1% | 83.0% | +16.1pp | 5.0% | 0.4% |
Middle Schools (1)
Manhattan Beach Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 75.6 — 35.1 points above the state average of 40.5. 1 of 1 middle schools score above 70.
Growth averages -1.4pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Manhattan Beach Middle with a Scope Score of 76 and 48.3% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Growth | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan Beach Middle Manhattan Beach Unified Strong All-Around | 76 | 48.3% | 77.3% | -1.4pp | 8.0% | 2.1% |
High Schools (1)
Manhattan Beach Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 83.4 — 36.0 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 1 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Mira Costa High with a Scope Score of 83 and 42.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mira Costa High Manhattan Beach Unified Strong All-Around | 83 | 42.7% | 71.6% | 15.2% | 1.4% |
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.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Manhattan Beach Unified
- 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 resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology