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North Monterey County Unified

Below Average2024–25 data7 schools · avg 36.5/100

North Monterey County Unified has 7 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.5/100 — 7.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is North Monterey County Center for Independent Study at 50/100, where 11.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $14,578 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 27.4%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
36.5
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
22.5
27.3 – 49.8
Avg Exceeded %
8.0%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
27.4%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
7
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
Elementary32.448.7%19.6%
High42.037.2%37.7%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in North Monterey County Unified, top-scoring shown first.

District Analysis

Strongest level: North Monterey County Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 42.0.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +7.5pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.

Consistency: Score range of 22.5 points — showing notable variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 27.4%, 9.2pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.8%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: North Monterey County Center for Independent Study leads the district at 50 with 11.8% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in North Monterey County Unified

3 On the Rise4 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 3 schools in North Monterey County Unified are classified as On the Rise (3) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
90.3%
White
7.8%
Asian
0.4%
Black
0.2%
Other
1.4%
Free/Reduced Lunch
88%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

North Monterey County Unified spends $14,578 per student in current expenditures — $236 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$14,578
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
4,583
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 19.9%
$12,162 → $14,578
Spending Efficiency
2.50
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 57%Support 38%Other 5%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Elementary Schools (4)

North Monterey County Unified has 4 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.4 — 11.4 points below the state average of 43.8.

District-wide growth averages +7.5pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Castroville Elementary with a Scope Score of 40 and 11.3% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+GrowthAbsentSusp.
1Castroville Elementary
North Monterey County Unified On the Rise
4011.3%28.1%+14.1pp19.9%0.6%
2Prunedale Elementary
North Monterey County Unified On the Rise
328.3%26.9%+7.8pp23.7%2.2%
3Elkhorn Elementary
North Monterey County Unified On the Rise
309.1%23.3%+6.0pp21.9%1.8%
4Echo Valley Elementary
North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum
276.0%18.9%+2.0pp13.0%3.2%

High Schools (3)

North Monterey County Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 42.0 — 5.5 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is North Monterey County Center for Independent Study with a Scope Score of 50 and 11.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolScoreExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1North Monterey County Center for Independent Study
North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum
5011.8%33.8%32.0%1.3%
2North Monterey County High
North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum
479.8%30.0%29.3%6.0%
3Central Bay High (Continuation)
North Monterey County Unified Building Momentum
290.0%0.0%51.7%4.4%

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 North Monterey County 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

Frequently asked questions

Is North Monterey County Unified a good school district?
North Monterey County Unified has 7 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.5/100, which is 7.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. 8.0% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in North Monterey County Unified?
The highest-scoring school in North Monterey County Unified is North Monterey County Center for Independent Study with a Scope Score of 50/100 and 11.8% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does North Monterey County Unified spend per student?
North Monterey County Unified spends $14,578 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.