Pacifica
Pacifica has 6 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 51.2/100 — 7.4 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Vallemar Elementary at 62/100, where 35.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,231 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 13.4%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 51.2/100 | 5 | 25.0% | 13.0% |
| Middle | Solid 50.9/100 | 1 | 24.9% | 15.6% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Pacifica, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Pacifica's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 51.2.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +3.6pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.
Consistency: Score range of 27.5 points — showing notable variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 13.4%, 4.7pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.1%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Vallemar Elementary leads the district at 62 with 35.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Pacifica
Hidden gems: 2 schools in Pacifica are classified as Growth Engine or On the Rise — 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Pacifica spends $12,231 per student in current expenditures — $2,584 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Elementary Schools (5)
Pacifica has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.2 — 7.5 points above the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +3.6pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Vallemar Elementary with a Scope Score of 62 and 35.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallemar Elementary Pacifica Solid Base | 35.6% | Solid 62/100 |
| 2 | Ocean Shore Elementary Pacifica Growth Engine | 23.1% | Solid 55/100 |
| 3 | Cabrillo Elementary Pacifica Culture First | 23.3% | Solid 55/100 |
| 4 | Ortega Elementary Pacifica Culture First | 28.9% | Solid 51/100 |
| 5 | Sunset Ridge Elementary Pacifica On the Rise | 13.9% | Developing 34/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Pacifica has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 50.9 — 10.5 points above the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -5.3pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Ingrid B. Lacy Middle with a Scope Score of 51 and 24.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ingrid B. Lacy Middle Pacifica Building Momentum | 24.9% | Solid 51/100 |
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 Pacifica
- 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