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South Bay Union

Below Average2024–25 data11 schools · avg 32.2/100

South Bay Union has 11 ranked schools across elementary levels with an average Scope Score of 32.2/100 — 11.6 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Nestor Language Academy Charter at 54/100, where 23.4% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,460 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.0%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
32.2
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
33.6
20.4 – 54.0
Avg Exceeded %
10.9%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
25.0%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
11
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
2
of 11 ranked schools

District Analysis

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +6.9pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are adding meaningful value.

Consistency: Score range of 33.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 25.0%, 6.9pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.2%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Nestor Language Academy Charter leads the district at 54 with 23.4% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in South Bay Union

6 On the Rise1 Growth Engine4 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 7 schools in South Bay Union are classified as On the Rise (6) or Growth Engine — 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
85.2%
White
5.3%
Asian
0.4%
Black
2.1%
Other
7.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
62%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

South Bay Union spends $15,460 per student in current expenditures — $646 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$15,460
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
6,446
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 18.7%
$13,028 → $15,460
Spending Efficiency
2.08
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 35%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

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

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$63,407–$122,860
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
302
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (11)

South Bay Union has 11 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.2 — 11.6 points below the state average of 43.8.

District-wide growth averages +6.9pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Nestor Language Academy Charter with a Scope Score of 54 and 23.4% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Nestor Language Academy Charter
South Bay Union Growth Engine
23.4%Solid
54/100
2Emory Elementary
South Bay Union On the Rise
14.8%Developing
38/100
3Howard Pence Elementary
South Bay Union On the Rise
7.1%Developing
36/100
4Sunnyslope Elementary
South Bay Union On the Rise
10.7%Developing
33/100
5Bayside STEAM Academy
South Bay Union Building Momentum
12.8%Developing
32/100
6Imperial Beach Charter
South Bay Union On the Rise
13.5%Developing
32/100
7Oneonta Elementary
South Bay Union Building Momentum
12.5%Developing
30/100
8George Nicoloff Elementary
South Bay Union Building Momentum
7.4%Needs Support
29/100
9Godfrey G. Berry Elementary
South Bay Union On the Rise
5.2%Needs Support
25/100
10Teofilo Mendoza
South Bay Union Building Momentum
7.8%Needs Support
24/100
11Central Elementary
South Bay Union On the Rise
4.2%Needs Support
20/100

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 South Bay Union

  • 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 South Bay Union a good school district?
South Bay Union has 11 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.2/100, which is 11.6 points below the California state average of 43.8. 10.9% 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 South Bay Union?
The highest-scoring school in South Bay Union is Nestor Language Academy Charter with a Scope Score of 54/100 and 23.4% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does South Bay Union spend per student?
South Bay Union spends $15,460 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 is the teacher salary range in South Bay Union?
Teacher salaries in South Bay Union range from $63,407–$122,860 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
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.