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Half Moon Bay High · Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay High: High scores, healthy climate, strong attendance. We looked for a catch — we didn't find one.

Half Moon Bay posts 28.3% meeting the standard — versus 35.7% statewide — with climate numbers better than most. That doesn't make it perfect. It makes it worth a visit to find what numbers can't measure.

1 Lewis Foster Drive, 94019 (opens in new tab)·Cabrillo Unified·Half Moon Bay·Grades 9-12·911 students·26% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(650) 712-7200
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope5244
% Exceeded11%16%
% Met+28%36%
Grad rate96.4%87.6%
College readiness89.0%35.4%
Absence20.6%30.2%
Suspension2.5%3.6%
Scope Score
52
🌱 Building Momentum · Solid
ranked #694 statewide

Half Moon Bay High scores 52 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 68th percentile of 2,160 California high schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

🌱 Building Momentum — This label means the data doesn't clearly sort the school one way or the other — ask what the school is proud of, and what it's working on.

CDE CAASPP 2025

Most rating sites would stop at “28% proficient” and call it done. Half Moon Bay deserves a closer read. The school sits in Half Moon Bay, where one in four students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

The headline number: 89.0% of students leave measurably college-ready, versus 35.4% statewide.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,160 high schools statewide

Slipped from the 86th to the 68th percentile since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELARed(Declined Significantly)MathOrange(Declined Significantly)

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 28% meet the standard today, versus 47% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1157%54%41%48%36%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1137%28%27%31%21%

The story this school is actually telling

Proficient by 11th grade
28%
State 36%
Graduate
96%
State 88%
Pass an AP exam
89%
State 35%

Of 100 students here: 28 are proficient by 11th grade → 96 graduate → 89 pass an AP exam. The gaps between those bars are the questions to ask.

The 7 things our score weighs

Graduation rate
96.4%
State 87.6%
8.8pp above state avg
Exceeded standard
10.6%
State 15.8%
5.2pp below state avg
College readiness
89.0%
State 35.4%
AP exam pass rate above state avg
Met or exceeded
28.3%
State 35.7%
7.4pp below state avg
Chronic absenteeism
20.6%
State 30.2%
9.6pp below state avg
Suspension rate
2.5%
State 3.6%
1.1pp below state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
3.2%
State 18.0%
14.7pp below state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask what the school is working on next. Strong numbers tell you where a school is, not where it's going.

  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Half Moon Bay High in Half Moon Bay, 18.6% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 21.3% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Half Moon Bay High trails its district average for low-income students by 2.7 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (13.1% Math proficient); Hispanic students (22.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 35.5 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 59 students tested.

All students at this school: 28% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 28%, district —, state 36%28%
FemaleFemale: this school 34%, district 38%, state 44%34% · +6 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 15%, district 19%, state 32%15% · −13 vs school
MaleMale: this school 22%, district 36%, state 42%22% · −7 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 40%, district 57%, state 56%40% · +11 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 16%, district 19%, state 32%16% · −12 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 0%, district 10%, state 15%0% · −28 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: this school 43%, district 64%, state 56%43% · +15 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 4%, district 5%, state 11%4% · −24 vs school
AsianAsian: too few students to report‹11
FilipinoFilipino: too few students to report‹11
Military-ConnectedMilitary-Connected: too few students to report‹11
this school district, same group California, same group

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 20.6%, district 15.6%, state 30.2%20.6% · −9.6pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 2.5%, district —, state 3.6%2.5% · −1.1pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 9–1219.8%

Where the path goes

The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.

K-12 Feeder Path
▼
High School
Half Moon Bay High
52/100
This school

Feeder patterns derived from NCES attendance boundary data. Boundaries are approximate and may have changed — verify with your school district for current assignments.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 19:1, district 22:119:1
Teaching staff50 teachers
Avg. experience14.8 years
Fully credentialed85%
First-year teachers12%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$61,528 – $117,755
Principal salary$148,768 – $183,184
Superintendent salary$265,423

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

Course Breadth
AP courses offered27
AP exam qualifiers97 students
CTE pathway completers5 students

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $20,987, CA average $14,815$20,987 · spent at this school
Federal share$719 per student

$719 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$22,483 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction56%
Instruction support15%
Student services9%
Administration10%
Buildings & maintenance8%
Other2%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$13,847 per pupil
2019$12,259 per pupil
2018$12,773 per pupil
2017$12,275 per pupil
2016$11,153 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Hispanic50.8%
District 51.0% · CA 56.1%
White41.6%
District 40.8% · CA 19.9%
Other5.4%
District 6.5% · CA 9.0%
Asian2.0%
District 1.5% · CA 10.2%
Black0.2%
District 0.2% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 25.7% (38pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$154K · CA $85K
Median home value$1.56M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+53% · CA 35%
ZIP population14,419
Median age47 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 14% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Half Moon Bay High a good high school?

Half Moon Bay High has a Scope Score of 52 out of 100, placing it in the 68th percentile of California high schools and ranked #694 statewide. 10.6% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 5.2 percentage points below the California average of 15.8%. The Scope Score weights 7 dimensions for high schools: graduation rate (25%), exceeded standard (22%), college/career readiness (20%), met or exceeded (proficient) (18%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Half Moon Bay High's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 28.3% of students at Half Moon Bay High met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 10.6% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 17.6% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 10.6% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 433 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Half Moon Bay High rank in California?

Half Moon Bay High ranks #694 among California high schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 68th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Half Moon Bay High?

20.6% of students at Half Moon Bay High are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 30.2%. The suspension rate is 2.5%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Half Moon Bay High compare to other schools in Half Moon Bay?

Half Moon Bay High scores 52/100 (68th percentile) among California high schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 911 students. Use the schools in Half Moon Bay page or the map view to compare all high schools nearby.

How does Half Moon Bay High serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Half Moon Bay High in Half Moon Bay, 18.6% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 21.3% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Half Moon Bay High trails its district average for low-income students by 2.7 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (13.1% Math proficient); Hispanic students (22.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 35.5 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 59 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

All schools in Half Moon Bay →

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.

For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Graduation rate · 25%
96.4%
↑ vs CA 87.6% · 61th pctile
Exceeded standard · 22%
10.6%
↓ vs CA 15.8% · 44th pctile
College readiness · 20%
89.0%
↑ vs CA 35.4% · 81th pctile
Met or exceeded · 18%
28.3%
↓ vs CA 35.7% · 45th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
20.6%
↑ vs CA 30.2% · 58th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
2.5%
↑ vs CA 3.6% · 55th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
3.2%
↓ vs CA 18.0% · 29th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1121411%24%24%41%36%−12
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1121910%11%21%58%21%−2
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/112356%9%64%22%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged5918.6%−3−20
Hispanic/Latino11022.7%+0−16
White8545.9%−15−16
03Peer comparison · nearest high schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Half Moon Bay High ←—5210.6%28.3%—2.5%
California average—4415.8%35.7%—3.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Graduation Rate
96.4%
AP Exam Prepared
89.0%
A-G Completion
36.0%
A-G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-Going Rate
78.8%
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20196486#29224.1%47.0%13.4%4.6%—
20225984#33818.4%40.7%20.7%2.0%—
20235679#46013.5%34.3%21.0%3.2%—
20245882#38418.2%39.2%25.3%3.4%—
20255268#69410.6%28.3%20.6%2.5%—
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
What we can't show
  • — Low-income students here trail the state average for their group by 20 points in ELA — worth asking how the school is closing that gap.
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female11.8%20.2%+8.4pp
Male13.3%19.4%+6.1pp
Asian6.3%33.3%+27.0pp
White6.3%——
Hispanic/Latino13.3%21.8%+8.5pp
Two or More Races11.1%28.2%+17.1pp
Students with Disabilities30.0%33.1%+3.1pp
English Learners22.7%26.7%+4.0pp
Homeless23.1%——
Military-Connected15.8%31.6%+15.8pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged14.5%24.6%+10.1pp
All Students12.6%19.8%+7.2pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,160 high schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction

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