Public school · Manhattan Beach Unified

Mira Costa High — Rating & test scores

1401 Artesia Boulevard, Manhattan Beach · 2,473 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap, with building heights from LA County. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 91

StrongScope Score · 95th percentile. Higher than 95 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 99% of the class graduated in four years (626 of 634); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 634
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is Mira Costa a good high school?

Strong. Mira Costa is higher than most California high schools on test results and attendance.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced9081%
Math, Proficient or Advanced9362%
English, Advanced9050%
Math, Advanced9236%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance7315 in 100
Mira Costa’s place among California high schools, out of 100Bar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 84% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing) and 63% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

Each bar is Mira Costa’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11: 629 in English, 614 in math. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English and 413,523 in math tested).

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

0 of the 8 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Mira Costa. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

9 high schools within 3.2 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Mira CostaScope Score 9195th
  2. NorthTorrance Unified · by addressScope Score 8892nd
  3. WestTorrance Unified · by addressScope Score 8891st
  4. Redondo UnionRedondo Beach Unified · by addressScope Score 8789th
  5. Da Vinci ScienceCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8789th
  6. Environmental Charter High - LawndaleCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8381st
  7. Da Vinci CommunicationsCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 7760th
  8. LawndaleCentinela Valley Union High · by addressScope Score 7234th
  9. Centinela Valley Independent StudySchool of choice · by applicationScope Score 623rd
Manhattan Beach UnifiedA neighborhood school in another districtCharterMagnet or school of choice

A neighborhood school in another district takes students who live in its area. Ask that district about a transfer. A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats. A magnet or other school of choice takes applications through its district.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

25%50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

7 of 9 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does Mira Costa compare with schools like it?

Mira Costa’s Scope Score is 91. 46 California high schools, counting Mira Costa, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 92. Mira Costa’s result is higher than 21 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 46

  1. Students from low-income families: 11%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 5%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 7%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 4%

    Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 3%

    Scope Score 97Strong · 98th percentile

46 California public high schools where 1% to 13% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 1% to 13% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Mira Costa’s share. The count includes Mira Costa. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

Results in both subjects were similar to 2025. English went from 81% to 84% and math from 62% to 63%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202685%84%Mira CostaMira Costa57%CaliforniaCalifornia

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202667%63%Mira CostaMira Costa32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringMira CostaCaliforniaTested here
201785%60%576
201883%56%505
201982%57%542
202275%55%533
202368%55%603
202476%56%591
202581%57%626
202684%57%629
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringMira CostaCaliforniaTested here
201767%32%574
201871%31%501
201968%32%536
202260%27%538
202359%27%605
202454%28%575
202562%30%614
202663%32%614

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Well above California in both subjects.

English

84%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

103153
California57%

Math

63%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

18192538
California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 84% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 63% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 21 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school53%31%10%6%629
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
Math, grade 11 · This school38%25%19%18%614
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 629 tested in English, 614 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

White students are the largest group here, at 59% of students. 355 of 2,508 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

14in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (355 of 2,508 students).

At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

No district average: Mira Costa is the only regular high school we rank in the Manhattan Beach Unified district with an attendance record.

Suspensions: 0.9% of students were suspended at least once (22 of 2,523). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

2,473

students in grades 9–12.

White 59%Hispanic or Latino 15%Two or more races 14%Asian 10%Black or African American 1%Filipino <1%

Family income

7%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 173 of 2,473. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

105

teachers, with 18 years of experience on average.

0% were in their first year.

91% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

85%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (17 of 20 students).

Manhattan Beach Unified: 74%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
White59%
Hispanic or Latino15%
Two or more races14%
Asian10%
Black or African American1%
Filipino<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 89.9 of 98.6 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Three student groups here scored well above the same groups across California in math.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Asian65 tested88%California 67%
  • Two or more races86 tested65%California 43%
  • White349 tested63%California 44%
  • Low-income55 tested55%California 23%
  • Hispanic or Latino88 tested50%California 21%
  • Students with disabilities90 tested21%California 8%

Hispanic or Latino and low-income students and students with disabilities all score below California’s rate for all students statewide. 50% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in math (grade 11, spring 2026), against 21% for the same group across California. The chart gives each group’s figures. Every group’s English results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 math, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs Manhattan Beach Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 57 tested in English, 55 in math
English74%074%+2549%
Math55%055%+3223%
White · 360 tested in English, 349 in math
English84%084%+1668%
Math63%063%+1944%
Hispanic or Latino · 90 tested in English, 88 in math
English73%073%+2449%
Math50%050%+2921%
Two or more races · 88 tested in English, 86 in math
English91%091%+2467%
Math65%065%+2243%
Asian · 65 tested
English94%094%+1579%
Math88%088%+2167%
Students with disabilities · 94 tested in English, 90 in math
English54%054%+3519%
Math21%021%+138%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Manhattan Beach Unified, and across California. ■ Green: a group that is behind across California does much better here, by 10 points or more and more than twice the margin of error.

Black or African American and Filipino students: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students, English learners and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

99% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 86% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 91% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

86%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

84%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

99%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 626 of 634 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

86%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 546 of 634 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

84%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 528 of 626 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

91% enrolled in college within 12 months · 562 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓75 · 13%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓44 · 8%
  • California community college100 · 18%
  • In-state private42 · 7%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year248 · 44%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year3 · 1%
  • Not enrolled50 · 9%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
91%enrolled in college within a year

562 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California75 (13%)
  • California State University44 (8%)
  • California community college100 (18%)
  • In-state private42 (7%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year248 (44%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year3 (1%)
  • Not enrolled50 (9%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 626 of 634 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 546 of 634 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 528 of 626 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
367
Admitted
260
Enrolled
100

By campus · fall 2025

  • UCLAApplied 315 · Admitted 37 · Enrolled 21
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 309 · Admitted 114 · Enrolled 19
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 271 · Admitted 47 · Enrolled 27
  • UC San DiegoApplied 259 · Admitted 60 · Enrolled 5
  • UC IrvineApplied 203 · Admitted 70 · Enrolled 11
  • UC DavisApplied 183 · Admitted 63 · Enrolled 6
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 157 · Admitted 123 · Enrolled 8
  • UC RiversideApplied 76 · Admitted 69 · Enrolled 3
  • UC MercedApplied 34 · Admitted 32 · Enrolled under 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 367 · Admitted 260 · Enrolled 100
  • Fall 2024Applied 361 · Admitted 236 · Enrolled 105
  • Fall 2023Applied 325 · Admitted 200 · Enrolled 78
  • Fall 2022Applied 354 · Admitted 198 · Enrolled 101
  • Fall 2021Applied 359 · Admitted 233 · Enrolled 117
  • Fall 2020Applied 358 · Admitted 240 · Enrolled 110
  • Fall 2019Applied 271 · Admitted 173 · Enrolled 86
  • Fall 2018Applied 348 · Admitted 195 · Enrolled 94
  • Fall 2017Applied 338 · Admitted 210 · Enrolled 100
  • Fall 2016Applied 276 · Admitted 174 · Enrolled 81

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
337
Admitted
323
Enrolled
44

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 1,070 · Admitted 378 · Enrolled 87
  • San Diego StateApplied 1,023 · Admitted 420 · Enrolled 68
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 453 · Admitted 183 · Enrolled 8
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 225 · Admitted 161 · Enrolled 9
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 199 · Admitted 165 · Enrolled 11
  • Chico StateApplied 182 · Admitted 158 · Enrolled 8
  • San Francisco StateApplied 153 · Admitted 151 · Enrolled 6
  • San José StateApplied 143 · Admitted 119 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 130 · Admitted 121 · Enrolled 6
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 117 · Admitted 114 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 107 · Admitted 104 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 99 · Admitted 94 · Enrolled —
  • Sonoma StateApplied 99 · Admitted 97 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 88 · Admitted 82 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 77 · Admitted 73 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 61 · Admitted 58 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 56 · Admitted 52 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 45 · Admitted 44 · Enrolled —
  • Fresno StateApplied 29 · Admitted 29 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 25 · Admitted 22 · Enrolled —
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 22 · Admitted 21 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied 17 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled under 6
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 8 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 337 · Admitted 323 · Enrolled 44
  • Fall 2024Applied 317 · Admitted 301 · Enrolled 47
  • Fall 2023Applied 277 · Admitted 249 · Enrolled 44
  • Fall 2022Applied 292 · Admitted 281 · Enrolled 48
  • Fall 2021Applied 279 · Admitted 232 · Enrolled 48
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 27 AP courses in 7 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science5
  • Sciences4
  • English2
  • History & Social Science6
  • World Languages & Cultures3
  • Arts5
  • AP Capstone2
Every approved AP course27 courses in 7 subjects
Math & Computer Science 5
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science A
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Statistics
Sciences 4
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics C: Mechanics
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 6
  • European History
  • Human Geography
  • Microeconomics
  • Psychology
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
World Languages & Cultures 3
  • Chinese Language and Culture
  • French Language and Culture
  • Spanish Language and Culture
Arts 5
  • 2-D Art and Design
  • 3-D Art and Design
  • Art History
  • Drawing
  • Music Theory
AP Capstone 2
  • Research
  • Seminar

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families can answer a short set of questions about Mira Costa. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  2. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  3. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

Staff can’t answer for this school yet

We don’t check staff emails for Manhattan Beach Unified yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

Money

Where does the money go?

$17,874 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Manhattan Beach Unified’s plan for 2026–27 covers $105 million.

$17,874

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$10,723
The school’s share of district office costs
$7,151
Of the total, from federal funds
$1,348
  • Mira Costa$17,874
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

Manhattan Beach Unified’s yearly plan

$105million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$990,476

planned for services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 5 goals. The district’s page lists each one. Source: Manhattan Beach Unified Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around Mira Costa like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 90266. They are not figures for the families at Mira Costa.

Typical household income in a year

$204,306

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 90266.

Typical home value
$2,000,001
People who live in this ZIP code
34,210
Typical age
42.8 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
79%

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 7 questions to Mira Costa. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do students with disabilities get, and how do you know it’s working?21% of students with disabilities scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (90 students tested); the same group across California: 8%
  2. How do you stretch students who are already ahead?53% scored Advanced in English, grade 11, spring 2026 (629 students tested); California: 27%
  3. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  4. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  5. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into Mira Costa, and how do I get in?

Ask Manhattan Beach Unified which school serves your address.

  1. Elementary
    Scope Score 95Strong · 98th percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  2. Middle
    Scope Score 88Strong · 92nd percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  3. High · this school
    Mira Costa High
    Grades 9–12Scope Score 91Strong · 95th percentile

These links come from past records and from distance. Confirm your child’s school with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 95 · Strong · 98th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Grand View Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 95 · Strong · 98th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Meadows Avenue Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 94 · Strong · 98th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Pacific Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 98 · Strong · 99th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Opal Robinson Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 94 · Strong · 98th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

Middle-school links

  • Manhattan Beach Middle

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 88 · Strong · 92nd percentile · middle · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking. Older zone links come from the federal School Attendance Boundary Survey (NCES SABS).

Where it is

Where is Mira Costa?

Address
1401 Artesia Boulevard, Manhattan Beach 90266Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Jennifer HuynhAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated August 21, 2024.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Manhattan Beach Unified which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Mira Costa a good high school?

Mira Costa High has a Scope Score of 91. It scored higher than 95 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Strong, 95th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 14 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 22 in 100 at the average California high school. 0.9% of students (22 of 2,523) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 21 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 74% of low-income students in grade 11 at Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 27 AP courses in 7 subjects for 2025–26. See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

91% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #67 of 1,498 California high schools we score
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate99%6325%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math43%8022%
Ready for college or career (state measure)86%7620%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math72%7618%
Chronically absent15 in 100625%
Suspension rate1.3% (35 of 2,645)605%
English learners: top level54%1005%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

School pattern · 2024–25 · What patterns mean

Broad baseMost students here met or exceeded the standard. The Met or exceeded row above gives the figure.
Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–259195#67California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–195 in 1001.0% (26 of 2,587)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–247 in 1001.1% (29 of 2,590)
2024–2515 in 1001.3% (35 of 2,645)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1162953%31%10%6%84%57%+27

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1161438%25%19%18%63%32%+31

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English62953%84%
2026 · Math61438%63%
2025 · English62650%81%
2025 · Math61436%62%
2024 · English59141%76%
2024 · Math57525%54%
2023 · English60339%68%
2023 · Math60529%59%
2022 · English53347%75%
2022 · Math53831%60%
2019 · English54249%82%
2019 · Math53634%68%
2018 · English50556%83%
2018 · Math50136%71%
2017 · English57655%85%
2017 · Math57432%67%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English62681%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math61462%
2024 · Grade 11 · English59176%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math57554%
2023 · Grade 11 · English60368%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math60559%
2022 · Grade 11 · English53375%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math53860%
2019 · Grade 11 · English54282%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math53668%
2018 · Grade 11 · English50583%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math50171%
2017 · Grade 11 · English57685%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math57467%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide60530%34%33%3%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income5774%0+25
White36084%0+16
Students with disabilities9454%0+35
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 15 in 100 → 2025–26 · 14 in 100 · −1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 1.3% (35 of 2,645) → 2025–26 · 0.9% (22 of 2,523) · −0.4 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female5 in 10014 in 100+9 in 100
Male5 in 10014 in 100+9 in 100
Asian2 in 1007 in 100+5 in 100
Black or African American2 of 5512 of 34—
Filipino2 of 271 of 24—
Hispanic or Latino7 in 10017 in 100+10 in 100
Two or more races5 in 10013 in 100+8 in 100
White5 in 10015 in 100+10 in 100
Students with disabilities14 in 10024 in 100+10 in 100
English learners3 of 213 of 27—
Low-income8 in 10021 in 100+13 in 100
All students5 in 10014 in 100+9 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 86% · numerator 546 students classified Prepared · denominator 634 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 90% · AP-pathway numerator 492 · denominator 546 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 546 of 634 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
99%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
90%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
84%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
91%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
20253672601004.044.124.18
20243612361053.994.114.15
2023325200784.024.084.15
20223541981014.014.144.20
20213592331173.964.104.15
20203582401103.894.014.04
2019271173863.924.014.05
2018348195943.854.014.02
20173382101003.753.944.00
2016276174813.773.943.96

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley20252714727
Berkeley20242605019
Berkeley20232324121
Berkeley20222363826
Berkeley20212044619
Davis2025183636
Davis2024180668
Davis2023144557
Davis20221585710
Davis20211316114
Irvine20252037011
Irvine20241877811
Irvine2023175504
Irvine20221885812
Irvine2021151455
Los Angeles20253153721
Los Angeles20243073925
Los Angeles20232703019
Los Angeles20222823022
Los Angeles20212724229
Merced20253432under 3
Merced20242727under 3
Merced20232221under 3
Merced20222827under 3
Merced20211817under 3
Riverside202576693
Riverside202452474
Riverside20235037under 3
Riverside202253396
Riverside2021645310
San Diego2025259605
San Diego2024247533
San Diego2023228423
San Diego2022258405
San Diego20212359119
Santa Barbara202530911419
Santa Barbara202431012027
Santa Barbara2023263618
Santa Barbara20222975113
Santa Barbara20212837714
Santa Cruz20251571238
Santa Cruz20241571056
Santa Cruz202315311213
Santa Cruz2022181527
Santa Cruz2021161937
Universitywide2025367260100
Universitywide2024361236105
Universitywide202332520078
Universitywide2022354198101
Universitywide2021359233117

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
2-D Art and Designthis school
3-D Art and Designthis school
Art Historythis school
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Chinese Language and Culturethis school
Computer Science Athis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
Drawingthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
European Historythis school
French Language and Culturethis school
Human Geographythis school
Microeconomicsthis school
Music Theorythis school
Physics C: Mechanicsthis school
Psychologythis school
Researchthis school
Seminarthis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count25
AP enrollment (male/female)1,486
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentnot offered
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections8
Physics sections10
Chemistry sections12
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)2,553

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California7513%
California State University448%
California community college10018%
In-state private427%
Out-of-state, 4-year24844%
Out-of-state, 2-year31%
Not enrolled509%

562 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 91% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$15,289 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 6,030 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$704 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 2,473

Central federal expenditures attributed here$644 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 2,473

District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,693 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 64%Instruction support 7%Student services 9%Administration 9%Buildings & maintenance 10%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$68,006,86164.26%64%
Instruction support$7,603,0037.18%7%
Student services$9,400,5308.88%9%
Administration$9,401,0118.88%9%
Buildings & maintenance$10,758,69410.17%10%
Other$662,1050.63%1%
Total$105,832,204100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $105,832,204 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$15,289 per pupil
2020$14,588 per pupil
2019$14,901 per pupil
2018$12,960 per pupil
2017$12,113 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.4%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 90266 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 90266 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$204,306
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)79%
ZIP-area population34,210
Median age42.8 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 90266 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

Embed this scorecard

<iframe
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  title="Mira Costa High — SchoolScope scorecard">
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Free to embed with the credit link. Data updates automatically.

Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026