Atascadero Unified: Atascadero Unified schools score 3.2 points below the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 4.8 points.
Atascadero Unified has 11 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 41.6/100 — 3.2 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Monterey Road Elementary at 51/100, where 29.2% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,955 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 24.4%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 43.2/100 | 6 | 22.1% | 15.6% |
| Middle | Developing 44.9/100 | 2 | 18.2% | 20.0% |
| High | Developing 36.2/100 | 3 | 14.1% | 44.8% |
Atascadero Unified's middle schools average 44.9/100 — 2.2 points above the state average with +4.9pp grade-to-grade growth.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Atascadero Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Atascadero Unified has 11 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 41.6/100 — 3.2 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Atascadero Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 44.9.
District-wide elementary growth averages -4.8pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.
Score range of 33.5 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 24.4%, 6.5pp above the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 4.0%, above the state average of 1.6%.
Monterey Road Elementary leads the district at 51 with 29.2% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Atascadero Unified
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Atascadero Unified are classified as On the Rise (2) 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
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Atascadero Unified spends $11,955 per student in current expenditures — $2,860 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Every school in Atascadero Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (6)
Atascadero Unified has 6 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 43.2 — within 1.6 points of the state average of 44.8.
Growth averages -4.8pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Monterey Road Elementary with a Scope Score of 51 and 29.2% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterey Road Elementary Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 29.2% | Solid 51/100 |
| 2 | San Gabriel Elementary Atascadero Unified On the Rise | 27.3% | Solid 50/100 |
| 3 | Santa Margarita Elementary Atascadero Unified Culture First | 25.0% | Developing 50/100 |
| 4 | San Benito Elementary Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 19.3% | Developing 41/100 |
| 5 | Creston Elementary Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 19.2% | Developing 38/100 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy Atascadero Unified On the Rise | 12.3% | Needs Support 29/100 |
Middle Schools (2)
Atascadero Unified has 2 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.9 — 2.2 points above the state average of 42.6.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +4.9pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Fine Arts Academy with a Scope Score of 49 and 17.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts Academy Atascadero Unified Growth Engine | 17.7% | Developing 49/100 |
| 2 | Atascadero Middle Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 18.6% | Developing 41/100 |
High Schools (3)
Atascadero Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.2 — 7.5 points below the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Atascadero High with a Scope Score of 47 and 23.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atascadero High Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 23.9% | Developing 47/100 |
| 2 | Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (ACE) Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 15.5% | Developing 43/100 |
| 3 | Paloma Creek High Atascadero Unified Building Momentum | 2.9% | Needs Support 18/100 |
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology