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Coast Unified: Coast Unified schools score 6.3 points below the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 5.4 points.

Below Average2024–25 data3 schools · avg 38.5/100

Coast Unified has 3 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 38.5/100 — 6.3 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Santa Lucia Middle at 41/100, where 15.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $22,713 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 19.0%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
38.5
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
6.1
35.1 – 41.3
Avg Exceeded %
10.1%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
19.0%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
3
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
35.1/100
110.6%14.2%
MiddleDeveloping
41.3/100
115.6%14.4%
HighDeveloping
39.2/100
14.1%28.4%

Coast Unified's middle schools average 41.3/100 — within 1.4 points of the state average.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Coast Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
35.1
avg score · 1 school
Cambria Grammar
Developing
35/100
Middle
41.3
avg score · 1 school
Santa Lucia Middle
Developing
41/100
High
39.2
avg score · 1 school
Coast Union High
Developing
39/100

District Analysis

Coast Unified has 3 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 38.5/100 — 6.3 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Coast Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 41.3.

District-wide elementary growth averages -5.4pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 6.1 points — remarkably consistent between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 19.0%, 1.1pp near the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 3.4%, near the state average of 1.6%.

Santa Lucia Middle leads the district at 41 with 15.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Coast Unified

1 Culture First2 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
73.2%
White
23.6%
Asian
0.4%
Other
2.8%
Free/Reduced Lunch
50%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Coast Unified spends $22,713 per student in current expenditures — $7,898 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$22,713
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
536
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 16.9%
$19,430 → $22,713
Spending Efficiency
1.70
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 53%Support 44%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
$50,225–$115,647
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
48
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Coast Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (1)

Coast Unified has 1 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 35.1 — 9.7 points below the state average of 44.8.

Growth averages -5.4pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Cambria Grammar with a Scope Score of 35 and 10.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Cambria Grammar
Coast Unified Culture First
10.6%Developing
35/100

Middle Schools (1)

Coast Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 41.3 — within 1.4 points of the state average of 42.6.

Growth is essentially flat at -1.0pp.

The highest-scoring middle school is Santa Lucia Middle with a Scope Score of 41 and 15.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Santa Lucia Middle
Coast Unified Building Momentum
15.6%Developing
41/100

High Schools (1)

Coast Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.2 — 4.5 points below the state average of 43.7.

The highest-scoring high school is Coast Union High with a Scope Score of 39 and 4.1% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Coast Union High
Coast Unified Building Momentum
4.1%Developing
39/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 3 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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 Coast Unified

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Coast Unified a good school district?
Coast Unified has 3 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.5/100, which is 6.3 points below the state average. 10.1% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Coast Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Coast Unified is Santa Lucia Middle with a Scope Score of 41/100 and 15.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Coast Unified spend per student?
Coast Unified spends $22,713 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 Coast Unified?
Teacher salaries in Coast Unified range from $50,225–$115,647 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 seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.