Los Banos Unified’s 9 public elementary schools run from the 5th to the 66th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). They sit in three of the four bands: Solid, Developing and Needs Support.
Elementary · 9 schools
from 5th to 66th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
The average elementary school in Los Banos Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in Los Banos Unified score highest?
Los Banos Junior High is highest, at the 31st percentile.
That’s higher than 31 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Highest in Los Banos Unified
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.
The average high school in Los Banos Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
Where does Los Banos Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Los Banos Unified spent $19,916 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 63 cents of every Los Banos Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
Spending by function
Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.
Share by function, 2024–25
Instruction63%
Instruction support11%
Student services9%
Administration6%
Buildings & maintenance10%
Other1%
Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.
What the district plans
$57.7 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 47 funded actions in 8 goals. That’s 26% of its $223.1 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.
The plan in short
Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 245 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
The money is spread out. No action gets more than 13%, and the three largest, Counselors; Facilities and School Improvement; and Transportation, take 33% between them. The plan itself puts 48% of it toward staff.
Counselors $7.5 million
Facilities and School Improvement $6.5 million
Transportation $5.0 million
44 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
4 of the plan’s 47 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name catch-up help or English learners
Catch-up help $3.6 million
English learners $1.0 million
Largest of these
Intervention and Support Services for Elementary Students$3.4 million
Dual Language Immersion$600,000
English Learner Director$400,000
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students
For English learners, low-income students and foster youth: For 2025–26, it planned $42.2 million and estimates it spent $41.7 million, $0.5 million (1%) less than planned (our arithmetic).
$41.7 million spent (estimated)$42.2 million planned
What changed
The total is $8.6 million (18%) higher than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Facilities and School Improvement, which went from $2.2 million to $6.5 million.
Largest cuts
Support for Instruction−$200,000
STEM Labs−$150,000
Largest increases
Facilities and School Improvement+$4.3 million
Student Technology+$1.0 million
Site Health Services+$400,000
New in the 2026–27 plan
Dedicated Release Sub Pool$3.0 million
Induction Program$350,000
Ask: What did Support for Instruction pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $200,000 less?
What its goals measure
Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.
What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure
2024–25
2025–26
Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1, 3 and 6
34%
36%
up 2 pts
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1 and 3
21%
23%
up 2 pts
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 2
23 in 100
24 in 100
1 more in 100
Suspended at least onceGoals 2 and 5
5.5%
4.1%
down 1.4 pts
Goals 7 and 8 track named schools and Goal 4 tracks other measures, so they aren’t shown here.
Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.
The plan’s own titles and amounts
Counselors · $7,500,000
Facilities and School Improvement · $6,518,554
Transportation · $5,000,000
The full plan8 goals, 52 measures and where the money goes
We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($57.7 million).
Where does the money go?
54% to Goal 4. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.
not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals
Every goal, in the plan’s order
Goal 1 · Focus GoalBy the 2026-27 academic year, the percentage of English Learners in LBUSD making progress as determined by…$1.9 million3% of action budgets
“By the 2026-27 academic year, the percentage of English Learners in LBUSD making progress as determined by the California School Dashboard will increase from 52.3% to 60%” p. 28 ↗
5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $1.8 million (+$100,000)
Largest funded actions
Dual Language Immersion$600,000action 1.5 · p. 194 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Curriculum, Instructional Supports, and Professional Learning$500,000action 1.1 · p. 194 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
English Learner Director$400,000action 1.4 · p. 194 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Parent Engagement$350,000action 1.2 · p. 194 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Summer Melt Counselor$20,000action 1.3 · p. 194 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Dual Language Immersion+$100,000$500,000 → $600,000 · p. 194 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Curriculum, Instructional Supports, and Professional Learning · $500,000 → $500,000 · p. 194 ↗unchanged
English Learner Director · $400,000 → $400,000 · p. 194 ↗unchanged
Parent Engagement · $350,000 → $350,000 · p. 194 ↗unchanged
Goal 2LBUSD will support the development of the whole child by providing multiple tiers of support to address the…$9.8 million17% of action budgets
“LBUSD will support the development of the whole child by providing multiple tiers of support to address the behavioral, social emotional, mental, and physical well-being of LBUSD students” p. 34 ↗
6 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $9.8 million (unchanged)
Largest funded actions
Counselors$7.5 millionaction 2.1 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $4.5 million is state funding counted toward those services
Mental Health Services$1.6 millionaction 2.5 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student Services$0.4 millionaction 2.7 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student Attendance$0.2 millionaction 2.6 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Hatching Results$0.1 millionaction 2.4 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
1 more funded action in this goal
Junior High SEL Program · action 2.3 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Counselors · $7.5 million → $7.5 million · p. 195 ↗unchanged
Mental Health Services · $1.6 million → $1.6 million · p. 195 ↗unchanged
Student Services · $400,000 → $400,000 · p. 195 ↗unchanged
Student Attendance · $200,000 → $200,000 · p. 195 ↗unchanged
Hatching Results · $100,000 → $100,000 · p. 195 ↗unchanged
Junior High SEL Program · $25,000 → $25,000 · p. 195 ↗unchanged
Goal 3All students will demonstrate growth in student learning by meeting or exceeding performance criteria on…$9.1 million16% of action budgets
“All students will demonstrate growth in student learning by meeting or exceeding performance criteria on state and local assessments, participating in a rigorous course of study, and receiving support through multiple tiers of instructional and support services” p. 43 ↗
10 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $6.3 million (+$2.8 million)
Largest funded actions
Dedicated Release Sub Pool$3.0 millionaction 3.1 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Alignment of Instruction, Curricular Support and Resources$3.0 millionaction 3.2 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Professional Learning Communities$0.6 millionaction 3.4 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Assessment and Accountability of Student Mastery$0.6 millionaction 3.3 · p. 195 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Summer Learning Programs$0.6 millionaction 3.7 · p. 196 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
5 more funded actions in this goal
Support for Instruction · action 3.5 · p. 196 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
Coordinator Data, Assessment, and Accountability · action 3.8 · p. 196 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Tutoring Services · action 3.11 · p. 196 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Elementary Music Teachers · action 3.9 · p. 196 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
VAPA · action 3.10 · p. 196 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Support for Instruction−$200,000$700,000 → $500,000 · p. 196 ↗
Coordinator Data, Assessment, and Accountability · $350,000 → $350,000 · p. 196 ↗unchanged
Elementary Music Teachers · $150,000 → $150,000 · p. 196 ↗unchanged
A reworded title counts as new.
How the plan measures it · 8 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 43 ↗.
Goal 4 · Maintenance of Progress GoalLBUSD will maintain safe and welcoming facilities, a well trained educational staff, access to instructional…$31.2 million54% of action budgets
“LBUSD will maintain safe and welcoming facilities, a well trained educational staff, access to instructional materials and programs for all students, and opportunities for parents to be involved in their student's education” p. 51 ↗
17 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $25.4 million (+$5.7 million)
Largest funded actions
Facilities and School Improvement$6.5 millionaction 4.14 · p. 199 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Transportation$5.0 millionaction 4.5 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student Technology$5.0 millionaction 4.11 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Site Health Services$3.8 millionaction 4.2 · p. 197 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.5 million is state funding counted toward those services
School Security$3.0 millionaction 4.3 · p. 197 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
12 more funded actions in this goal
Supplies, Operations, and Instructional Support · action 4.15 · p. 199 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$2.1 million
Certificate of Participation · action 4.7 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.7 million
Speech and Language Services · action 4.18 · p. 199 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.6 million
Expanded Learning Opportunities · action 4.13 · p. 199 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
EVOLV · action 4.4 · p. 197 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Engaging Educational Partners · action 4.9 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
Induction Program · action 4.8 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.4 million
6th Grade Camp · action 4.12 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
Parent Engagement · action 4.10 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Career Technical Education · action 4.1 · p. 197 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
STEM Labs · action 4.17 · p. 199 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
MESA Program · action 4.6 · p. 198 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Facilities and School Improvement+$4.3 million$2.2 million → $6.5 million · p. 199 ↗
Student Technology+$1.0 million$4.0 million → $5.0 million · p. 198 ↗
Site Health Services+$0.4 million$3.4 million → $3.8 million · p. 197 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Transportation · $5.0 million → $5.0 million · p. 198 ↗unchanged
School Security · $3.0 million → $3.0 million · p. 197 ↗unchanged
Supplies, Operations, and Instructional Support · $2.1 million → $2.1 million · p. 199 ↗unchanged
Certificate of Participation · $1.7 million → $1.7 million · p. 198 ↗unchanged
Speech and Language Services · $1.6 million → $1.6 million · p. 199 ↗unchanged
CTE Program Completers who also met A-G UC/CSU requirementsp. 54 ↗
Baseline
2023 35 students were CTE program completers and met A-G UC/CSU requirements
Target for year 3
50 students will be CTE program completers and met A-G UC/CSU requirements
10 more measures in the plan’s table.
Goal 5 · Focus GoalLBUSD will decrease the suspension rate of all students, students with disabilities, English Learners, Foster…$750,0001% of action budgets
“LBUSD will decrease the suspension rate of all students, students with disabilities, English Learners, Foster Youth, and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged youth districtwide by 5% the 2026- 27 school year” p. 61 ↗
Restorative Practices and Positive Behavioral Supports · $250,000 → $250,000 · p. 199 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 1 measure
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 61 ↗.
Goal 6LBUSD will ensure that students will read at grade level by third grade through high quality first…$4.4 million8% of action budgets
“LBUSD will ensure that students will read at grade level by third grade through high quality first instruction in literacy, standards aligned curriculum, multi-tiered levels of support, and professional development” p. 66 ↗
2 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $4.4 million (unchanged)
Largest funded actions
Intervention and Support Services for Elementary Students$3.4 millionaction 6.1 · p. 200 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.4 million is state funding counted toward those services
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Intervention and Support Services for Elementary Students · $3.4 million → $3.4 million · p. 200 ↗unchanged
LETRS · $1.0 million → $1.0 million · p. 200 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 4 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 66 ↗.
Goal 7 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalCrossroads Alternative Education Center will increase the percentage of Hispanic and socio- economically…$259,178under 1% of action budgets
“Crossroads Alternative Education Center will increase the percentage of Hispanic and socio- economically disadvantaged students who are college and career ready by 5% by the 2026-27 academic year” p. 74 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Counselor · $200,000 → $200,000 · p. 200 ↗unchanged
Dual Enrollment · $59,178 → $59,178 · p. 201 ↗unchanged
How the plan measures it · 3 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 74 ↗.
Goal 8 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalSan Luis HS will decrease the suspension rate of English Learners, Hispanic, and Socioeconomically…$160,578under 1% of action budgets
“San Luis HS will decrease the suspension rate of English Learners, Hispanic, and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students by 10% by 2026-27” p. 79 ↗
All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.
Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends
Student mix
2024–25 · October enrollment count, 11,041 students
1Hispanic or Latino87%
2White8%
3Black or African American1%
4Two or more races<1%
5Asian<1%
6Filipino<1%
7Pacific Islander<1%
8American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
9Not reported0%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools. Rounded labels may not total 100%; segments use the original shares.
Free or reduced-price meals
81%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 8,782 of 10,854 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.
The district’s state records
Is the state giving the district extra help?
Los Banos Unified isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
How English learners moved up on the state’s English test
From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 49% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (1,040 of 2,120 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.
Which public schools in Los Banos Unified rank highest?
Elementary: Grasslands Elementary, 66th percentile (Solid). Middle: Los Banos Junior High, 31st percentile (Developing). High: Pacheco High, 33rd percentile (Developing). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
Does living in the Los Banos Unified district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)
Are the public schools in Los Banos Unified good?
Los Banos Unified’s 9 public elementary schools run from the 5th to the 66th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Solid, 4 Developing and 3 Needs Support. Los Banos Unified’s 2 public middle schools run from the 9th to the 31st percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Developing and 1 Needs Support. Los Banos Unified’s 3 public high schools run from the 4th to the 33rd percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Developing and 2 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.
How does chronic absence in Los Banos Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Los Banos Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average high school in Los Banos Unified had 22 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does Los Banos Unified spend per student?
Los Banos Unified spent $19,916 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 63 cents of every Los Banos Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in Los Banos Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $57.7 million into 47 funded actions in 8 goals, 26% of its $223.1 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $31.2 million, 54% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP): spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools, spring 2025 for high schools, and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Los Banos Unified, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.