Are the public schools in Lucia Mar Unified good?

Lucia Mar Unified’s 11 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 71 to 90. Of those, 2 are Strong, 2 are Solid, 6 are Developing and 1 is Needs Support. Lucia Mar Unified’s 3 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 82. Of those, 1 is Strong, 1 is Solid and 1 is Developing. Lucia Mar Unified’s 4 public high schools have Scope Scores from 69 to 88. Of those, 1 is Strong, 2 are Solid and 1 is Needs Support. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.

Which public schools in Lucia Mar Unified rank highest?

Branch Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 90. It is Strong, at the 94th percentile. Paulding Middle is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 82. It is Strong, at the 80th percentile. Central Coast New Tech High is the highest high school, with a Scope Score of 88. It is Strong, at the 91st percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

How does chronic absence in Lucia Mar Unified compare with California?

The average elementary school in Lucia Mar Unified had 11 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once. The average middle school in Lucia Mar Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Lucia Mar Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100.

How much does Lucia Mar Unified spend per student?

Lucia Mar Unified spent $17,828 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 64 cents of every Lucia Mar 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 Lucia Mar Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $29.9 million into 42 funded actions in 3 goals. Its largest goal holds $23.9 million, 80% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.

Does living in the Lucia Mar 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.

Where do these results come from?

The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

School district · San Luis Obispo County

Lucia Mar Unified schools

Lucia Mar Unified’s 11 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 71 to 90. Its 3 middle schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 82. Its 4 high schools have Scope Scores from 69 to 88.

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

Central Coast New Tech High · campus drawing © OpenStreetMap contributors

Schools

listed public schools. We score 11 elementary, three middle and four high.

Students

9,591

in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.

Spending

$17,828

per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.

The path

What is the path through the district?

Lucia Mar Unified has 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and four high schools that we score.

Elementary

11schools

Scope Scores from 71 to 90.

See the elementary schools ↓

Middle · 3 schools

PauldingScope Score 82
JudkinsScope Score 77
MesaScope Score 74

High · 4 schools

Central Coast New TechScope Score 88
Arroyo Grande HighScope Score 80
Nipomo HighScope Score 75
Pacific View AcademyScope Score 69

Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in Lucia Mar Unified score highest?

Branch Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 90. That is higher than 94 in 100 California elementary schools we score.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined

Rank 1
Branch Elementary
Arroyo Grande · Grades K–6 · 261 students
4931
20% below the standard
Scope Score 90Strong · 94th percentile
Rank 2
Shell Beach Elementary
Pismo Beach · Grades K–6 · 330 students
3626
38% below the standard
Scope Score 83Strong · 82nd percentile
Rank 3
Ocean View Elementary
Arroyo Grande · Grades K–6 · 547 students
3233
35% below the standard
Scope Score 80Solid · 74th percentile
Rank 4
Harloe Elementary
Arroyo Grande · Grades K–6 · 619 students
2726
47% below the standard
Scope Score 78Solid · 62nd percentile
Rank 5
Fairgrove Elementary
Grover Beach · Grades K–6 · 365 students
2121
58% below the standard
Scope Score 75Developing · 49th percentile
Rank 6
Lange (Dorothea) Elementary
Nipomo · Grades K–6 · 577 students
1429
57% below the standard
Scope Score 75Developing · 48th percentile
Rank 7
Oceano Elementary
Oceano · Grades K–6 · 377 students
1523
62% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
Rank 8
Grover Beach Elementary
Grover Beach · Grades Pre–K–6 · 368 students
1222
66% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 39th percentile
Rank 9
Grover Heights Elementary
Grover Beach · Grades K–6 · 290 students
1428
58% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 34th percentile
Rank 10
Dana Elementary
Nipomo · Grades K–6 · 612 students
1521
64% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 32nd percentile

Show the other 1 elementary school

Rank 11
Nipomo Elementary
Nipomo · Grades Pre–K–6 · 436 students
14
78% below the standard
Scope Score 71Needs Support · 23rd percentile

The average elementary school in Lucia Mar Unified had 11 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.

Each score compares a school with the 5,726 California elementary schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.

Middle schools

Which middle schools in Lucia Mar Unified score highest?

Paulding Middle is highest, with a Scope Score of 82. That is higher than 80 in 100 California middle schools we score.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined

Rank 1
Paulding Middle
Arroyo Grande · Grades 7–8 · 544 students
2830
42% below the standard
Scope Score 82Strong · 80th percentile
Rank 2
Judkins Middle
Pismo Beach · Grades 7–8 · 431 students
1828
54% below the standard
Scope Score 77Solid · 60th percentile
Rank 3
Mesa Middle
Arroyo Grande · Grades 7–8 · 474 students
1621
63% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile

The average middle school in Lucia Mar Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.

Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.

High schools

Which high schools in Lucia Mar Unified score highest?

Central Coast New Tech High is highest, with a Scope Score of 88. That is higher than 91 in 100 California high schools we score.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined

Rank 1
Central Coast New Tech High
Nipomo · Grades 9–12 · 318 students
3728
35% below the standard
Scope Score 88Strong · 91st percentile
Rank 2
Arroyo Grande High
Arroyo Grande · Grades 9–12 · 2,012 students
2924
47% below the standard
Scope Score 80Solid · 71st percentile
Rank 3
Nipomo High
Nipomo · Grades 9–12 · 819 students
1628
56% below the standard
Scope Score 75Solid · 51st percentile
Rank 4
Pacific View Academy
Arroyo Grande · Grades K–12 · 114 students · Check how it admits students.
19
73% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 19th percentile

The average high school in Lucia Mar Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100.

1 high school not ranked statewide

It is compared only with other continuation schools, so it is listed apart.

Lopez Continuation HighContinuation high school

Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025.

Against California

How does the district compare with California?

11 in 100 students at the average elementary school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 17 in 100.

Students who miss a lot of school

Average elementary school, students in 100

Lucia Mar Unified11 in 100

California17 in 100

Students from low-income families

Qualify for free or reduced-price meals

Lucia Mar Unified59%

California63%

Spending per student

Day-to-day spending, 2024–25

Lucia Mar Unified$17,828

Typical district$20,491

English learners who moved up a level

On the state’s English test (ELPAC)

Lucia Mar Unified39%

California47%

Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 5,690 of 9,590 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 39% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (340 of 876 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.

The district

Where does Lucia Mar Unified’s money go?

About 64 cents of every Lucia Mar Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.

$17,828

spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.

Every dollar, by what it paid for

64¢10¢10¢9¢6¢

Instruction64%
Instruction support10%
Student services10%
Buildings & maintenance9%
Administration6%
Other1%

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $29.9 million into 42 funded actions in 3 goals. These are planned amounts. The district reports what it spent in a later plan.

Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.

State records

Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?

9,591 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. Lucia Mar Unified isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.

Who goes to the district’s schools

Hispanic or Latino 51%
White 40%
Two or more races 5%
Other or not reported 4%

October 2024–25 enrollment count, including the district’s charter schools. Source: California Department of Education.

Is the state giving the district extra help?

Lucia Mar Unified isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.

State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).

2 schools getting state support, 2025–26

Nipomo HighTargeted support: students with disabilities
Paulding MiddleTargeted support: students of two or more races

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source: School support (CDE).

Common questions

What do parents ask about this district?

Are the public schools in Lucia Mar Unified good?
Lucia Mar Unified’s 11 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 71 to 90. Of those, 2 are Strong, 2 are Solid, 6 are Developing and 1 is Needs Support. Lucia Mar Unified’s 3 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 74 to 82. Of those, 1 is Strong, 1 is Solid and 1 is Developing. Lucia Mar Unified’s 4 public high schools have Scope Scores from 69 to 88. Of those, 1 is Strong, 2 are Solid and 1 is Needs Support. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Lucia Mar Unified rank highest?
Branch Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 90. It is Strong, at the 94th percentile. Paulding Middle is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 82. It is Strong, at the 80th percentile. Central Coast New Tech High is the highest high school, with a Scope Score of 88. It is Strong, at the 91st percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Lucia Mar Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Lucia Mar Unified had 11 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once. The average middle school in Lucia Mar Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Lucia Mar Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
How much does Lucia Mar Unified spend per student?
Lucia Mar Unified spent $17,828 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 64 cents of every Lucia Mar 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 Lucia Mar Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $29.9 million into 42 funded actions in 3 goals. Its largest goal holds $23.9 million, 80% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the Lucia Mar 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.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Schools in Nipomo

Every public school with a Nipomo address.

Compare schools

See the same numbers for each school.

Open the map

See these schools on the map.

Cities in the district

Districts nearby

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Lucia Mar Unified, with the district’s spending and state 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.

View CDE data ↗How Scope Scores work →

State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), springs 2025 and 2026.

Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.