Lucia Mar Unified
Lucia Mar Unified has 15 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 47.6/100 — 3.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Branch Elementary at 86/100, where 57.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,172 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 16.9%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 46.8/100 | 11 | 23.2% | 11.5% |
| High | Developing 49.8/100 | 4 | 20.6% | 31.8% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Lucia Mar Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Lucia Mar Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 49.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -8.9pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 62.2 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 16.9%, 1.2pp near the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.0%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Branch Elementary leads the district at 86 with 57.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Lucia Mar Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Lucia Mar Unified is classified as On the Rise — 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
Lucia Mar Unified spends $12,172 per student in current expenditures — $2,643 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
Elementary Schools (11)
Lucia Mar Unified has 11 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 46.8 — 3.0 points above the state average of 43.8. 1 of 11 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -8.9pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Branch Elementary with a Scope Score of 86 and 57.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Branch Elementary Lucia Mar Unified High Ceiling | 57.6% | Strong 86/100 |
| 2 | Ocean View Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Solid Base | 35.8% | Solid 58/100 |
| 3 | Shell Beach Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 35.2% | Solid 56/100 |
| 4 | Harloe Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 28.8% | Developing 49/100 |
| 5 | Oceano Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Culture First | 14.7% | Developing 44/100 |
| 6 | Fairgrove Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 21.1% | Developing 44/100 |
| 7 | Lange (Dorothea) Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 16.9% | Developing 43/100 |
| 8 | Dana Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 13.0% | Developing 37/100 |
| 9 | Grover Heights Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 12.2% | Developing 35/100 |
| 10 | Grover Beach Elementary Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 10.7% | Developing 32/100 |
| 11 | Nipomo Elementary Lucia Mar Unified On the Rise | 9.4% | Developing 31/100 |
High Schools (4)
Lucia Mar Unified has 4 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 49.8 — 2.3 points above the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Arroyo Grande High with a Scope Score of 63 and 28.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arroyo Grande High Lucia Mar Unified Strong All-Around | 28.6% | Solid 63/100 |
| 2 | Central Coast New Tech High Lucia Mar Unified Strong All-Around | 36.7% | Solid 61/100 |
| 3 | Nipomo High Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 16.1% | Solid 52/100 |
| 4 | Lopez Continuation High Lucia Mar Unified Building Momentum | 1.1% | Needs Support 24/100 |
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.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Lucia Mar Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology