Manhattan Beach Unified: Manhattan Beach Unified elementary schools add +6.8 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.
Manhattan Beach Unified has 7 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 81.8/100 — 36.9 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Opal Robinson Elementary at 92/100, where 67.0% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,289 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 6.2%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Strong 85.0/100 | 5 | 62.8% | 4.1% |
| Middle | Strong 72.3/100 | 1 | 48.3% | 7.9% |
| High | Strong 75.4/100 | 1 | 42.7% | 15.1% |
Manhattan Beach Unified's elementary schools average 85.0/100 — 40.1 points above the state average with +6.8pp grade-to-grade growth.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Manhattan Beach Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Manhattan Beach Unified has 7 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 81.8/100 — 36.9 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Manhattan Beach Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 85.0.
District-wide elementary growth averages +6.8pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.
Score range of 19.5 points — moderately consistent between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 6.2%, 11.7pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 0.9%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Opal Robinson Elementary leads the district at 92 with 67.0% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Manhattan Beach Unified
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Manhattan Beach Unified spends $15,289 per student in current expenditures — $474 above 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 Manhattan Beach Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (5)
Manhattan Beach Unified has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 85.0 — 40.1 points above the state average of 44.8. 1 of 5 elementary schools have Scope Scores above 90.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +6.8pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Opal Robinson Elementary with a Scope Score of 92 and 67.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opal Robinson Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 67.0% | Strong 92/100 |
| 2 | Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 71.2% | Strong 89/100 |
| 3 | Pacific Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 61.1% | Strong 85/100 |
| 4 | Meadows Avenue Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 61.8% | Strong 80/100 |
| 5 | Grand View Elementary Manhattan Beach Unified High Ceiling | 53.1% | Strong 79/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Manhattan Beach Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 72.3 — 29.6 points above the state average of 42.6. 1 of 1 middle schools score above 70.
Growth averages -1.4pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Manhattan Beach Middle with a Scope Score of 72 and 48.3% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan Beach Middle Manhattan Beach Unified Strong All-Around | 48.3% | Strong 72/100 |
High Schools (1)
Manhattan Beach Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 75.4 — 31.7 points above the state average of 43.7. 1 of 1 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is Mira Costa High with a Scope Score of 75 and 42.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mira Costa High Manhattan Beach Unified Strong All-Around | 42.7% | Strong 75/100 |
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