Manhattan Beach Unified’s 5 public elementary schools all sit between the 98th and the 99th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).
Elementary · 5 schools
from 98th to 99th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests
The average elementary school in Manhattan Beach Unified had 2 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
Where does the middle school we score in Manhattan Beach Unified stand?
Manhattan Beach Middle is at the 92nd percentile.
That’s higher than 92 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). It’s the only public middle school we score in Manhattan Beach Unified.
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
Where does the high school we score in Manhattan Beach Unified stand?
Mira Costa High is at the 95th percentile.
That’s higher than 95 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). It’s the only public high school we score in Manhattan Beach Unified.
Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean
Where does Manhattan Beach Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?
Manhattan Beach Unified spent $18,693 per student in the 2024–25 school year.
That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 64 cents of every Manhattan Beach 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
Instruction64%
Instruction support7%
Student services9%
Administration9%
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
$105.1 million
planned in its 2026–27 plan for 22 funded actions in 5 goals. That’s all of its 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, 128 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.
Where the money goes
Three actions take 83% of the money. The plan itself puts 78% of it toward staff.
Attract and retain high-quality General Education certificated teachers and support staff $45.4 million
Attract and retain Special Education Certificated and Classified staff $30.3 million
Maintain facilities in a safe condition and address deferred maintenance needs $11.5 million
19 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help
6 of the plan’s 22 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.
Actions whose titles name reading, catch-up help or English learners
Reading $0.7 million
Catch-up help $3.0 million
English learners $0.9 million
An action naming two of these appears under both.
Largest of these
Implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) districtwide$2.2 million
Provide elementary reading intervention and supplemental English Language Development (ELD) instruction$729,284
Integrate English Language Development (ELD) Standards into classroom instruction$187,192
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students
It plans $990,476 in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $929,030 and estimates it spent $953,942, $24,912 (3%) more than planned (our arithmetic).
$953,942 spent (estimated)$929,030 planned
What changed
The total is $1.8 million (2%) higher than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Attract and retain Special Education Certificated and Classified staff, which went from $28.8 million to $30.3 million.
Largest cuts
Implement strategies to decrease chronic absenteeism District-wide−$404,994
Largest increases
Attract and retain Special Education Certificated and Classified staff+$1.5 million
Create and maintain sustainable, local funding sources to counteract insufficient state and federal funding+$499,303
Maintain facilities in a safe condition and address deferred maintenance needs+$323,976
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 2024–25Goal 1
83%
84%
up 1 pt
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 1
76%
75%
down 1 pt
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 2
9 in 100
8 in 100
1 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 2
1.2%
1.0%
down 0.2 pts
Goals 3, 4 and 5 aren’t shown because they track other measures.
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
Attract and retain high-quality General Education certificated teachers and support staff · $45,373,168
Attract and retain Special Education Certificated and Classified staff · $30,293,465
Maintain facilities in a safe condition and address deferred maintenance needs · $11,548,060
The full plan5 goals, 38 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 ($105.1 million).
Where does the money go?
77% to Goal 1. 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 1Maximize the academic success of all students. Progress toward Goal 1 will include the metrics outlined in…$81.1 million77% of action budgets
“Maximize the academic success of all students. Progress toward Goal 1 will include the metrics outlined in the metrics section. To summarize, the District expects to see annual progress in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade- level standards, as evidenced by CAASPP reporting, and more students meeting College and/or Career Indicators, including the completion of A-G requirements, Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, and an increase in the AP passage rate. The District expects this annual progress for all students, with particular attention to English Learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students” p. 18 ↗
12 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $79.6 million (+$1.4 million)
Largest funded actions
Attract and retain high-quality General Education certificated teachers and support staff$45.4 millionaction 1.15 · p. 89 ↗
Attract and retain Special Education Certificated and Classified staff$30.3 millionaction 1.16 · p. 89 ↗
Implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) districtwide$2.2 millionaction 1.4 · p. 88 ↗
Purchase standards-aligned textbooks for core content areas in grades TK- 12$0.9 millionaction 1.12 · p. 89 ↗
Establish Career Technical Education (CTE) and Dual Enrollment pathways at Mira Costa High School$0.7 millionaction 1.8 · p. 89 ↗
7 more funded actions in this goal
Provide elementary reading intervention and supplemental English Language Development (ELD) instruction · action 1.5 · p. 88 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.7 million
Implement the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) in grades TK-6 · action 1.6 · p. 88 ↗$0.3 million
Implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into classroom instruction · action 1.1 · p. 88 ↗$0.2 million
Integrate English Language Development (ELD) Standards into classroom instruction · action 1.2 · p. 88 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
Develop a TK-12 STEAM Pathway, ensuring clear alignment and progression across grade levels · action 1.9 · p. 89 ↗$0.1 million
Provide supplemental academic support for English Learners and low-income students in grades 6-12 · action 1.7 · p. 88 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
Implement supplemental English Language Development (ELD) instructional materials to accelerate language acquisition · action 1.14 · p. 89 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Attract and retain Special Education Certificated and Classified staff+$1.5 million$28.8 million → $30.3 million · p. 89 ↗
Attract and retain high-quality General Education certificated teachers and support staff+$0.3 million$45.1 million → $45.4 million · p. 89 ↗
Purchase standards-aligned textbooks for core content areas in grades TK- 12−$0.2 million$1.1 million → $0.9 million · p. 89 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) districtwide · $2.2 million → $2.2 million · p. 88 ↗−$12,636
Establish Career Technical Education (CTE) and Dual Enrollment pathways at Mira Costa High School · $866,618 → $730,373 · p. 89 ↗−$136,245
Provide elementary reading intervention and supplemental English Language Development (ELD) instruction · $619,415 → $729,284 · p. 88 ↗+$109,869
Implement the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) in grades TK-6 · $248,078 → $284,520 · p. 88 ↗+$36,442
Implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into classroom instruction · $67,560 → $202,492 · p. 88 ↗+$134,932
Integrate English Language Development (ELD) Standards into classroom instruction · $166,915 → $187,192 · p. 88 ↗+$20,277
Develop a TK-12 STEAM Pathway, ensuring clear alignment and progression across grade levels · $125,000 → $65,000 · p. 89 ↗−$60,000
Provide supplemental academic support for English Learners and low-income students in grades 6-12 · $125,000 → $54,000 · p. 88 ↗−$71,000
Implement supplemental English Language Development (ELD) instructional materials to accelerate language acquisition · $7,700 → $15,000 · p. 89 ↗+$7,300
How the plan measures it · 20 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 18 ↗.
Goal 2Continue to develop a climate of care in MBUSD schools. Progress toward Goal 2 will include the metrics…$5.6 million5% of action budgets
“Continue to develop a climate of care in MBUSD schools. Progress toward Goal 2 will include the metrics outlined in the metrics section. To summarize, the District expects to see annual progress in the percentage of students responding favorably to survey questions related to school connectedness, safety, and well-being, as evidenced by the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) annual report, and more students attending school daily with a reduction in chronic absenteeism. The District expects this annual progress for all students, with particular attention to English Learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students” p. 46 ↗
4 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $6.0 million (−$391,772)
Largest funded actions
Implement strategies to decrease chronic absenteeism District-wide$4.2 millionaction 2.3 · p. 90 ↗
Address the mental and physical wellness of all students$0.9 millionaction 2.5 · p. 90 ↗
Enhance student connectedness within schools$0.3 millionaction 2.4 · p. 90 ↗
Refine Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with an emphasis on bullying prevention$0.2 millionaction 2.1 · p. 89 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Implement strategies to decrease chronic absenteeism District-wide−$0.4 million$4.6 million → $4.2 million · p. 90 ↗
Refine Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with an emphasis on bullying prevention+$146,951$7,210 → $154,161 · p. 89 ↗
Enhance student connectedness within schools−$74,555$408,981 → $334,426 · p. 90 ↗
Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan
Address the mental and physical wellness of all students · $988,487 → $934,313 · p. 90 ↗−$54,174
District Expulsion Rate was 0.0%. (Data Quest Expulsion Rate, 2022-23).
Target for year 3
District Expulsion Rate will remain 0.0%.
9 more measures in the plan’s table.
Goal 3Monitor and maintain infrastructure/facilities districtwide. Progress toward Goal 3 will include the metrics…$14.3 million14% of action budgets
“Monitor and maintain infrastructure/facilities districtwide. Progress toward Goal 3 will include the metrics outlined in the metrics section. To summarize, the District expects to maintain school facilities in a safe condition by addressing deferred maintenance needs. The District expects 100% of MBUSD facilities to be maintained and in good repair, as evidenced by the annual Facilities Inspection Tool (FIT)” p. 59 ↗
2 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $13.8 million (+$445,626)
Largest funded actions
Maintain facilities in a safe condition and address deferred maintenance needs$11.5 millionaction 3.1 · p. 90 ↗
Provide and maintain classroom technology and infrastructure$2.7 millionaction 3.2 · p. 90 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Maintain facilities in a safe condition and address deferred maintenance needs+$0.3 million$11.2 million → $11.5 million · p. 90 ↗
Provide and maintain classroom technology and infrastructure+$0.1 million$2.6 million → $2.7 million · p. 90 ↗
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. 59 ↗.
Goal 4Maintain a balanced budget. Progress toward Goal 4 will be based on the metrics outlined in the metrics…$2.3 million2% of action budgets
“Maintain a balanced budget. Progress toward Goal 4 will be based on the metrics outlined in the metrics section. The District expects to receive a positive budget certification annually, as evidenced by the District’s Adopted Budget and First and Second Interim Budget Reports” p. 64 ↗
1 funded action · 2025–26 plan: $1.8 million (+$499,303)
Largest funded actions
Create and maintain sustainable, local funding sources to counteract insufficient state and federal funding$2.3 millionaction 4.1 · p. 90 ↗
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Create and maintain sustainable, local funding sources to counteract insufficient state and federal funding+$0.5 million$1.8 million → $2.3 million · p. 90 ↗
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. 64 ↗.
Goal 5Communicate clearly and in a timely manner. Progress toward Goal 5 will include the metrics outlined in the…$1.9 million2% of action budgets
“Communicate clearly and in a timely manner. Progress toward Goal 5 will include the metrics outlined in the metrics section. To summarize, the District expects to see annual progress in the percentage of parents responding favorably to survey questions related to parent participation, student outcomes, and decision-making, as evidenced by the LCAP Survey. The District expects this annual progress for all parents, with particular attention to parents of English Learners, students with disabilities, and parents of students identified as gifted and talented” p. 68 ↗
3 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $2.1 million (−$186,019)
Largest funded actions
Foster relationships between school staff and families$1.7 millionaction 5.1 · p. 90 ↗
Disseminate timely information to staff and families$0.2 millionaction 5.5 · p. 90 ↗
Provide interpretation and translation services for families of English Learnersunder $0.1 millionaction 5.4 · p. 90 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Changes from last year’s plan, same title
Foster relationships between school staff and families−$0.2 million$1.9 million → $1.7 million · p. 90 ↗
Disseminate timely information to staff and families−$24,658$221,316 → $196,658 · p. 90 ↗
Provide interpretation and translation services for families of English Learners−$5,000$10,000 → $5,000 · p. 90 ↗
How the plan measures it · 5 measures
None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 68 ↗.
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, 5,895 students
1White58%
2Two or more races14%
3Hispanic or Latino14%
4Asian11%
5Filipino1%
6Black or African American<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
6%
Across California, 63% of students qualify.
2024–25 · 330 of 5,887 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?
Manhattan Beach 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, 74% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (34 of 46 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 Manhattan Beach Unified rank highest?
Elementary: Pacific Elementary, 99th percentile (Strong). Middle: Manhattan Beach Middle, 92nd percentile (Strong). High: Mira Costa High, 95th percentile (Strong). 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 Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach Unified good?
Manhattan Beach Unified’s 5 public elementary schools run from the 98th to the 99th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 5 Strong. Manhattan Beach Unified has one public middle school we score, Manhattan Beach Middle, at the 92nd percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong. Manhattan Beach Unified has one public high school we score, Mira Costa High, at the 95th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong. 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 Manhattan Beach Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Manhattan Beach Unified had 2 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. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
How much does Manhattan Beach Unified spend per student?
Manhattan Beach Unified spent $18,693 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 64 cents of every Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $105.1 million into 22 funded actions in 5 goals, all of its general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $81.1 million, 77% 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 Manhattan Beach 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.