ExploreMapCompareBlogSign in

Pacific Grove Unified: Pacific Grove Unified averages 64.2/100 — 19.4 points above the state average.

Above Average2024–25 data4 schools · avg 64.2/100

Pacific Grove Unified has 4 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 64.2/100 — 19.4 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Pacific Grove High at 68/100, where 42.2% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $19,996 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.6%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
64.2
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
11.5
56.9 – 68.5
Avg Exceeded %
38.3%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
15.6%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
4
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
62.1/100
238.0%14.9%
MiddleSolid
64.3/100
135.0%17.0%
HighSolid
68.5/100
142.2%15.4%

Pacific Grove Unified's high schools average 68.5/100 — 24.7 points above the state average.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Pacific Grove Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
62.1
avg score · 2 schools
Middle
64.3
avg score · 1 school
High
68.5
avg score · 1 school

District Analysis

Pacific Grove Unified has 4 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 64.2/100 — 19.4 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Pacific Grove Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 68.5.

District-wide elementary growth averages +2.4pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.

Score range of 11.5 points — moderately consistent between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 15.6%, 2.4pp below the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 1.1%, near the state average of 1.6%.

Pacific Grove High leads the district at 68 with 42.2% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Pacific Grove Unified

2 Growth Engine1 Strong All-Around1 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 2 schools in Pacific Grove Unified are classified as Growth Engine (2) — 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

Hispanic
22.8%
White
50.0%
Asian
9.0%
Black
1.4%
Other
16.8%
Free/Reduced Lunch
23%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Pacific Grove Unified spends $19,996 per student in current expenditures — $5,181 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$19,996
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
1,899
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 29%
$15,501 → $19,996
Spending Efficiency
3.21
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 37%Other 1%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$69,029–$147,031
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
122
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Pacific Grove Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (2)

Pacific Grove Unified has 2 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 62.1 — 17.2 points above the state average of 44.8.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +2.4pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Robert Down Elementary with a Scope Score of 67 and 43.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Robert Down Elementary
Pacific Grove Unified Building Momentum
43.5%Solid
67/100
2Forest Grove Elementary
Pacific Grove Unified Growth Engine
32.5%Solid
57/100

Middle Schools (1)

Pacific Grove Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 64.3 — 21.6 points above the state average of 42.6.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +6.4pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Pacific Grove Middle with a Scope Score of 64 and 35.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Pacific Grove Middle
Pacific Grove Unified Growth Engine
35.0%Solid
64/100

High Schools (1)

Pacific Grove Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 68.5 — 24.7 points above the state average of 43.7.

The highest-scoring high school is Pacific Grove High with a Scope Score of 68 and 42.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Pacific Grove High
Pacific Grove Unified Strong All-Around
42.2%Solid
68/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 4 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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 Pacific Grove Unified

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Pacific Grove Unified a good school district?
Pacific Grove Unified has 4 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 64.2/100, which is 19.4 points above the state average. 38.3% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Pacific Grove Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Pacific Grove Unified is Pacific Grove High with a Scope Score of 68/100 and 42.2% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Pacific Grove Unified spend per student?
Pacific Grove Unified spends $19,996 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Pacific Grove Unified?
Teacher salaries in Pacific Grove Unified range from $69,029–$147,031 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.