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Pacifica: Pacifica elementary schools add +3.6 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.

Above Average2024–25 data6 schools · avg 51.3/100

Pacifica has 6 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 51.3/100 — 6.5 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Vallemar Elementary at 60/100, where 35.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,231 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 13.4%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
51.3
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
23.8
36.1 – 59.9
Avg Exceeded %
25.0%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
13.4%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
6
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
51.9/100
525.0%13.0%
MiddleDeveloping
48.1/100
124.9%15.6%

Pacifica's elementary schools average 51.9/100 — 7.1 points above the state average with +3.6pp grade-to-grade growth.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Pacifica, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
51.9
avg score · 5 schools
+2 more elementary schools
Middle
48.1
avg score · 1 school
Ingrid B. Lacy Middle
Developing
48/100

District Analysis

Pacifica has 6 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 51.3/100 — 6.5 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Pacifica's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 51.9.

District-wide elementary growth averages +3.6pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.

Score range of 23.8 points — showing notable variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 13.4%, 4.5pp below the state average of 17.9%.

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

Vallemar Elementary leads the district at 60 with 35.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Pacifica

2 Culture First1 Solid Base1 Growth Engine1 On the Rise1 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 2 schools in Pacifica are classified as Growth Engine or 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

Hispanic
28.7%
White
37.3%
Asian
8.4%
Black
3.3%
Other
22.2%
Free/Reduced Lunch
25%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Pacifica spends $12,231 per student in current expenditures — $2,584 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$12,231
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
3,006
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 14.3%
$10,697 → $12,231
Spending Efficiency
4.19
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 60%Support 37%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

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

For the data nerds

Every school in Pacifica

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (5)

Pacifica has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.9 — 7.1 points above the state average of 44.8.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +3.6pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Vallemar Elementary with a Scope Score of 60 and 35.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Vallemar Elementary
Pacifica Solid Base
35.6%Solid
60/100
2Ocean Shore Elementary
Pacifica Growth Engine
23.1%Solid
55/100
3Cabrillo Elementary
Pacifica Culture First
23.3%Solid
55/100
4Ortega Elementary
Pacifica Culture First
28.9%Solid
54/100
5Sunset Ridge Elementary
Pacifica On the Rise
13.9%Developing
36/100

Middle Schools (1)

Pacifica has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.1 — 5.5 points above the state average of 42.6.

Growth averages -5.3pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring middle school is Ingrid B. Lacy Middle with a Scope Score of 48 and 24.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Ingrid B. Lacy Middle
Pacifica Building Momentum
24.9%Developing
48/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 6 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 Pacifica

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 Pacifica a good school district?
Pacifica has 6 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.3/100, which is 6.5 points above the state average. 25.0% 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 Pacifica?
The highest-scoring school in Pacifica is Vallemar Elementary with a Scope Score of 60/100 and 35.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Pacifica spend per student?
Pacifica spends $12,231 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 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.