School district · San Diego County

South Bay Union schools

South Bay Union runs schools through 6th grade. Its 10 public elementary schools run from the 6th to the 77th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). Middle and high school are run by another district; confirm the school for your address with the district.

Elementary · 10 schools

from 6th to 77th · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Nestor Language Academy Charter: 77th percentile, Strong
  • Imperial Beach Charter: 48th percentile, Developing
  • Sunnyslope Elementary: 36th percentile, Developing
  • Howard Pence Elementary: 32nd percentile, Developing
  • Emory Elementary: 32nd percentile, Developing
  • Oneonta Elementary: 29th percentile, Developing
  • Bayside STEAM Academy: 19th percentile, Needs Support
  • George Nicoloff Elementary: 14th percentile, Needs Support
  • Godfrey G. Berry Elementary: 12th percentile, Needs Support
  • Teofilo Mendoza: 6th percentile, Needs Support
4Needs Support
5Developing
0Solid
1Strong

Middle · 2 schools

from 11th to 71st · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Nestor Language Academy Charter: 71st percentile, Solid
  • Imperial Beach Charter: 11th percentile, Needs Support
1Needs Support
0Developing
1Solid
0Strong

One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 2 of the 10 ranked schools teach two levels, so they appear in more than one picture.

  • 10 ranked schools

Schools around South Bay Union

10 listed public schools with mapped locations.

Open full map →

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in South Bay Union score highest?

Nestor Language Academy Charter is highest, at the 77th percentile.

That’s higher than 77 in 100 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in South Bay Union

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean

Show the other 7 elementary schools
Context

The average elementary school in South Bay Union had 23 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

Which middle schools in South Bay Union score highest?

Nestor Language Academy Charter is highest, at the 71st percentile.

That’s higher than 71 in 100 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in South Bay Union

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

The district

Where does South Bay Union’s money go, and what does it plan?

South Bay Union spent $27,937 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

The typical California district spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every South Bay Union 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

  • Instruction57%
  • Instruction support10%
  • Student services10%
  • Administration8%
  • Buildings & maintenance8%
  • Other7%

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

$69.5 million

planned in its 2026–27 plan for 20 funded actions in 3 goals. That’s 68% of its $101.5 million 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, 132 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 52% of the money. The plan itself puts 74% of it toward staff.

  • Appropriately Credentialed Staff $13.5 million
  • Expanded Learning Opportunities $12.2 million
  • Highly Qualified Teachers for Maintaining Class Size Agreements and Special Programs $10.6 million
  • 17 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help

3 of the plan’s 20 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.

Actions whose titles name catch-up help or English learners
  • Catch-up help $1.7 million
  • English learners $0.1 million

Largest of these

  • Academic Intervention$1.7 million
  • Meeting the Needs of Multilingual Learners (English Learners)$66,419
  • Meeting the Needs of Long-Term English Learners (LTELs)$1
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 $22.1 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $22.1 million and estimates it spent $13.3 million, $8.8 million (40%) less than planned (our arithmetic).

Ask: Why did estimated spending on these services come in $8.8 million under the 2025–26 plan, and where does that money go in 2026–27?

What changed

The total is the same as in the 2025–26 plan.

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
Measure2024–252025–26Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 3 · Academic Excellence for All Students30%30%no change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 3 · Academic Excellence for All Students20%20%no change
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 228 in 10025 in 1003 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 22.0%2.1%up 0.1 pts

Goal 1 isn’t shown because it tracks 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
  • Appropriately Credentialed Staff · $13,466,039
  • Expanded Learning Opportunities · $12,155,985
  • Highly Qualified Teachers for Maintaining Class Size Agreements and Special Programs · $10,589,713
The full plan3 goals, 29 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 ($69.5 million).

Where does the money go?

41% to Goal 1, Effective Organizational Systems. 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.

G1
G2
G3

Change since the 2025–26 plan, same title

  • fell 25% or more
  • fell 10–25%
  • fell 2–10%
  • within 2%
  • grew 2–10%
  • grew 10–25%
  • grew 25% or more
  • new or renamed title
  • not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1Effective Organizational Systems$28.4 million41% of action budgets

“All educational partners play an integral role in contributing to and living out the District Vision, Mission, and Values. It is only through a collective effort that we will be successful in creating a highly effective and successful organization” p. 29 ↗

5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $28.4 million (unchanged)

Largest funded actions

  1. Appropriately Credentialed Staff$13.5 millionaction 1.2 · p. 93 ↗
  2. Basic Organizational & Safety Services and Structures$10.1 millionaction 1.1 · p. 93 ↗
  3. Digital Safety and Infrastructure$4.5 millionaction 1.3 · p. 93 ↗
  4. Communication and Connectivity Resources$0.3 millionaction 1.4 · p. 93 ↗
  5. Educational Partner Engagement$0.1 millionaction 1.5 · p. 93 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Appropriately Credentialed Staff · $13.5 million → $13.5 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Basic Organizational & Safety Services and Structures · $10.1 million → $10.1 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Digital Safety and Infrastructure · $4.5 million → $4.5 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Communication and Connectivity Resources · $343,480 → $343,480 · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Educational Partner Engagement · $100,396 → $100,396 · p. 93 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 7 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 29 ↗.

Goal 2Goal 2: District and School Climate, Culture, and Connectedness We will create and maintain equitable…$23.1 million33% of action budgets

“Goal 2: District and School Climate, Culture, and Connectedness We will create and maintain equitable, welcoming, and safe learning environments that value diversity, language, individual culture, identity, interests, and the contributions of all educational partners, while also building the capacity and efficacy of all” p. 41 ↗

6 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $23.1 million (unchanged)

Largest funded actions

  1. Expanded Learning Opportunities$12.2 millionaction 2.6 · p. 93 ↗
  2. District-level Social-Emotional Learning Support Staff$3.1 millionaction 2.3 · p. 93 ↗
  3. Social-Emotional Supports$2.9 millionaction 2.2 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. Devlopment of the Whole Child Through Specialized Programs$2.2 millionaction 2.1 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.1 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Improved Student Attendance$1.9 millionaction 2.5 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

1 more funded action in this goal

  • School Connectedness · action 2.4 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $613,227 is state funding counted toward those services$0.9 million

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Expanded Learning Opportunities · $12.2 million → $12.2 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • District-level Social-Emotional Learning Support Staff · $3.1 million → $3.1 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Social-Emotional Supports · $2.9 million → $2.9 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Devlopment of the Whole Child Through Specialized Programs · $2.2 million → $2.2 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • Improved Student Attendance · $1.9 million → $1.9 million · p. 93 ↗unchanged
  • School Connectedness · $863,419 → $863,419 · p. 93 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 12 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 41 ↗.

Goal 3Academic Excellence for All Students$18.0 million26% of action budgets

“All students will demonstrate growth towards meeting or exceeding standards in English Language Arts (ELA), English Language Development (ELD) and Mathematics, and Multilingual Learners (MLs) will demonstrate progress in developing English language proficiency” p. 59 ↗

9 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $18.0 million (unchanged)

Largest funded actions

  1. Highly Qualified Teachers for Maintaining Class Size Agreements and Special Programs$10.6 millionaction 3.5 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  2. District-level Instructional Support Staff$2.9 millionaction 3.7 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.2 million is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Academic Intervention$1.7 millionaction 3.2 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $165,400 is state funding counted toward those services
  4. Professional Development for Academic Instruction$1.7 millionaction 3.6 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.3 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Student Progress Monitoring$0.5 millionaction 3.3 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $437,873 is state funding counted toward those services

4 more funded actions in this goal

  • Supplemental Digital Platforms · action 3.4 · p. 94 ↗$0.3 million
  • Standards Based Instruction · action 3.1 · p. 94 ↗$0.3 million
  • Meeting the Needs of Multilingual Learners (English Learners) · action 3.8 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $49,597 is state funding counted toward those services$0.1 million
  • Meeting the Needs of Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) · action 3.9 · p. 94 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Highly Qualified Teachers for Maintaining Class Size Agreements and Special Programs · $10.6 million → $10.6 million · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • District-level Instructional Support Staff · $2.9 million → $2.9 million · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Academic Intervention · $1.7 million → $1.7 million · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Professional Development for Academic Instruction · $1.7 million → $1.7 million · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Student Progress Monitoring · $463,483 → $463,483 · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Supplemental Digital Platforms · $322,865 → $322,865 · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Standards Based Instruction · $285,926 → $285,926 · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Meeting the Needs of Multilingual Learners (English Learners) · $66,419 → $66,419 · p. 94 ↗unchanged
  • Meeting the Needs of Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) · $1 → $1 · p. 94 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 10 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 59 ↗.

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, 5,450 students
1. Hispanic or Latino: 87%2. White: 5%3. Two or more races: 3%4. Filipino: 2%5. Black or African American: 2%6. Not reported: <1%7. Asian: <1%8. Pacific Islander: <1%9. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. Hispanic or Latino87%
  2. White5%
  3. Two or more races3%
  4. Filipino2%
  5. Black or African American2%
  6. Not reported<1%
  7. Asian<1%
  8. Pacific Islander<1%
  9. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.

Free or reduced-price meals

69%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 3,739 of 5,448 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?

South Bay Union 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, 49% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (569 of 1,173 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

1 school getting state support, 2025–26

Oneonta Elementary (Targeted support)

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗ · School support (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (6)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in South Bay Union rank highest?

Elementary: Nestor Language Academy Charter, 77th percentile (Strong). Middle: Nestor Language Academy Charter, 71st percentile (Solid). 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 South Bay Union 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 South Bay Union good?

South Bay Union’s 10 public elementary schools run from the 6th to the 77th percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 5 Developing and 4 Needs Support. South Bay Union’s 2 public middle schools run from the 11th to the 71st percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Solid and 1 Needs Support. 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 South Bay Union compare with California?

The average elementary school in South Bay Union had 23 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 South Bay Union spend per student?

South Bay Union spent $27,937 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every South Bay Union 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 South Bay Union’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $69.5 million into 20 funded actions in 3 goals, 68% of its $101.5 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $28.4 million, 41% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.

Where do these results come from?

California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2026 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 South Bay Union, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

View CDE data ↗ (opens in a new tab)How Scope Scores work →

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.