Best Schools in Pacifica, California
13 schools · 7 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Pacifica?
Use this page to compare every school in Pacifica by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Terra Nova High
High · Jefferson Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Oceana High
High · Jefferson Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Ortega Elementary
Elementary · Pacifica. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Pacifica for 2026 are Terra Nova High (8.0/10), Oceana High (7.7/10), and Ortega Elementary (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
13
9 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,211,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
13
9 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$1,211,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.0/10 despite 18% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Pacifica schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pacifica schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pacifica
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terra Nova High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Oceana High | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Ortega Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Vallemar Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Ingrid B. Lacy Middle | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Sunset Ridge Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Ocean Shore Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Cabrillo Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $156,658
- Median home value
- $1,211,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 49%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 68%
36% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Pacifica compares
California rank
#268 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$157k
157% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Pacifica runs 78% of Pacifica's public schools
Pacifica touches 2 districts, but Pacifica is the one most addresses actually attend.
Pacifica accounts for 7 of 9 public schools (78%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 2.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.7 to 8.0 — the spread is inside Pacifica, not a citywide average.
- Pacifica7 public · 78%
- Jefferson Union High2 public · 22%
About Schools in Pacifica, California
Pacifica, California is home to 13 schools, including 9 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.4 out of 10, schools in Pacifica show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Pacifica is Terra Nova High with a composite score of 8.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Pacifica is served by 2 school districts: Jefferson Union High, Pacifica. These districts collectively serve 6,443 students.
Pacifica's community shows 49% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $156,658. The poverty rate in the area is 6.2%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 402 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 519 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 380 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 401 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.7 | ||
| 5 | 534 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 6 | 19 students · Kindergarten–8th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 198 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 469 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 697 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 | ||
| 2 | 491 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Pacific Bay Christian SchoolPrivate 181 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 39 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spectrum Center-PeninsulaPrivate 45 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Pacifica
Pacifica, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$156,658
Median Home Value
$1,211,700
Median Rent
$3,075/mo
Population
37,540
College Educated
49%
Homeownership
68%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Community Profile
Pacifica has a median household income of $156,658. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,211,700, with a median rent of $3,075/month. The local poverty rate of 6.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
- Other
- 1
Resources
School Districts (2)
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Pacifica, California
How many schools are in Pacifica, California?
Pacifica has 13 schools, including 9 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Pacifica, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Pacifica is 6.4 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Pacifica, California?
The top-ranked school in Pacifica on MySchoolScout is Terra Nova High with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Pacifica, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Pacifica on MySchoolScout is Ortega Elementary with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Pacifica, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Pacifica on MySchoolScout is Ingrid B. Lacy Middle with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What is the best high school in Pacifica, California?
The top-ranked high school in Pacifica on MySchoolScout is Terra Nova High with a composite score of 8.0/10.
How many school districts serve Pacifica, California?
Pacifica is served by 2 school districts: Jefferson Union High, Pacifica.
What is the education level in Pacifica, California?
According to Census data, 49% of adults in Pacifica have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Pacifica, California?
The median household income in Pacifica is approximately $156,658 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Pacifica, California?
Yes, Pacifica has 4 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Pacific Bay Christian School with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pacifica, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Pacifica is 16.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Pacifica, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.