Atascadero Unified School District
School District · Atascadero, California
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
12
7 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
4,338
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.9:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
12
7 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
4,338
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.9:1
How this district compares
California rank
#576 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,963
$2,684 vs California median
District size
4,338 students
Larger than California median
The short answer
Atascadero Unified ranks #576 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Atascadero Unified's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 11 schools. Its top-rated schools are Atascadero Middle (7.5/10), Atascadero High (7.4/10), and San Benito Elementary (7.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.5/10 despite 51% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Atascadero Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +27.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Atascadero Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Atascadero Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (11 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atascadero Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Atascadero High | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | San Benito Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Santa Margarita Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | San Gabriel Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Fine Arts Academy | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Monterey Road Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Paloma Creek High | 4.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (ace) | 3.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy | 3.5 / 10 |
See all 12 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Atascadero Unified
Atascadero Unified is a Atascadero, California school district serving 12 schools.The district educates 4,338 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.9:1. District-level spending was $14,963 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Atascadero Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Atascadero Middle, which has a composite score of 7.5/10.
In standardized testing, Atascadero Unified students show an average math proficiency of 43.5% and ELA proficiency of 51.0%.
The district includes 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Atascadero Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Atascadero Unified with test data.
Schools in Atascadero Unified
12 schoolsElementary Schools7
Middle Schools2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Atascadero
- Total Enrollment
- 4,338
- Teachers (FTE)
- 198
- District spending per student
- $14,963NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Atascadero Unified?
Atascadero Unified has 12 schools in total — 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Atascadero Unified?
The average composite rating for Atascadero Unified is 5.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Atascadero Unified?
Atascadero Unified's district-level spending was $14,963 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Atascadero Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Atascadero Unified is 21.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Atascadero Unified?
Atascadero Middle is the highest-rated school in Atascadero Unified with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What are the test scores in Atascadero Unified?
Across schools in Atascadero Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 43.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 51.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Atascadero Unified compare to other districts in California?
Atascadero Unified has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 12 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 43.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 51.0%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Atascadero Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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