Lucia Mar Unified School District
School District · Arroyo Grande, California
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
19
11 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,858
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
Avg Rating
6.3
out of 10
Schools
19
11 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,858
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
Evaluating Lucia Mar Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Lucia Mar Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Ocean View Elementary
Arroyo Grande · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Central Coast New Tech High
Nipomo · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Shell Beach Elementary
Pismo Beach · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#327 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.0
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,858
$1,789 vs California median
District size
9,621 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Lucia Mar Unified ranks #327 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Lucia Mar Unified's schools with real test data average 6.3/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ocean View Elementary (8.6/10), Central Coast New Tech High (8.5/10), and Shell Beach Elementary (7.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.8/10 despite 90% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Lucia Mar Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lucia Mar Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lucia Mar Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean View Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Central Coast New Tech High | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Shell Beach Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Paulding Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Branch Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Judkins Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Fairgrove Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Oceano Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Harloe Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Arroyo Grande High | 6.6 / 10 |
See all 19 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Lucia Mar Unified
Lucia Mar Unified is a Arroyo Grande, California school district serving 19 schools. The district educates 9,621 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.5:1. The district invests $15,858 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.3/10, Lucia Mar Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Ocean View Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Lucia Mar Unified students show an average math proficiency of 44.5% and ELA proficiency of 53.2%.
The district includes 11 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Lucia Mar Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Lucia Mar Unified with test data.
Schools in Lucia Mar Unified
19 schools Elementary Schools 11
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 4
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Arroyo Grande
- Total Enrollment
- 9,621
- Teachers (FTE)
- 493
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lucia Mar Unified?
Lucia Mar Unified has 19 schools in total — 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Lucia Mar Unified?
The average composite rating for Lucia Mar Unified is 6.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Lucia Mar Unified?
Lucia Mar Unified spends $15,858 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lucia Mar Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Lucia Mar Unified is 19.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Lucia Mar Unified?
Ocean View Elementary is the highest-rated school in Lucia Mar Unified with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Lucia Mar Unified?
Across schools in Lucia Mar Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 44.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 53.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Lucia Mar Unified compare to other districts in California?
Lucia Mar Unified has an average school rating of 6.3/10 across 19 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
- 6.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 44.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 53.2%
Resources
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 Lucia Mar 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)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton 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.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.