Manhattan Beach Unified School District
School District · Manhattan Beach, California
Avg Rating
8.3
out of 10
Schools
7
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
5,925
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
Avg Rating
8.3
out of 10
Schools
7
5 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
5,925
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
Evaluating Manhattan Beach Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Manhattan Beach 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.
Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary
Manhattan Beach · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Pacific Elementary
Manhattan Beach · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Manhattan Beach Middle
Manhattan Beach · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#33 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+2.1
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,115
+$468 vs California median
District size
5,925 students
Larger than California median
The short answer
Manhattan Beach Unified ranks #33 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Manhattan Beach Unified's schools with real test data average 8.3/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary (8.9/10), Pacific Elementary (8.7/10), and Manhattan Beach Middle (8.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Manhattan Beach Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Manhattan Beach Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 7). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Pacific Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Manhattan Beach Middle | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Grand View Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Meadows Avenue Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Opal Robinson Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Mira Costa High | 7.8 / 10 |
See all 7 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Manhattan Beach Unified
Manhattan Beach Unified is a Manhattan Beach, California school district serving 7 schools.The district educates 5,925 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.1:1. District-level spending was $18,115 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 8.3/10, Manhattan Beach Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, Manhattan Beach Unified students show an average math proficiency of 83.0% and ELA proficiency of 85.8%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Manhattan Beach Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Manhattan Beach Unified with test data.
Schools in Manhattan Beach Unified
7 schoolsElementary Schools5
Middle Schools1
High Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Manhattan Beach
- Total Enrollment
- 5,925
- Teachers (FTE)
- 257
- District spending per student
- $18,115NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 3.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Manhattan Beach Unified?
Manhattan Beach Unified has 7 schools in total — 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Manhattan Beach Unified?
The average composite rating for Manhattan Beach Unified is 8.3/10. 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 Manhattan Beach Unified?
Manhattan Beach Unified's district-level spending was $18,115 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 Manhattan Beach Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Manhattan Beach Unified is 23.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Manhattan Beach Unified?
Aurelia Pennekamp Elementary is the highest-rated school in Manhattan Beach Unified with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in Manhattan Beach Unified?
Across schools in Manhattan Beach Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 83.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 85.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Manhattan Beach Unified compare to other districts in California?
Manhattan Beach Unified has an average school rating of 8.3/10 across 7 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
- 8.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 83.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 85.8%
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 Manhattan Beach 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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