Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
School District · Monterey, California
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
18
10 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
9,252
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
18
10 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
9,252
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
How this district compares
California rank
#193 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.5
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,521
$126 vs California median
District size
9,252 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Monterey Peninsula Unified ranks #193 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Monterey Peninsula Unified's schools with real test data average 6.8/10 across 16 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ione Olson Elementary (8.6/10), Monte Vista (7.9/10), and Del Rey Woods Elementary (7.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.6/10 despite 65% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Monterey Peninsula Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +11.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Monterey Peninsula Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Monterey Peninsula Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (16 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ione Olson Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Monte Vista | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Del Rey Woods Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Monterey High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Seaside Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Seaside High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Los Arboles Middle | 7.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Marina Vista Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Central Coast High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Martin Luther King | 6.6 / 10 |
See all 18 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Monterey Peninsula Unified
Monterey Peninsula Unified is a Monterey, California school district serving 18 schools.The district educates 9,252 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.7:1. District-level spending was $17,521 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.8/10, Monterey Peninsula Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Ione Olson Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Monterey Peninsula Unified students show an average math proficiency of 32.3% and ELA proficiency of 40.6%.
The district includes 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Monterey Peninsula Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Monterey Peninsula Unified with test data.
Schools in Monterey Peninsula Unified
18 schoolsElementary Schools10
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Monterey
- Total Enrollment
- 9,252
- Teachers (FTE)
- 470
- District spending per student
- $17,521NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Monterey Peninsula Unified?
Monterey Peninsula Unified has 18 schools in total — 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Monterey Peninsula Unified?
The average composite rating for Monterey Peninsula Unified is 6.8/10. 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 Monterey Peninsula Unified?
Monterey Peninsula Unified's district-level spending was $17,521 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 Monterey Peninsula Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Monterey Peninsula Unified is 19.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Monterey Peninsula Unified?
Ione Olson Elementary is the highest-rated school in Monterey Peninsula Unified with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Monterey Peninsula Unified?
Across schools in Monterey Peninsula Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 32.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 40.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Monterey Peninsula Unified compare to other districts in California?
Monterey Peninsula Unified has an average school rating of 6.8/10 across 18 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
- 6.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 32.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 40.6%
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 Monterey Peninsula 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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