North Monterey County Unified School District
School District · Castroville, California
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
4,435
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Avg Rating
6.0
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
4,435
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
How this district compares
California rank
#464 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$20,402
+$2,755 vs California median
District size
4,435 students
Larger than California median
The short answer
North Monterey County Unified ranks #464 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. North Monterey County Unified's schools with real test data average 6.0/10 across 7 schools. Its top-rated schools are Castroville Elementary (7.8/10), North Monterey County Center for Independent Study (6.6/10), and North Monterey County High (6.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among North Monterey County Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in North Monterey County Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (7 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castroville Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | North Monterey County Center for Independent Study | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | North Monterey County High | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Elkhorn Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Prunedale Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Echo Valley Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
| 7 | North Monterey County Middle | 4.6 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About North Monterey County Unified
North Monterey County Unified is a Castroville, California school district serving 8 schools.The district educates 4,435 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. District-level spending was $20,402 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.0/10, North Monterey County Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Castroville Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.8/10.
In standardized testing, North Monterey County Unified students show an average math proficiency of 21.9% and ELA proficiency of 30.0%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in North Monterey County Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in North Monterey County Unified with test data.
Schools in North Monterey County Unified
8 schoolsElementary Schools4
Middle Schools1
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Castroville
- Total Enrollment
- 4,435
- Teachers (FTE)
- 202
- District spending per student
- $20,402NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 16.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in North Monterey County Unified?
North Monterey County Unified has 8 schools in total — 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for North Monterey County Unified?
The average composite rating for North Monterey County Unified is 6.0/10. 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 North Monterey County Unified?
North Monterey County Unified's district-level spending was $20,402 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 North Monterey County Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in North Monterey County Unified is 22:1.
What is the top-rated school in North Monterey County Unified?
Castroville Elementary is the highest-rated school in North Monterey County Unified with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What are the test scores in North Monterey County Unified?
Across schools in North Monterey County Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 21.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 30.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does North Monterey County Unified compare to other districts in California?
North Monterey County Unified has an average school rating of 6.0/10 across 8 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
- 6.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 21.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 30.0%
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 North Monterey County 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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