San Luis Coastal Unified School District
School District · San Luis Obispo, California
Avg Rating
8.1
out of 10
Schools
16
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,117
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.8:1
Avg Rating
8.1
out of 10
Schools
16
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,117
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.8:1
Evaluating San Luis Coastal Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge San Luis Coastal 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.
Monarch Grove Elementary
Los Osos · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Laguna Middle
San Luis Obispo · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Los Osos Middle
Los Osos · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#50 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.8
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,117
+$470 vs California median
District size
7,577 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
San Luis Coastal Unified ranks #50 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. San Luis Coastal Unified's schools with real test data average 8.1/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Monarch Grove Elementary (8.9/10), Laguna Middle (8.8/10), and Los Osos Middle (8.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.9/10 despite 45% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.8 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 San Luis Coastal Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Luis Coastal Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Luis Coastal Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (15 of 16). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monarch Grove Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Laguna Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Los Osos Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Hawthorne Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 5 | C L Smith Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Sinsheimer Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Del Mar Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Teach Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Baywood Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Morro Bay High | 7.9 / 10 |
See all 16 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About San Luis Coastal Unified
San Luis Coastal Unified is a San Luis Obispo, California school district serving 16 schools. The district educates 7,577 students with a student-teacher ratio of 20.8:1. The district invests $18,117 per student annually.
With an average rating of 8.1/10, San Luis Coastal Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Monarch Grove Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, San Luis Coastal Unified students show an average math proficiency of 59.1% and ELA proficiency of 64.3%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in San Luis Coastal Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in San Luis Coastal Unified with test data.
Schools in San Luis Coastal Unified
16 schools Elementary Schools 9
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 3
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- San Luis Obispo
- Total Enrollment
- 7,577
- Teachers (FTE)
- 364
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in San Luis Coastal Unified?
San Luis Coastal Unified has 16 schools in total — 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for San Luis Coastal Unified?
The average composite rating for San Luis Coastal Unified is 8.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in San Luis Coastal Unified?
San Luis Coastal Unified spends $18,117 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in San Luis Coastal Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in San Luis Coastal Unified is 20.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in San Luis Coastal Unified?
Monarch Grove Elementary is the highest-rated school in San Luis Coastal Unified with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in San Luis Coastal Unified?
Across schools in San Luis Coastal Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 59.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 64.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does San Luis Coastal Unified compare to other districts in California?
San Luis Coastal Unified has an average school rating of 8.1/10 across 16 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
- 8.1/10
- Math Proficiency
- 59.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 64.3%
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 San Luis Coastal 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.