San Luis Coastal Unified School District
School District · San Luis Obispo, California
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
16
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
7,577
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.8:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
16
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
7,577
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.8:1
How this district compares
California rank
#309 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.1
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 #309 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. San Luis Coastal Unified's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Los Osos Middle (8.9/10), Bishop's Peak Elementary (7.8/10), and Laguna Middle (7.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.9/10 despite 55% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 | Los Osos Middle | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Bishop's Peak Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Laguna Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Morro Bay High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Sinsheimer Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Teach Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Baywood Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | C L Smith Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Del Mar Elementary | 5.7 / 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. District-level spending was $18,117 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.4/10, San Luis Coastal Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Los Osos Middle, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, San Luis Coastal Unified students show an average math proficiency of 58.4% and ELA proficiency of 64.4%.
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 schoolsElementary Schools9
Middle Schools3
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- San Luis Obispo
- Total Enrollment
- 7,577
- Teachers (FTE)
- 364
- District spending per student
- $18,117NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory 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 6.4/10. 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 San Luis Coastal Unified?
San Luis Coastal Unified's district-level spending was $18,117 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 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?
Los Osos Middle 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 58.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 64.4%. 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 6.4/10 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
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 58.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 64.4%
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)
- 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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