South Bay Union School District
School District · Imperial Beach, California
Avg Rating
3.9
out of 10
Schools
12
12 elem
Enrollment
5,595
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
Avg Rating
3.9
out of 10
Schools
12
12 elem
Enrollment
5,595
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
Evaluating South Bay Union?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge South Bay Union 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.
Emory Elementary
San Diego · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Nestor Language Academy Charter
San Diego · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Bayside Steam Academy
Imperial Beach · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#705 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-2.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$22,202
+$4,555 vs California median
District size
5,595 students
Larger than California median
The short answer
South Bay Union ranks #705 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. South Bay Union's schools with real test data average 3.9/10 across 12 schools. Its top-rated schools are Emory Elementary (5.4/10), Nestor Language Academy Charter (5.3/10), and Bayside Steam Academy (4.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 5.4/10 despite 61% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 South Bay Union schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among South Bay Union schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in South Bay Union
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (12 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Nestor Language Academy Charter | 5.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Bayside Steam Academy | 4.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Sbusd Virtual Academy | 4.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Sunnyslope Elementary | 4.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Oneonta Elementary | 4.0 / 10 |
| 7 | George Nicoloff Elementary | 3.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Imperial Beach Charter | 3.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Howard Pence Elementary | 3.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Godfrey G. Berry Elementary | 3.2 / 10 |
See all 12 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About South Bay Union
South Bay Union is a Imperial Beach, California school district serving 12 schools.The district educates 5,595 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.8:1. District-level spending was $22,202 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 3.9/10, South Bay Union has schools with varying levels of academic achievement.
The highest-rated school in the district is Emory Elementary, which has a composite score of 5.4/10.
In standardized testing, South Bay Union students show an average math proficiency of 29.2% and ELA proficiency of 34.3%.
The district includes 12 elementary schools.
District Map
Schools in South Bay Union, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in South Bay Union with test data.
Schools in South Bay Union
12 schoolsElementary Schools12
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Imperial Beach
- Total Enrollment
- 5,595
- Teachers (FTE)
- 235
- District spending per student
- $22,202NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 15.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in South Bay Union?
South Bay Union has 12 schools in total — 12 elementary. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for South Bay Union?
The average composite rating for South Bay Union is 3.9/10. 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 South Bay Union?
South Bay Union's district-level spending was $22,202 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 South Bay Union?
The average student-teacher ratio in South Bay Union is 23.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in South Bay Union?
Emory Elementary is the highest-rated school in South Bay Union with a composite score of 5.4/10.
What are the test scores in South Bay Union?
Across schools in South Bay Union with test data, the average math proficiency is 29.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 34.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does South Bay Union compare to other districts in California?
South Bay Union has an average school rating of 3.9/10 across 12 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
- 3.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 29.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 34.3%
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 South Bay Union 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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