Very Good
#2559 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 27% in state
Branch Elementary
Elementary School · Lucia Mar Unified · Arroyo Grande, CA
A Lucia Mar Unified elementary school where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.
970 School Rd., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
- Math 66% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 78% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Branch Elementary score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 12 points since 2018, reaching 72% in 2024.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
33.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Branch Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 3Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated968/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Arroyo Grande), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$106,718
Median home value
$872,200
Median rent
$2,025/mo
College educated
43.7%
Homeownership
66.2%
Poverty rate
7.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93420; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley View Adventist Junior AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.8 | K–10 | 3.4 mi | 72 | Compare → |
| Valley View Adventist SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 3.4 mi | 45 | Compare → |
| Arroyo Grande Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 3.6 mi | 6 | Compare → |
| St Patricks Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.0 | PK–8 | 3.8 mi | 243 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Lucia Mar Unified
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #4 of 19
- District spending per student
- $15,858NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Branch Elementary is listed in Lucia Mar Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Branch Elementary
Branch Elementary is a public elementary school in Arroyo Grande, CA, part of Lucia Mar Unified, serving approximately 254 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,559 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Branch Elementary
What grades does Branch Elementary serve?
Branch Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Branch Elementary?
Branch Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 254 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Branch Elementary is 21.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Branch Elementary rank in CA?
Branch Elementary ranks #2,559 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Branch Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Branch Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Branch Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Branch Elementary has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Branch Elementary a charter school?
No, Branch Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Branch Elementary a Title I school?
No, Branch Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Branch Elementary?
33.1% of students at Branch Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 254
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.3%
- Phone
- (805) 474-3720
- Area population (ZIP 93420)
- 32,016
- Area average commute
- 22.4 min
- Area median age
- 45.4
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 93420; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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