Excellent
#1027 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 11% in state
C L Smith Elementary
Elementary School · San Luis Coastal Unified
1375 Balboa St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Enrollment
484
Student-Teacher
22:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
484
Student-Teacher
22:1
Score
8.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#1,027 of 9,539
In San Luis Obispo
#3 of 13
public schools
In district
#5 of 15
San Luis Coastal Unified
Equity
9.3 / 10
Excellent
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C L Smith Elementary
Elementary School in San Luis Obispo · grades Kindergarten – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Laguna Middle
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Pacific Beach High
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About C L Smith Elementary
C L Smith Elementary is a public elementary school in San Luis Obispo, CA, part of San Luis Coastal Unified. C L Smith Elementary serves approximately 484 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 22:1 student-teacher ratio. C L Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,027 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for C L Smith Elementary show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 8.4 · Excellent
- District avg 8.1
- CA avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
C L Smith Elementary runs 22:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
C L Smith Elementary — Students at C L Smith Elementary score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
56%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 38 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.6/10.
How C L Smith Elementary Compares
See how C L Smith Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
1375 Balboa St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering C L Smith Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hawthorne Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 1.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Sinsheimer Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 2.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Pacheco Elementary (rated 7.4/10, 2.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in San Luis Obispo, see our San Luis Obispo schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Middle San Luis Obispo | 0.5 mi | 8.8 |
| Pacific Beach High San Luis Obispo | 0.6 mi | 7.0 |
| MONTESSORI CHILDRENS SCHOOL San Luis Obispo | 1.5 mi | 4.9 |
| Lindamood-Bell Academy San Luis Obispo | 1.4 mi | — |
| MISSION COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL San Luis Obispo | 1.8 mi | 6.3 |
| Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School San Luis Obispo | 1.8 mi | — |
| OLD MISSION SCHOOL San Luis Obispo | 1.9 mi | 4.8 |
| Old Mission School San Luis Obispo | 1.9 mi | — |
| Hawthorne Elementary San Luis Obispo | 1.8 mi | 8.6 |
| CHRIST CLASSICAL SCHOOL San Luis Obispo | 2.0 mi | 6.1 |
| Bishop's Peak Elementary San Luis Obispo | 2.4 mi | 7.2 |
| Pacheco Elementary San Luis Obispo | 2.5 mi | 7.4 |
| PEEP - PREPARE San Luis Obispo | 2.6 mi | — |
| ORFALEA FAMILY & ASI CHILDREN'S CENTER RM # 133 San Luis Obispo | 2.9 mi | — |
| Sinsheimer Elementary San Luis Obispo | 2.6 mi | 8.3 |
| San Luis Obispo High San Luis Obispo | 2.7 mi | 7.8 |
| San Luis Obispo Classical Academy San Luis Obispo | 3.0 mi | — |
| Teach Elementary San Luis Obispo | 3.0 mi | 8.2 |
| San Luis Obispo County Juvenile Court San Luis Obispo | 4.4 mi | — |
| Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter San Luis Obispo | 5.0 mi | 7.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 93405 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$52,481
Median Home Value
$897,800
Median Rent
$1,936/mo
Population
23,856
College Educated
52%
Homeownership
32.7%
Avg Commute
13.6 min
Poverty Rate
44.5%
Median Age
22.7
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Acacia Elementary Fullerton, CA | 8.4 |
| Ada Clegg Elementary Huntington Beach, CA | 8.4 |
| Anaheim Hills Elementary Anaheim, CA | 8.4 |
| Ashley Falls Elementary San Diego, CA | 8.4 |
| Bradley Elementary San Bernardino, CA | 8.4 |
| Braly Elementary Sunnyvale, CA | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about C L Smith Elementary
What grades does C L Smith Elementary serve?
C L Smith Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend C L Smith Elementary?
C L Smith Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 484 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at C L Smith Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at C L Smith Elementary is 22:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does C L Smith Elementary rank in CA?
C L Smith Elementary ranks #1,027 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is C L Smith Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
C L Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 C L Smith Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, C L Smith Elementary has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is C L Smith Elementary a charter school?
No, C L Smith Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is C L Smith Elementary a Title I school?
No, C L Smith Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for C L Smith Elementary?
56.0% of students at C L Smith 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 484
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 56.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.1%
- Phone
- (805) 596-4094
Resources & Links
District
San Luis Coastal Unified- District Enrollment
- 7,577
- Schools in District
- 16
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,117
- District Rank
- #5 of 15
Other Schools in This District
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