Very Good
#2606 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 27% in state
Half Moon Bay High
High School · Cabrillo Unified
1 Lewis Foster Dr., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Enrollment
987
Student-Teacher
19.7:1
Score
7.3
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
987
Student-Teacher
19.7:1
Score
7.3
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Half Moon Bay
#1 of 5
public schools
California high schools
#474 of 1,892
In district
#3 of 7
Cabrillo Unified
School environment
8.1 / 10
Very strong
About Half Moon Bay High
Half Moon Bay High serves 987 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19.7:1 and 50 full-time equivalent teachers. This regular public school holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #4,124 out of 9,566 California high schools, placing it in the 57th percentile statewide. Academically, the school shows mixed performance with 48% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts, while mathematics presents opportunities for growth with 31% of students meeting proficiency standards.
The school maintains an academic score of 6.1 out of 10, indicating solid foundational performance with room for continued improvement. Half Moon Bay High draws from an affluent coastal community where the median household income reaches $149,655 and home values average $1,459,500. The surrounding ZIP code of 94019 houses 15,275 residents, with 56% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low poverty rate of just 7.0%.
This educated, economically stable community provides a supportive environment for student learning. The school sits in the charming town of Half Moon Bay on the San Mateo County coast, positioned on the fringe of the greater San Francisco Bay Area's urban landscape, offering students a unique blend of small-town character and metropolitan accessibility.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Half Moon Bay High — Students at Half Moon Bay High score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
36%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 6 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.3/10.
How Half Moon Bay High Compares
See how Half Moon Bay High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 36% (2019) to 30.66% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 56% (2019) to 47.73% (2024).
Location
1 Lewis Foster Dr., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Half Moon Bay High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. West Hillsborough (rated 9.2/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Hillsborough), which scores notably higher. Another option is ODYSSEY SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 6.0 miles away, in nearby San Mateo), with a very similar rating. Additionally, WILKINSON SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby El Granada), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Half Moon Bay, see our Half Moon Bay schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| MAIN STREET SCHOLARS Half Moon Bay | 0.5 mi | — |
| Our Lady of the Pillar Academy Half Moon Bay | 0.7 mi | — |
| Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate Half Moon Bay | 0.8 mi | 6.3 |
| Pilarcitos Alternative High (Continuation) Half Moon Bay | 0.8 mi | 4.2 |
| Alvin S. Hatch Elementary Half Moon Bay | 0.9 mi | 3.9 |
| Main Street Scholars Half Moon Bay | 1.0 mi | — |
| SEA CREST SCHOOL Half Moon Bay | 1.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Sea Crest School Half Moon Bay | 1.2 mi | — |
| El Granada Elementary Half Moon Bay | 2.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Wilkinson School El Granada | 2.8 mi | — |
| WILKINSON SCHOOL El Granada | 2.8 mi | 7.1 |
| Highlands Elementary San Mateo | 5.5 mi | 6.0 |
| LA PETITE MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLC Hillsborough | 6.1 mi | — |
| West Hillsborough Hillsborough | 6.2 mi | 9.2 |
| Margaret J. Kemp Redwood City | 5.6 mi | — |
| Hillcrest at Youth Services Center Redwood City | 5.7 mi | — |
| ODYSSEY SCHOOL San Mateo | 6.0 mi | 7.5 |
| The Nueva School Hillsborough | 6.7 mi | — |
| THE NUEVA MIDDLE SCHOOL Hillsborough | 6.7 mi | 6.7 |
| Gateway Center San Mateo | 5.8 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 94019 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$153,272
Median Home Value
$1,509,300
Median Rent
$1,977/mo
Population
14,754
College Educated
53.8%
Homeownership
76%
Avg Commute
31.6 min
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Median Age
45.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Half Moon Bay High has a median household income of $153,272. It is a well-educated community where 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,509,300, with a median rent of $1,977/month. The local poverty rate of 6.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Animo Pat Brown Los Angeles, CA | 7.3 |
| Coronado High Coronado, CA | 7.3 |
| High Tech High Chula Vista San Diego, CA | 7.3 |
| James Lick High San Jose, CA | 7.3 |
| Madison High San Diego, CA | 7.3 |
| Orange Cove High Orange Cove, CA | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Half Moon Bay High
What grades does Half Moon Bay High serve?
Half Moon Bay High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Half Moon Bay High?
Half Moon Bay High has an enrollment of approximately 987 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Half Moon Bay High?
The student-teacher ratio at Half Moon Bay High is 19.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Half Moon Bay High rank in CA?
Half Moon Bay High is ranked #2606 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Half Moon Bay High's MySchoolScout rating?
Half Moon Bay High has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Half Moon Bay High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Half Moon Bay High has 32.4% math proficiency and 50.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Half Moon Bay High a charter school?
No, Half Moon Bay High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Half Moon Bay High a Title I school?
No, Half Moon Bay High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Half Moon Bay High?
36.0% of students at Half Moon Bay High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 987
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 36.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- San Mateo County
- Phone
- (650) 712-7200
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Cabrillo Unified- District Enrollment
- 2,663
- Schools in District
- 7
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,816
- District Rank
- #3 of 7
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated 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.