Average
#4706 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 49% in state
Ortega Elementary
Elementary School · Pacifica · Pacifica, CA
A Pacifica elementary school where students score 17 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1283 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044
- Math 52% vs CA 39% (2024)
- Reading 46% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ortega Elementary score 49% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 16 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 49% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
14.9%
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 Ortega Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Francisco Bay Area map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 50Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 19Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,457/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Pacifica), 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
$156,658
Median home value
$1,211,700
Median rent
$3,075/mo
College educated
48.5%
Homeownership
68.4%
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94044; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacifica Independent Home StudyEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | K–8 | 1.1 mi | 19 | Compare → |
| Cabrillo ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | K–8 | 1.2 mi | 534 | Compare → |
| Vallemar ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | K–8 | 1.9 mi | 519 | Compare → |
| John Muir ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | K–5 | 2.9 mi | 427 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Pacifica
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #4 of 6
- District spending per student
- $15,430NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 4.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ortega Elementary is listed in Pacifica; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ortega Elementary
Ortega Elementary is a public elementary school in Pacifica, CA, part of Pacifica, serving approximately 402 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #4,706 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ortega Elementary
What grades does Ortega Elementary serve?
Ortega Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Ortega Elementary?
Ortega Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 402 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ortega Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ortega Elementary is 22.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ortega Elementary rank in CA?
Ortega Elementary ranks #4,706 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Ortega Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Ortega Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Ortega Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ortega Elementary has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Ortega Elementary a charter school?
No, Ortega Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ortega Elementary a Title I school?
No, Ortega Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ortega Elementary?
14.9% of students at Ortega 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 402
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- San Mateo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.6%
- Phone
- (650) 738-6670
- Area population (ZIP 94044)
- 37,540
- Area average commute
- 28.3 min
- Area median age
- 44.3
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 94044; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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