Excellent
#459 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 5% in state
Shell Beach Elementary
Elementary School · Lucia Mar Unified
2100 Shell Beach Rd., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Enrollment
347
Student-Teacher
20.4:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
347
Student-Teacher
20.4:1
Score
8.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Pismo Beach
#1 of 2
public schools
California elementary schools
#344 of 5,817
In district
#2 of 19
Lucia Mar Unified
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Shell Beach Elementary
Shell Beach Elementary is a public elementary school in Pismo Beach, CA, part of the Lucia Mar Unified. The school serves approximately 347 students in grades Kindergarten – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 20.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 95.2th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 61% proficiency in math, 22 points above the state average and 71% in reading/language arts, 26 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $112,913, where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a small suburban setting.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Shell Beach Elementary is 20.4:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
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Shell Beach Elementary — Students at Shell Beach Elementary score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
35.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 12 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.3/10.
How Shell Beach Elementary Compares
See how Shell Beach Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 54% (2019) to 62.44% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 70% (2019) to 71.96% (2024).
Location
2100 Shell Beach Rd., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Shell Beach Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. C L Smith Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby San Luis Obispo), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Fairgrove Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 5.5 miles away, in nearby Grover Beach), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Ocean View Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 5.1 miles away, in nearby Arroyo Grande), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Pismo Beach, see our Pismo Beach schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Judkins Middle Pismo Beach | 2.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter San Luis Obispo | 3.1 mi | 6.0 |
| Grover Heights Elementary Grover Beach | 4.0 mi | 6.6 |
| Grover Beach Elementary Grover Beach | 4.4 mi | 3.7 |
| COASTAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Pismo Beach | 4.3 mi | 4.6 |
| DANDY LION MONTESSORI SCHOOL Grover Beach | 4.6 mi | — |
| MONTESSORI CHILDRENS SCHOOL San Luis Obispo | 5.7 mi | 4.9 |
| Los Ranchos Elementary San Luis Obispo | 5.3 mi | 5.9 |
| Ocean View Elementary Arroyo Grande | 5.1 mi | 8.2 |
| Oceano Elementary Oceano | 5.4 mi | 6.8 |
| Fairgrove Elementary Grover Beach | 5.5 mi | 8.6 |
| ST PATRICKS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Arroyo Grande | 5.4 mi | 5.0 |
| Pacific Beach High San Luis Obispo | 6.5 mi | 4.7 |
| ARROYO GRANDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Arroyo Grande | 5.8 mi | — |
| Harloe Elementary Arroyo Grande | 5.9 mi | 5.4 |
| Valley View Adventist School Arroyo Grande | 5.9 mi | — |
| VALLEY VIEW ADVENTIST JUNIOR ACADEMY Arroyo Grande | 5.9 mi | 6.8 |
| C L Smith Elementary San Luis Obispo | 7.1 mi | 9.0 |
| Laguna Middle San Luis Obispo | 7.3 mi | 7.1 |
| Arroyo Grande High Arroyo Grande | 6.3 mi | 8.1 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 93449 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$112,913
Median Home Value
$992,900
Median Rent
$2,298/mo
Population
8,024
College Educated
50.1%
Homeownership
67%
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Median Age
55.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Shell Beach Elementary has a median household income of $112,913. It is a well-educated community where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $992,900, with a median rent of $2,298/month. The local poverty rate of 8.1% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Adelante Charter Santa Barbara, CA | 8.7 |
| Alamo Elementary San Francisco, CA | 8.7 |
| Albert A. Michelson Elementary Avery, CA | 8.7 |
| Arminta Street Elementary North Hollywood, CA | 8.7 |
| Bowers Elementary Santa Clara, CA | 8.7 |
| Canalino Elementary Carpinteria, CA | 8.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Shell Beach Elementary
What grades does Shell Beach Elementary serve?
Shell Beach Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Shell Beach Elementary?
Shell Beach Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 347 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shell Beach Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Shell Beach Elementary is 20.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Shell Beach Elementary rank in CA?
Shell Beach Elementary is ranked #459 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Shell Beach Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Shell Beach Elementary has a composite rating of 8.7 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 Shell Beach Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Shell Beach Elementary has 60.8% math proficiency and 71.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Shell Beach Elementary a charter school?
No, Shell Beach Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Shell Beach Elementary a Title I school?
No, Shell Beach Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shell Beach Elementary?
35.4% of students at Shell Beach 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Pismo Beach). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 347
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 35.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Phone
- (805) 474-3760
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Lucia Mar Unified- District Enrollment
- 9,621
- Schools in District
- 19
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,858
- District Rank
- #2 of 19
Other Schools in This District
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
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