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Very Good

#2334 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 25% 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

7.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#2,334 of 9,539

In Pismo Beach

#1 of 2

public schools

In district

#3 of 19

Lucia Mar Unified

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Shell Beach Elementary

7.6/10

Elementary School in Pismo Beach · grades Kindergarten – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Judkins Middle

7.1/10

2.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Bellevue-santa Fe Charter

7.1/10

3.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Shell Beach Elementary

Shell Beach Elementary is a public elementary school in Pismo Beach, CA, part of Lucia Mar Unified. Shell Beach Elementary serves approximately 347 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Shell Beach Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,334 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Shell Beach Elementary show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 7.6 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.3
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Shell Beach Elementary runs 20.4:1 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 metrics
Student Progress6.5Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.31 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics9.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+16.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+29.2 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+12.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
Resources & Environment7.9Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,858
Chronic Absenteeism19%

Shell Beach Elementary — Students at Shell Beach Elementary score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

35.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 64.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
38.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 70.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.4% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
83%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
85%
ELA
78%
2014
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2015
Math
53%
ELA
66%
2016
Math
55%
ELA
63%
2017
Math
45%
ELA
69%
2018
Math
54%
ELA
70%
2019
Math
54%
ELA
70%
2022
Math
65.2%
ELA
63.9%
2024
Math
62.2%
ELA
71.6%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.5/10.

How Shell Beach Elementary Compares

See how Shell Beach Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
76th percentile in CA
Academic
9.1/10
Excellent
Growth
6.5/10
Average
Environment
7.9/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
35%
Teaching Staff
20:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
19.0%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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. Ocean View Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 5.1 miles away, in nearby Arroyo Grande), which scores slightly higher. Another option is C L Smith Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby San Luis Obispo), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Los Ranchos Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 5.3 miles away, in nearby San Luis Obispo), which scores slightly higher. 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 7.1
Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter San Luis Obispo 3.1 mi 7.1
Grover Heights Elementary Grover Beach 4.0 mi 5.6
Grover Beach Elementary Grover Beach 4.4 mi 4.5
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 7.9
Ocean View Elementary Arroyo Grande 5.1 mi 8.6
Oceano Elementary Oceano 5.4 mi 6.8
Fairgrove Elementary Grover Beach 5.5 mi 7.0
ST PATRICKS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Arroyo Grande 5.4 mi 5.0
Pacific Beach High San Luis Obispo 6.5 mi 7.0
ARROYO GRANDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Arroyo Grande 5.8 mi
Harloe Elementary Arroyo Grande 5.9 mi 6.7
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 8.4
Laguna Middle San Luis Obispo 7.3 mi 8.8
Arroyo Grande High Arroyo Grande 6.3 mi 6.6

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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
A. L. Conner Elementary Orange Cove, CA 7.6
Abram Agnew Elementary San Jose, CA 7.6
Birch Grove Intermediate Newark, CA 7.6
Bowers Elementary Santa Clara, CA 7.6
Cadwallader Elementary San Jose, CA 7.6
California Creative Learning Academy Los Angeles, CA 7.6

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 ranks #2,334 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Shell Beach Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Shell Beach Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Shell Beach Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Shell Beach Elementary has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
54 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.0%

District

Lucia Mar Unified
District Enrollment
9,621
Schools in District
19
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,858
District Rank
#3 of 19

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