Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Arroyo Grande

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
2012-04-06 04-08 Big Sur 130 Arroyo Grande (7089817179)Photo: Allie_Caulfield · CC BY 2.0
B+
Schools in Arroyo Grande · Lucia Mar Unified School District

Arroyo Grande’s public schools outscore 68% of California districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Arroyo Grande, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#267of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
50%
▲ 3 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▼ 0 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 7 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.5K
▼ 17% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.7
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
3,722 students on the public path
In brief

Arroyo Grande’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 571 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Arroyo Grande’s, its schools beat 73%, higher than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 50% and math 33% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,507 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Paulding Middle, then Arroyo Grande High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Patricks Catholic School (private), Valley View Adventist Junior Academy (private) and Arroyo Grande Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Arroyo Grande’s grade

B+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 68% of California school districts, #267 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (571)Better than 73%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,969 test results and a graduating class of 829 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Arroyo Grande’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,969 in math, 4,969 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Arroyo Grande, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–62 schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
7–8Paulding MiddleLucia Mar Unified School DistrictNo scores
9–12Arroyo Grande HighLucia Mar Unified School DistrictNo scores

Arroyo Grande’s public schools are run by Lucia Mar Unified School District, which also serves Grover Beach and Pismo Beach. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Lucia Mar Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 19 schools · 9,590 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 19.7 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$17,507CA $21,206 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading50%
State average 46.7% · 4969 students tested
Math33%
State average 33.1% · 4969 students tested

Arroyo Grande vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Arroyo Grande’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Arroyo GrandeB+Lucia Mar Unified
Grover BeachB+Lucia Mar Unified
Pismo BeachB+Lucia Mar Unified

All 2 neighbors share Lucia Mar Unified with Arroyo Grande, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Arroyo Grande

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Arroyo Grandeby address
Harloe Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
619 students23:1Rate it →
Ocean View Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
547 students22:1Rate it →
Paulding Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8
544 students20:1Rate it →
Arroyo Grande High
High · Grades 9–12
2,012 students21:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Patricks Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
294 students23:1Rate it →
Valley View Adventist Junior Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
55 students10:1Rate it →
Arroyo Grande Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
23 students6:1Rate it →

Questions about Arroyo Grande’s schools

Are Arroyo Grande’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Arroyo Grande children attend outscore 68% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #267 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 73%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Arroyo Grande in?

Lucia Mar Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 9,590 students in 19 schools (2024–25).

Where do Arroyo Grande kids go to high school?

Arroyo Grande High, with 2,012 students.

What is Arroyo Grande’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Lucia Mar Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Arroyo Grande spend per student?

$17,507 in Lucia Mar Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Arroyo Grande?

Yes: St. Patricks Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 294 students), Valley View Adventist Junior Academy (religious, grades K–8, 55 students) and Arroyo Grande Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 23 students).

Parents talk

What Arroyo Grande families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Arroyo Grande → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.