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BurtonDrive CambriaCAPhoto: San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conventions Bureau · Public domain
C+
Schools in Cambria · Coast Unified School District

Cambria’s public schools score below 62% of California districts on tests and graduation

Reading proficiency in Cambria’s districts is 37%, below the California average (47%). The grade covers the public school district serving Cambria, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#648of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
37%
▼ 10 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
27%
▼ 6 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Spent per student
$33.4K
▲ 57% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.2
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
473 students on the public path
In brief

Cambria’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 581 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cambria’s, its schools beat 20%, lower than their 38% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 37% of tested students were proficient in reading and 27% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $33,358 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Santa Lucia Middle, then Coast Union High. Enrollment is down 11% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Cambria’s grade

C+ Test scores

C+: better than 38% of California school districts, #648 of 847 California towns. Test scores are below the California average; there is no graduation rate to add.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 38%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (581)Better than 20%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 255 test results could put Cambria anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Cambria’s students in the tested grades sat them (255 in math, 255 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Cambria GrammarCoast Unified School DistrictC−
6–8Santa Lucia MiddleCoast Unified School DistrictC+
9–12Coast Union HighCoast Unified School DistrictB−

Cambria’s public schools are run by Coast Unified School District. 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.

Coast Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 4 schools · 478 students, down 11% since 2020–21 · 12.2 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$33,358CA $21,206 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading37%
State average 46.7% · 255 students tested
Math27%
State average 33.1% · 255 students tested

Cambria vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CambriaC+Coast Unified

Every school in Cambria

3 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 Cambriaby address
Santa Lucia Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
112 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Cambriain other towns
Cambria Grammar
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
202 students16:1Rate it →
Coast Union High
High · Grades 9–12
B−
159 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Cambria’s schools

Are Cambria’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cambria children attend score below 62% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #648 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 20%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cambria in?

Coast Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 478 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Cambria kids go to high school?

Coast Union High, with 159 students; its own test results earn a B−.

How much does Cambria spend per student?

$33,358 in Coast Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Cambria families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cambria → 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.