Monterey County Schools & Education
Monterey County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
54/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
86.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,795
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
54/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#32
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Monterey County
Measured School Summary
Monterey County performs at an average level with a school score of 54/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.8%.
Funding Context
Monterey County spends $8,795 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 3% below the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Monterey County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
151 public schools and 34 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
54/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #32 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
86.8%
0.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,795
roughly matches the state average
School coverage
151
34 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Monterey County has 151 public schools across 34 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Monterey County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Monterey County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#32
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 1 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 95% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Salinas Union High
Middle and high visible
16,236 students
12 listed schools in this county slice.
Monterey Peninsula Unified
Elementary to high school visible
9,227 students
21 listed schools in this county slice.
Salinas City Elementary
Elementary school only in this slice
8,273 students
15 listed schools in this county slice.
Alisal Union
Elementary school only in this slice
7,509 students
13 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Monterey Peninsula Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 21 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Monterey County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Monterey County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Monterey County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Vast Network of Monterey Schools
Monterey County supports a massive educational framework of 151 public schools serving 75,189 students across 34 districts. This includes 84 elementary schools and 31 high schools, reflecting the significant geographic and population diversity of the Central Coast.
Major Districts and Charter Options
Monterey Peninsula Unified is the largest district with 9,227 students, followed closely by Salinas City Elementary. Charter schools represent a modest part of the landscape, with 8 schools making up 5.3% of the total county count.
From Urban Centers to Rural Valleys
Attending school here varies by locale, with 50 suburban and 45 urban campuses complementing 27 rural schools. The average school size is 533 students, though Alisal High operates at a much larger scale with 2,852 enrolled.
School Overview
Total Schools
151
in Monterey County
Reported Enrollment
75,189
143 schools reporting
School Districts
34
districts
Charter Schools
8
5% of total
School Level Breakdown
34 School Districts in Monterey County
Salinas Union High
GuideMonterey Peninsula Unified
GuideSalinas City Elementary
GuideAlisal Union
GuideSoledad Unified
GuideNorth Monterey County Unified
GuideGreenfield Union Elementary
GuideSanta Rita Union Elementary
South Monterey County Joint Union High
King City Union
151 Public Schools in Monterey County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 15 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 151 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alisal High | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93905City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,852 |
| Salinas High | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93901City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,567 |
| Everett Alvarez High | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93906City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,146 |
| North Salinas High | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93906City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,112 |
| Rancho San Juan High | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93901Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,699 |
| Soledad High | Profile | Soledad Unified | Soledad, 93960Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,534 |
| Monterey High | Profile | Monterey Peninsula Unified | Monterey, 93940Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,399 |
| Greenfield High | Profile | South Monterey County Joint Union High | Greenfield, 93927Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,384 |
| North Monterey County High | Profile | North Monterey County Unified | Castroville, 95012Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,286 |
| King City High | Profile | South Monterey County Joint Union High | King City, 93930Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,227 |
| La Paz Middle | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93905City: Midsize | 7–8 | Middle | 1,148 |
| Seaside High | Profile | Monterey Peninsula Unified | Seaside, 93955Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,130 |
| Harden Middle | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93906City: Midsize | 7–8 | Middle | 1,096 |
| Washington Middle | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93901City: Midsize | 7–8 | Middle | 1,067 |
| El Sausal Middle | Profile | Salinas Union High | Salinas, 93905City: Midsize | 7–8 | Middle | 1,035 |
| Sherwood Elementary | Record | Salinas City Elementary | Salinas, 93905City: Midsize | KG–6 | Primary | 911 |
| Chalone Peaks Middle | Record | King City Union | King City, 93930Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 887 |
| Carmel High | Record | Carmel Unified | Carmel, 93922Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 858 |
| La Gloria Elementary | Record | Gonzales Unified | Gonzales, 93926Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 840 |
| Monte Bella Elementary | Record | Alisal Union | Salinas, 93905Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 837 |
Alisal High
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93905 / City: Midsize
Salinas High
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93901 / City: Midsize
Everett Alvarez High
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93906 / City: Midsize
North Salinas High
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93906 / City: Midsize
Rancho San Juan High
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93901 / Rural: Fringe
Soledad High
Soledad Unified
Soledad, 93960 / Town: Distant
Monterey High
Monterey Peninsula Unified
Monterey, 93940 / Suburb: Midsize
Greenfield High
South Monterey County Joint Union High
Greenfield, 93927 / Town: Distant
North Monterey County High
North Monterey County Unified
Castroville, 95012 / Suburb: Midsize
King City High
South Monterey County Joint Union High
King City, 93930 / Town: Remote
La Paz Middle
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93905 / City: Midsize
Seaside High
Monterey Peninsula Unified
Seaside, 93955 / Suburb: Midsize
Harden Middle
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93906 / City: Midsize
Washington Middle
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93901 / City: Midsize
El Sausal Middle
Salinas Union High
Salinas, 93905 / City: Midsize
Sherwood Elementary
Salinas City Elementary
Salinas, 93905 / City: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,795
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Monterey County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in Monterey County?
What is the graduation rate in Monterey County?
How much does Monterey County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Monterey County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Monterey County, California?
Monterey County supports a massive educational framework of 151 public schools serving 75,189 students across 34 districts. This includes 84 elementary schools and 31 high schools, reflecting the significant geographic and population diversity of the Central Coast.
What are the major school districts in Monterey County, California?
Monterey Peninsula Unified is the largest district with 9,227 students, followed closely by Salinas City Elementary. Charter schools represent a modest part of the landscape, with 8 schools making up 5.3% of the total county count.
What is the school experience like in Monterey County?
Attending school here varies by locale, with 50 suburban and 45 urban campuses complementing 27 rural schools. The average school size is 533 students, though Alisal High operates at a much larger scale with 2,852 enrolled.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.