San Luis Obispo County Schools & Education
San Luis Obispo County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,172
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#13
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: San Luis Obispo County
Measured School Summary
San Luis Obispo County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.5%.
Funding Context
San Luis Obispo County spends $8,172 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 17% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read San Luis Obispo 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
83 public schools and 12 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
64/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #13 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
91.5%
4.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,172
$590 below the state average
School coverage
83
12 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
San Luis Obispo County has 83 public schools across 12 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 San Luis Obispo 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
San Luis Obispo 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
#13
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% 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.
Lucia Mar Unified
Elementary to high school visible
9,590 students
19 listed schools in this county slice.
San Luis Coastal Unified
Elementary to high school visible
7,555 students
16 listed schools in this county slice.
Paso Robles Joint Unified
Elementary to high school visible
6,339 students
13 listed schools in this county slice.
Atascadero Unified
Elementary to high school visible
4,293 students
12 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Lucia Mar Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 19 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 San Luis Obispo County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo 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.
Intimate school settings on the Central Coast
San Luis Obispo County manages 83 public schools serving 32,598 students through 12 districts. The system is characterized by smaller campuses, including 45 elementary and 22 high schools.
Lucia Mar and San Luis Coastal leads
Lucia Mar Unified is the largest district, serving 9,590 students across 19 schools. Charter schools are rare here, making up less than 4% of the county's total educational infrastructure.
Small-town feel with mid-sized high schools
The average school size is just 398 students, the smallest among its neighbors, fostering a tight-knit community feel. While Paso Robles High serves 2,093 students, most of the county's 29 suburban and 17 rural schools are much smaller.
School Overview
Total Schools
83
in San Luis Obispo County
Reported Enrollment
32,598
82 schools reporting
School Districts
12
districts
Charter Schools
3
4% of total
School Level Breakdown
12 School Districts in San Luis Obispo County
Lucia Mar Unified
GuideSan Luis Coastal Unified
GuidePaso Robles Joint Unified
GuideAtascadero Unified
GuideTempleton Unified
San Miguel Joint Union
Coast Unified
Almond Acres Charter Academy District
San Luis Obispo County Office of Education
Cayucos Elementary
83 Public Schools in San Luis Obispo County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 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 83 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paso Robles High | Profile | Paso Robles Joint Unified | Paso Robles, 93447City: Small | 9–12 | High | 2,093 |
| Arroyo Grande High | Profile | Lucia Mar Unified | Arroyo Grande, 93420Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,991 |
| San Luis Obispo High | Profile | San Luis Coastal Unified | San Luis Obispo, 93401City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,644 |
| Atascadero High | Profile | Atascadero Unified | Atascadero, 93422Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,173 |
| Nipomo High | Record | Lucia Mar Unified | Nipomo, 93444Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 891 |
| Atascadero Middle | Record | Atascadero Unified | Atascadero, 93422Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 835 |
| Morro Bay High | Record | San Luis Coastal Unified | Morro Bay, 93442Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 795 |
| Laguna Middle | Record | San Luis Coastal Unified | San Luis Obispo, 93405City: Small | 7–8 | Middle | 789 |
| Templeton High | Record | Templeton Unified | Templeton, 93465Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 775 |
| Daniel Lewis Middle | Record | Paso Robles Joint Unified | Paso Robles, 93447City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 665 |
| George H. Flamson Middle | Record | Paso Robles Joint Unified | Paso Robles, 93447City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 653 |
| Georgia Brown Dual Immersion Magnet Elementary | Record | Paso Robles Joint Unified | Paso Robles, 93447City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 624 |
| Dana Elementary | Record | Lucia Mar Unified | Nipomo, 93444Town: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 600 |
| Lange (Dorothea) Elementary | Record | Lucia Mar Unified | Nipomo, 93444Town: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 594 |
| Harloe Elementary | Record | Lucia Mar Unified | Arroyo Grande, 93420Suburb: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 581 |
| Los Osos Middle | Record | San Luis Coastal Unified | Los Osos, 93402Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 539 |
| Paulding Middle | Record | Lucia Mar Unified | Arroyo Grande, 93420Suburb: Small | 7–8 | Middle | 536 |
| Ocean View Elementary | Record | Lucia Mar Unified | Arroyo Grande, 93420Suburb: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 525 |
| Pacheco Elementary | Record | San Luis Coastal Unified | San Luis Obispo, 93405City: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 482 |
| Templeton Middle | Record | Templeton Unified | Templeton, 93465Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 475 |
Paso Robles High
Paso Robles Joint Unified
Paso Robles, 93447 / City: Small
Arroyo Grande High
Lucia Mar Unified
Arroyo Grande, 93420 / Suburb: Small
San Luis Obispo High
San Luis Coastal Unified
San Luis Obispo, 93401 / City: Small
Atascadero High
Atascadero Unified
Atascadero, 93422 / Suburb: Small
Laguna Middle
San Luis Coastal Unified
San Luis Obispo, 93405 / City: Small
Daniel Lewis Middle
Paso Robles Joint Unified
Paso Robles, 93447 / City: Small
George H. Flamson Middle
Paso Robles Joint Unified
Paso Robles, 93447 / City: Small
Georgia Brown Dual Immersion Magnet Elementary
Paso Robles Joint Unified
Paso Robles, 93447 / City: Small
Lange (Dorothea) Elementary
Lucia Mar Unified
Nipomo, 93444 / Town: Fringe
Ocean View Elementary
Lucia Mar Unified
Arroyo Grande, 93420 / Suburb: Small
Pacheco Elementary
San Luis Coastal Unified
San Luis Obispo, 93405 / City: Small
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,172
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review San Luis Obispo County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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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 San Luis Obispo County?
What is the graduation rate in San Luis Obispo County?
How much does San Luis Obispo County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in San Luis Obispo County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in San Luis Obispo County, California?
San Luis Obispo County manages 83 public schools serving 32,598 students through 12 districts. The system is characterized by smaller campuses, including 45 elementary and 22 high schools.
What are the major school districts in San Luis Obispo County, California?
Lucia Mar Unified is the largest district, serving 9,590 students across 19 schools. Charter schools are rare here, making up less than 4% of the county's total educational infrastructure.
What is the school experience like in San Luis Obispo County?
The average school size is just 398 students, the smallest among its neighbors, fostering a tight-knit community feel. While Paso Robles High serves 2,093 students, most of the county's 29 suburban and 17 rural schools are much smaller.
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.