📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 10 Rated Districts in San Luis Obispo County, CA
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | San Luis Coastal Unified School District | San Luis Obispo | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #2 | Cayucos Elementary School District | Cayucos | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #3 | Pleasant Valley Joint Union Elementary School District | San Miguel | 8/10 Good | 79th |
| #4 | Templeton Unified School District | Templeton | 8/10 Good | 73rd |
| #5 | Lucia Mar Unified School District | Arroyo Grande | 7/10 Good | 67th |
| #6 | Atascadero Unified School District | Atascadero | 7/10 Good | 63rd |
| #7 | Paso Robles Joint Unified School District | Paso Robles | 5/10 Average | 49th |
| #8 | San Miguel Joint Union Elementary School District | San Miguel | 5/10 Average | 49th |
| #9 | Coast Unified School District | Cambria | 5/10 Average | 40th |
| #10 | Shandon Joint Unified School District | Shandon | 2/10 Poor | 12th |
Best School Districts in San Luis Obispo County, California (2026)
This page lists the 10 public school districts headquartered in San Luis Obispo County, California that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using CAASPP 2023–24 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in California, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in San Luis Obispo County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in San Luis Obispo County, California? ▼
Among the 10 rated districts in San Luis Obispo County, California, the highest-rated is San Luis Coastal Unified School District (San Luis Obispo), rated 9/10 (Excellent) and in the 88th percentile of California districts on CAASPP 2023–24 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in California and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.