Atascadero Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Atascadero Unified

Atascadero Unified serves a geographically spread district that spans the southern reach of San Luis Obispo County, from the small communities of Creston and Santa Margarita in the south to Atascadero proper and areas farther out. The district enrolls students across twelve schools, ranging from elementary through two high schools, with a total enrollment across the full kindergarten-through-twelve band.

Academic performance across the district sits in a steady middle ground. In English language arts, proficiency hovers just above half across the grades tested, with upper elementary grades showing fractionally stronger outcomes than middle school. Math proficiency runs lower, clustering in the mid-to-low range through the elementary years and declining further in grades six through eight. Science proficiency is the softest area, with less than half the students meeting standard in the tested grades. The district's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among San Luis Obispo County's districts, though that reflects a broad view; the numbers show room for strengthening, particularly in mathematics and science.

The student body is majority white, with a substantial Hispanic population representing nearly a third of enrollment. Asian, Black, and multiracial students each represent smaller but meaningful shares. Free-and-reduced-price lunch counts and English learner populations were not available in the data, so families seeking clarity on economic diversity or English support structures may want to ask the district directly.

A notable concern is chronic absenteeism, which runs considerably higher in Atascadero than in most peer districts in the county. At above one in four students missing significant school days, this represents a real challenge to learning continuity and is worth understanding as you consider the district's environment and support systems.

The housing market in the Atascadero area is substantial, with median home values well above national benchmarks. Rental availability is more limited. Per-pupil current spending in the district falls in the lower-to-middle range among county peers, suggesting tighter resource allocation than some neighbors.

A substantive recent development affects families moving in: voters approved a facilities bond in November 2024, the second attempt after an earlier measure failed four years prior. The approved bond funds renovation of vocational and career technical labs, expanded STEAM and robotics classrooms, and infrastructure repairs across campuses. It does carry an ongoing property tax increase that families in the district bear. This signals district commitment to modernizing technical education and physical plant, though the delayed capital timeline (spanning from the 2020 rejection through 2024 approval) means facilities upgrades will be rolling out over coming years rather than complete now.

The district comprises Atascadero High and Paloma Creek High as secondary options, along with a Fine Arts Academy and other specialized pathways. The breadth of school choices within the district boundary is a characteristic families in more rural or spread-out county areas may appreciate compared to single-option districts elsewhere in the region.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,338

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 30%

Black 1%

White 60%

Asian 2%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

40%

—

Gr 3

41%

59%

Gr 4

38%

67%

Gr 5

40%

67%

Gr 6

36%

63%

Gr 7

44%

59%

Gr 8

38%

61%

Gr 11

43%

—

Math

Gr ALL

30%

—

Gr 3

43%

66%

Gr 4

29%

57%

Gr 5

35%

59%

Gr 6

28%

49%

Gr 7

29%

42%

Gr 8

24%

44%

Gr 11

19%

—

Science

Gr ALL

12%

—

Gr 5

32%

51%

Gr 8

27%

43%

Gr 11

26%

—

Gr HS

28%

—

Gr UG_SEC

26%

—

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Atascadero High

Atascadero Middle

Carrisa Plains Elementary

Creston Elementary

Monterey Road Elementary

Santa Margarita Elementary

Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy

San Benito Elementary

Paloma Creek High

Fine Arts Academy

San Gabriel Elementary

Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (ACE)

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

54%

Grade 3

41%

Grade 4

48%

Grade 5

39%

Grade 6

36%

Grade 7

35%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

52%

Grade 4

55%

Grade 5

50%

Grade 6

52%

Grade 7

51%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

42%

Grade 5

36%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

63%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$772,180

Year-over-year change+1.3%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$182K to $1.3M

vs. state typical0.99x

vs. national typical2.10x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93453	Creston	$753K	+1.4%	76.9%
93432	Creston	$977K	+0.7%	10.9%
93422	Atascadero	$785K	+2.6%	8.0%
93446	Paso Robles	$774K	+1.3%	1.6%
93254	New Cuyama	$286K	-4.7%	1.1%
93252	Maricopa	$182K	-5.0%	0.8%
93420	Arroyo Grande	$1.0M	-0.5%	0.4%
93442	Morro Bay	$958K	-0.8%	0.1%
93405	San Luis Obispo	$1.1M	+3.2%	0.1%
93401	San Luis Obispo	$1.1M	+1.4%	0.0%
93430	Cayucos	$1.3M	-0.4%	0.0%
93465	Templeton	$990K	+1.6%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,490/mo

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$2,443 to $3,995/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93422	Atascadero	$2,443	+2.5%	8.0%
93446	Paso Robles	$2,528	-1.8%	1.6%
93420	Arroyo Grande	$2,886	—	0.4%
93442	Morro Bay	$2,507	+9.9%	0.1%
93405	San Luis Obispo	$3,995	+8.1%	0.1%
93401	San Luis Obispo	$3,087	+3.2%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,896/mo

Home price / national median income9.2x

Annual rent / national median income35.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,406/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.