Pacifica, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Pacifica

Pacifica is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade district serving a small coastal community in San Mateo County with enrollment of about a handful of thousand students. The district includes six elementary schools, a middle school, an independent study program, and an educational center.

On California's state assessments, Pacifica's students show proficiency rates around the halfway mark in math and slightly above in English language arts. In math, students across the district cluster in the range of roughly mid-40s to mid-50s in meeting or exceeding state standards, with a dip in the middle grades before recovering slightly by eighth grade. In English language arts, results are somewhat stronger, with fifth-grade students notably outperforming the baseline and eighth graders also performing at or above the district average. Science proficiency, which the state tests in fifth and eighth grade, sits below both math and ELA, in the low-40s range at both grade levels. These patterns place the district above the midpoint in overall proficiency when compared against the other districts in San Mateo County, though the absolute levels indicate substantial room for improvement. The fact that only one data point exists for each grade and subject reflects the recent school year; longer trend data is not yet available.

The student population is diverse. White students make up a large share, followed by Hispanic students. Asian, multiracial, and other groups are also present. The district does not report the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch or the percentage of English learners, so a reader cannot see from the available data how many students face economic hardship or language barriers at home.

Pacifica is a high-cost coastal area. Housing values and rents significantly exceed state and national medians. Rents consume more than half of the median household income for renters, and purchasing a home requires a mortgage well above typical household earnings. This housing context is relevant for families considering a move into the district: the community itself is expensive, and the district serves families across a fairly wide economic spectrum even within the San Mateo County context.

The district is currently undergoing significant structural change. In March 2024, voters approved a bond measure to upgrade aging facilities, improve accessibility, and fund affordable housing for district staff. In November 2024, voters renewed a parcel tax that will provide ongoing funding for teacher compensation and programs. Most notably, the district has begun consolidating its schools, with preparations visible in early 2025. This consolidation directly affects which schools and campuses students attend and is a material factor for families deciding where to enroll. A parent may want to look into the district's consolidation plans directly with the schools to understand how it affects elementary and middle school placement.

Chronic absenteeism in the district is notably better than the median across San Mateo County districts, which is a meaningful strength. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range compared to other districts in the county, a characteristic that reflects Pacifica's smaller enrollment base and lower overall budget relative to larger neighbors.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,737

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 27%

Black 1%

White 39%

Asian 16%

Two+ 17%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

36%

—

Gr 3

27%

50%

Gr 4

36%

60%

Gr 5

36%

63%

Gr 6

35%

60%

Gr 7

35%

60%

Gr 8

46%

60%

Math

Gr ALL

33%

—

Gr 3

40%

58%

Gr 4

42%

63%

Gr 5

28%

55%

Gr 6

24%

54%

Gr 7

25%

53%

Gr 8

34%

55%

Science

Gr 5

23%

47%

Gr 8

30%

47%

Gr HS

27%

—

Schools in this District

8 schools are officially reported under this district.

Cabrillo Elementary

Ocean Shore Elementary

Vallemar Elementary

Sunset Ridge Elementary

Ingrid B. Lacy Middle

Ortega Elementary

Pacifica Independent Home Study

Linda Mar Educational Center

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

55%

Grade 3

58%

Grade 4

50%

Grade 5

48%

Grade 6

48%

Grade 7

51%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

46%

Grade 3

54%

Grade 4

58%

Grade 5

55%

Grade 6

56%

Grade 7

58%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

42%

Grade 5

44%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

66%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.31M

Year-over-year change-1.8%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$1.2M to $3.5M

vs. state typical1.69x

vs. national typical3.55x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94044	Pacifica	$1.3M	-1.9%	94.5%
94066	San Bruno	$1.3M	+0.1%	3.7%
94010	Hillsborough	$3.5M	+5.9%	1.3%
94037	Moss Beach	$1.5M	+0.5%	0.3%
94015	Daly City	$1.2M	-0.1%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,581/mo

Year-over-year change+6.0%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$2,654 to $3,597/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94044	Pacifica	$3,597	+6.0%	94.5%
94066	San Bruno	$3,234	+5.3%	3.7%
94010	Hillsborough	$3,505	+3.3%	1.3%
94015	Daly City	$2,654	+6.8%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$6,601/mo

Home price / national median income15.6x

Annual rent / national median income51.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$3,020/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.