The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in English language arts. The lowest is 53% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Middle
Lincoln Middle sits on California Avenue in Santa Monica, serving sixth through eighth graders in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. The school draws from one of the most expensive housing markets in California, a city where median home values run well above the California statewide figure and are nearly four times the national one, and where rents follow a similar pattern. For a family relocating to Santa Monica specifically to access this school, the cost of entry is steep by almost any measure.
The academic picture is strong. On California's CAASPP assessments, Lincoln's sixth and seventh graders perform especially well in English language arts, with the large majority meeting or exceeding standards, and eighth grade ELA is solid as well. Math scores are meaningfully positive across all three grades, though somewhat lower than the ELA results, with seventh grade being the strongest of the three math cohorts. Eighth grade science, assessed via the California Science Test, shows more than half of students meeting or exceeding standards, which is a reasonable outcome but a step below the school's ELA performance. Social studies data comes only from an older statewide assessment that is no longer administered, so current social studies attainment cannot be characterized. Trend data is limited to a single year of results, so whether performance has been rising, falling, or holding steady is not determinable from what is available.
Positioned against districts across Los Angeles County, Lincoln's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile of that comparison set. That is a genuine strength for a middle school in a large, diverse county.
The student body is majority white, with Hispanic students making up the next largest group, followed by Asian, multiracial, and Black students, with small numbers from other backgrounds. Roughly a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a relatively modest share compared to many urban schools and reflects the affluent character of the surrounding community. Data on English learner rates and students with IEPs was not available in the records we reviewed.
A graduation rate does not apply here, since Lincoln serves only middle grades. AP, dual-credit, and career pathway data are similarly not applicable at this level; those opportunities would come later at Santa Monica High School.
On the district side, families should be aware of two developments. First, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified district is in the final stages of splitting in two, with Malibu schools expected to form their own independent district around fall 2026. This restructuring carries real implications for funding, because Malibu's tax base has historically contributed a disproportionate share of district revenue. A property tax revenue sharing agreement governs the transition, but how it affects Santa Monica school budgets over time is worth watching. Santa Monica voters separately passed a facilities bond in November 2024, which raises property taxes for homeowners to fund repairs and upgrades at Santa Monica schools; that bond passed and is now in effect. A real estate transfer tax approved in 2022 also directs a portion of revenue from high-value property sales to the district. The district has also integrated an American Cultures and Ethnic Studies program into high school offerings as part of a broader curriculum emphasis on ethnic studies and social justice standards, a characteristic that will matter differently to different families.
Santa Monica itself is a densely layered coastal city. The neighborhoods nearest Lincoln, including the area around California Avenue, are a mix of single-family homes and apartments. The city has good transit infrastructure, including the Metro E Line connecting to downtown Los Angeles and the city-run Big Blue Bus network. Downtown is walkable, Ocean Park and Montana Avenue are pedestrian-friendly, and inland neighborhoods require more driving. The city is also in the middle of a wave of high-density housing development driven by state mandates, so the built environment around the school is likely to shift over the next several years.
Chronic absenteeism data was not available for Lincoln, which is a gap a parent interested in school climate and attendance norms may want to raise directly with the school.
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