Summary:
Malibu, California, is served by four high-performing public schools within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified district: one high school, one middle school, and two elementary schools, all consistently ranking in the top 15-20% of California schools.
When comparing the schools, Webster Elementary and Malibu Elementary post the strongest test scores, particularly in math and science, though Webster's statewide ranking saw a notable drop this year. Malibu Middle shows very consistent performance year over year. Malibu High spends significantly more per student than the other schools but has the district's highest rate of chronic absenteeism and its math proficiency is lower than the elementary and middle school levels, a common trend as students progress in grades.
Key takeaways for parents are that all Malibu schools exceed state academic averages by a wide margin, but absenteeism increases with grade level and is a pronounced challenge at the high school. The district provides a strong educational foundation, though the relationship between high spending at the high school and its academic outcomes compared to the other schools may warrant further attention.
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