Summary:
The Atascadero Unified school district in San Luis Obispo County serves about 4,055 students across 12 schools, from elementary through high school, ranking in the top 62nd percentile in the state.
Families will find a mix of strong and struggling schools within the district. Top performers include Monterey Road Elementary, which has the highest test scores and lowest absenteeism among elementary schools, and Atascadero High, the district's main high school with a 94% graduation rate. The unique Fine Arts Academy (grades 4-8) also excels in English and student attendance. However, Paloma Creek High faces severe challenges with attendance and graduation, while Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy has seen a recent sharp decline in its ranking.
A key issue across the district is chronic absenteeism, which is higher than the state average and is particularly acute at the high school level. Math scores also consistently lag behind English scores in nearly every school. While smaller, rural schools like Carrisa Plains Elementary receive more funding per student, the highest-achieving schools like Monterey Road operate with more moderate resources, suggesting factors beyond spending significantly impact success.
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