Summary:
North Monterey County Unified has eight schools serving 4,289 students: four elementary schools, one middle school and three high schools, including independent-study and continuation schools. The schools’ 2025–2026 all-grades averages were 29% in ELA, 20% in math and 19% in science, compared with statewide rates of 49%, 38% and 36%. The averages conceal wide differences between schools, and all three fall below state levels—the clearest overall takeaway for families.
North Monterey County High leads all-grades ELA at 58%, ahead of Castroville Elementary at 37%; its result is 8 percentage points above the state. North Monterey County Center for Independent Study leads math and science at 33% in each, though its math lead over Castroville (31%) is just 3 points. Central Bay is lowest in all three subjects: Central Bay High (Continuation) reports 0% in ELA, 0% in math and 7% in science. Among elementary schools, Castroville leads overall in ELA and math, but Prunedale Elementary leads grade-five science.
Average ELA and math results improved from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, by 2 and 4 percentage points, while science was essentially unchanged; because the state’s science rate rose, the schools’ average science gap widened by 3 points. Individual schools moved differently: Independent Study’s ELA rose 11 points, while Echo Valley Elementary fell 3 points. SchoolDigger rankings also improved over three years at Castroville, from the 12th to the 36th percentile, and Independent Study, from the 37th to the 48th. Among seven schools reporting free/reduced lunch eligible figures for 2024–2025, results ranged from 83% to 91%; Central Bay instead reported that 65% of students were directly certified for free meals that year. These figures are context, not an explanation of test results.
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