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Half Moon Bay High

Q: Is Half Moon Bay High a good school?

Half Moon Bay High ranks 1426 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

1426^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 34% of California high schools

Summary

Half Moon Bay High is a public high school serving approximately 911 students in grades 9-12 within the Cabrillo Unified School District, located in the coastal community of Half Moon Bay.

Recent data shows a significant and concerning decline in the school's academic performance, with its statewide ranking dropping sharply over the past few years to the 34th percentile. Proficiency rates in core subjects are notably low, with only about 35% of students proficient in English and 21% in math, which is substantially lower than nearby comprehensive high schools like Mills High, Burlingame High, and Carlmont High. This academic struggle is particularly pronounced for students in special education and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, whose subgroup rankings are in the bottom percentiles statewide.

Despite these academic challenges, the school excels in graduating its students, maintaining a strong 96.4% graduation rate and a low 3.2% dropout rate, which outperforms the state average and even some neighboring schools. However, chronic absenteeism is higher than at comparison schools. While per-student spending has increased, academic results have not improved, indicating a complex situation where the school successfully supports students to completion but faces significant hurdles in ensuring academic mastery, especially when compared to other schools in the San Mateo Union High and Sequoia Union High districts.

911

Students ?

18.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,992

Per pupil spending ?

25.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 Lewis Foster Dr.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

(650) 712-7200

District: Cabrillo Unified

Feeder schools for Half Moon Bay High:

Elementary:	Alvin S. Hatch Elementary
	El Granada Elementary
	Farallone View Elementary
Middle:	Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.8%

White:

41.5%

Two or more races:

4.7%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Half Moon Bay High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 83rd percentile in 2013 → 34th in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (14% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 49 percentile points since 2013

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg25%

California avg41%

1,426^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 36 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to bottom 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

714^th of 1,543Cabrillo Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.0	1426 of 2162	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	61.6	724 of 2159	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	916 of 2170	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.7	519 of 2123	75.6%	★★★★☆
2019	74.9	455 of 2133	78.7%	★★★★☆
2018	78.8	427 of 2017	78.8%	★★★★☆
2017	69.4	615 of 2021	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.6	528 of 2039	74.1%	★★★★☆
2015	67.1	607 of 1994	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	65.7	401 of 2426	83.5%	★★★★☆
2012	68.4	339 of 2354	85.6%	★★★★☆
2011	67.8	335 of 2367	85.8%	★★★★☆
2010	70.5	277 of 2281	87.9%	★★★★☆
2009	64.5	349 of 2238	84.4%	★★★★☆
2008	71.3	251 of 2117	88.1%	★★★★☆
2007	74.6	197 of 2063	90.5%	★★★★★
2006	77.8	155 of 1968	92.1%	★★★★★
2005	79.5	98 of 1901	94.8%	★★★★★
2004	78.5	86 of 1653	94.8%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	38.3	605 of 1161	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.1	249 of 1117	77.7%	★★★★☆
2018	37.9	565 of 1052	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	28.0	884 of 1085	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.4	307 of 1064	71.1%	★★★★☆
2022	38.3	576 of 1044	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.5	130 of 941	86.2%	★★★★☆
2018	37.0	512 of 938	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.9	1196 of 1906	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.6	561 of 1915	70.7%	★★★★☆
2023	55.9	758 of 1915	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.2	472 of 1858	74.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.1	395 of 1833	78.5%	★★★★☆
2018	76.9	401 of 1760	77.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	17.1	1559 of 1900	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.1	1427 of 1902	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	1360 of 1917	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	55.9	704 of 1861	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.6	881 of 1814	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.9	637 of 1742	63.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	21.3	1560 of 2013	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.9	1288 of 2026	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.4	1426 of 2030	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	45.7	960 of 1943	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.7	1035 of 1937	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.6	854 of 1862	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.1	1431 of 1942	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	50.6	873 of 1948	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.0	974 of 1963	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.3	540 of 1916	71.8%	★★★★☆
2019	68.5	507 of 1880	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	75.6	448 of 1834	75.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.4	433 of 577	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	55.6	267 of 574	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.8	365 of 541	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	14.9	1195 of 1252	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.3	989 of 1216	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.4	740 of 1197	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.2	881 of 1155	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	70.3	340 of 1173	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	58.9	494 of 1193	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.7	263 of 1204	78.2%	★★★★☆
2019	81.2	181 of 1222	85.2%	★★★★☆
2018	76.7	270 of 1173	77.0%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2022)48th percentile-28 vs school

Female (2025)37th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)26th percentile-8 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)25th percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)24th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)23rd percentile-12 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)19th percentile-48 vs school

Hispanic (2025)18th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2025)5th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy36%-13 vs state

Mathematics21%-16 vs state

Speaking19%-25 vs state

Science14%-19 vs state

Listening11%-14 vs state

Writing6%-11 vs state

Overall3%-6 vs state

Reading2%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Half Moon Bay High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)				CSA Spanish Listening (2025)				CSA Spanish Writing (2025)				CSA Spanish Reading (2025)				CSA Spanish Speaking (2025)			CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CSA Spanish Overall 9th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 10th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 9th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 10th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 9th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 10th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 9th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 10th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	CSA Spanish Speaking 9th Grade	CSA Spanish Speaking 10th Grade	CSA Spanish Speaking 11th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Half Moon Bay High	Public	9-12	1 Lewis Foster Dr.	Half Moon Bay	94019	San Mateo County	Cabrillo Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 712-7200	911	50	18.3	25.7%	378 (41.5%)	2 (0.2%)	463 (50.8%)	24 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (4.7%)	33	1426^th of 2162 public high schools	34.0%		61.6	724^th of 2159 public high schools	66.5%	702	0.0	2.8	10.0	3.5	8.0	5.6	26.0	11.3	1.3	4.3	16.3	6.0	0.0	1.4	6.1	2.0	17.3	8.5	38.0	14.4		14.0	35.5	35.5	21.0	21.0	$15,992	$1,441	$14,551
Pilarcitos Alternative High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	498 Kelly Ave.	Half Moon Bay	94019	San Mateo County	Cabrillo Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 712-7224	25	1	23.5	48.0%	4 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (80.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.0%)								(n/a)																											$15,967	$3,608	$12,359
Margaret J. Kemp	Public	7-12	400 Paul Scannell Dr.	San Mateo	94402	San Mateo County	San Mateo County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 312-5235	0	1	2.5		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																											$240,726	$00	$240,726
Hillcrest at Youth Services Center	Public	5-12	10 Loop Rd.	San Mateo	94402	San Mateo County	San Mateo County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 312-5323	16	4	4.1	81.3%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (81.3%)	1 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																											$190,330	$00	$190,330
Gateway Center	Public	6-12	35 Tower Rd.	San Mateo	94402	San Mateo County	San Mateo County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 598-2150	11	3	3.6	63.6%	1 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (81.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (9.1%)								(n/a)																											$163,037	$00	$163,037
Hillsdale High	Public	9-12	3115 Del Monte St.	San Mateo	94403	San Mateo County	San Mateo Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 558-2699	1,585	82	19.3	25.2%	489 (30.9%)	16 (1.0%)	597 (37.7%)	313 (19.7%)	2 (0.1%)	16 (1.0%)	148 (9.3%)	85	314^th of 2162 public high schools	85.5%		82.7	364^th of 2159 public high schools	83.1%	50																					39.4	39.4	72.0	72.0	41.9	41.9	$18,904	$543	$18,361
Aragon High	Public	9-12	900 Alameda de Las Pulgas	San Mateo	94402	San Mateo County	San Mateo Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 558-2999	1,658	74	22.3	16.8%	433 (26.1%)	10 (0.6%)	450 (27.1%)	554 (33.4%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (2.0%)	177 (10.7%)	96.1	77^th of 2162 public high schools	96.4%		95.7	95^th of 2159 public high schools	95.6%	18																					64.7	64.7	81.7	81.7	59.4	59.4	$16,420	$364	$16,056
Canyon Oaks Youth Center	Public	7-12	400 Edmonds Rd.	Redwood City	94062	San Mateo County	San Mateo County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 839-1810	8	1	6.6		0 (0.0%)	2 (25.0%)	6 (75.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																											$192,157	$00	$192,157
Carlmont High	Public	9-12	1400 Alameda de Las Pulgas	Belmont	94002	San Mateo County	Sequoia Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 595-0210	2,360	120	19.6	9.3%	960 (40.7%)	26 (1.1%)	360 (15.3%)	782 (33.1%)	17 (0.7%)	11 (0.5%)	204 (8.6%)	97	55^th of 2162 public high schools	97.5%		98.2	38^th of 2159 public high schools	98.2%	17																				67.5		67.5	85.2	85.2	72.2	72.2	$16,533	$517	$16,016
Mills High	Public	9-12	400 Murchison Dr.	Millbrae	94030	San Mateo County	San Mateo Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 558-2599	1,115	54	20.4	20.3%	119 (10.7%)	3 (0.3%)	226 (20.3%)	655 (58.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.0%)	100 (9.0%)	95.3	90^th of 2162 public high schools	95.8%		93.3	150^th of 2159 public high schools	93.1%	60																					49.0	49.0	81.9	81.9	63.3	63.3	$18,852	$445	$18,407

Frequently Asked Questions about Half Moon Bay High

How many students attend Half Moon Bay High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 911 students attended Half Moon Bay High.

Is Half Moon Bay High a good school?

Half Moon Bay High ranks 1426^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Half Moon Bay High?

Students at Half Moon Bay High are 51% Hispanic, 41% White, 5% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Half Moon Bay High in?

Cabrillo Unified

What schools feed into Half Moon Bay High?

Half Moon Bay High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alvin S. Hatch Elementary
Elementary : El Granada Elementary
Elementary : Farallone View Elementary
Middle : Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.