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Pescadero High

Q: Is Pescadero High a good school?

Pescadero High ranks 594 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

594^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 73% of California high schools

Summary

Pescadero High is a small, rural high school of just 81 students serving grades 9-12 in the coastal community of Pescadero, California, within the La Honda-Pescadero Unified school district.

This very small size is its defining feature, creating a personalized environment with a student-teacher ratio of about 13-to-1, which is lower than most larger area high schools. The school invests significantly in each student, with per-student spending notably higher than nearby schools like Half Moon Bay High or Sequoia High. This model yields clear strengths: Pescadero High excels in English Language Arts, with proficiency rates surpassing both the state average and even top-performing schools like Monta Vista High. It also shows a strong record of effectively supporting students from low-income families.

However, the school faces significant challenges, particularly a high rate of chronic student absenteeism that is more than double the state average. There is also a noticeable performance gap in mathematics and science compared to its English success. While its 85% graduation rate is solid, it trails the rate at Half Moon Bay High. In summary, Pescadero High offers a unique, high-attention education that delivers exceptional results in literacy and support for specific student groups, but struggles with consistent attendance and balanced achievement across all core subjects.

Students ?

12.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,360

Per pupil spending ?

34.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

350 Butano Cut Off
Pescadero, CA 94060-0730

(650) 879-0274

District: La Honda-Pescadero Unified

Feeder schools for Pescadero High:

Elementary:	La Honda Elementary
	Pescadero Elementary and Middle

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

77.8%

White:

22.2%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Pescadero High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 64th percentile in 2013 → 73rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2013

✓Above the California median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (41% vs 19% California)

!Science scores 14 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg43%

California avg41%

594^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 27%▲ up 17 pts since 2015

From top 44% (2015) to top 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

409^th of 1,543La Honda-Pescadero 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	70.4	594 of 2162	72.5%	★★★★☆
2024	65.3	643 of 2159	70.2%	★★★★☆
2023	67.8	613 of 2170	71.8%	★★★★☆
2022	53.6	857 of 2123	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.4	286 of 2133	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	53.2	945 of 2017	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	78.1	441 of 2021	78.2%	★★★★☆
2016	68.7	599 of 2039	70.6%	★★★★☆
2015	54.7	881 of 1994	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.2	866 of 2426	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.3	583 of 2354	75.2%	★★★★☆
2011	63.8	423 of 2367	82.1%	★★★★☆
2010	69.5	305 of 2281	86.6%	★★★★☆
2009	59.3	489 of 2238	78.2%	★★★★☆
2008	73.1	217 of 2117	89.7%	★★★★☆
2007	60.3	447 of 2063	78.3%	★★★★☆
2006	67.9	318 of 1968	83.8%	★★★★☆
2005	63.4	364 of 1901	80.9%	★★★★☆
2004	49.4	501 of 1653	69.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.1	443 of 1906	76.8%	★★★★☆
2019	96.5	49 of 1833	97.3%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.4	426 of 1900	77.6%	★★★★☆
2024	70.8	464 of 1902	75.6%	★★★★☆
2023	56.9	743 of 1917	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.4	404 of 1861	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	67.6	481 of 1814	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	34.0	1182 of 1742	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.1	352 of 2013	82.5%	★★★★☆
2024	78.1	361 of 2026	82.2%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	466 of 1943	76.0%	★★★★☆
2019	69.3	480 of 1937	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	33.0	1268 of 1862	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	77.4	404 of 1948	79.3%	★★★★☆
2018	47.6	962 of 1834	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)83rd percentile+10 vs school

Male (2024)79th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)78th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)77th percentile+4 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy86%+37 vs state

Mathematics33%-4 vs state

Science19%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pescadero 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 10th 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
Pescadero High	Public	9-12	350 Butano Cut Off	Pescadero	94060	San Mateo County	La Honda-Pescadero Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 879-0274	81	6	12.7	34.6%	18 (22.2%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (77.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70.4	594^th of 2162 public high schools	72.5%		65.3	643^rd of 2159 public high schools	70.2%	49																						16.7	18.5	85.7	85.7	33.3	33.3	$30,360	$1,957	$28,403
Palo Alto Middle College High	Public	9-12	12345 El Monte Rd.	Los Altos Hills	94022	Santa Clara County	Palo Alto Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 949-7771	45	4	11.2	13.3%	9 (20.0%)	1 (2.2%)	7 (15.6%)	22 (48.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (11.1%)								(n/a)																								87.5	87.5	68.8	68.8
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
Woodside High	Public	9-12	199 Churchill Ave.	Woodside	94062	San Mateo County	Sequoia Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 367-9750	1,660	101	16.3	28.7%	575 (34.6%)	19 (1.1%)	880 (53.0%)	88 (5.3%)	9 (0.5%)	8 (0.5%)	81 (4.9%)	76.5	469^th of 2162 public high schools	78.3%		81.3	390^th of 2159 public high schools	81.9%	79																					46.7	7.1	45.1	58.8	58.8	40.6	40.6	$20,360	$992	$19,368
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
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
Henry M. Gunn High	Public	9-12	780 Arastradero Rd.	Palo Alto	94306	Santa Clara County	Palo Alto Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 354-8200	1,643	100	16.4	11.7%	450 (27.4%)	20 (1.2%)	215 (13.1%)	765 (46.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	188 (11.4%)	97.6	42^nd of 2162 public high schools	98.1%		97.8	47^th of 2159 public high schools	97.8%	5																				80.3		41.2	78.6	84.4	84.4	80.4	80.4	$30,704	$1,048	$29,656
Los Altos High	Public	9-12	201 Almond Ave.	Los Altos	94022	Santa Clara County	Mountain View-Los Altos Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 940-8812	2,170	120	18.1	16.5%	630 (29.0%)	13 (0.6%)	607 (28.0%)	660 (30.4%)	4 (0.2%)	9 (0.4%)	226 (10.4%)	95.8	83^rd of 2162 public high schools	96.2%		95.8	92^nd of 2159 public high schools	95.7%	9																						56.6	56.6	78.8	78.8	68.8	68.8	$32,915	$1,283	$31,632
Palo Alto High	Public	9-12	50 Embarcadero Rd.	Palo Alto	94301	Santa Clara County	Palo Alto Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 329-3701	1,891	113	16.7	13.3%	594 (31.4%)	37 (2.0%)	287 (15.2%)	709 (37.5%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (1.5%)	233 (12.3%)	95.4	88^th of 2162 public high schools	95.9%		94.9	116^th of 2159 public high schools	94.6%	28																				68.5		42.3	66.8	75.8	75.8	73.7	73.7	$30,046	$1,022	$29,024
Monta Vista High	Public	9-12	21840 McClellan Rd.	Cupertino	95014	Santa Clara County	Fremont Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 366-7600	1,630	68	23.9	6.0%	118 (7.2%)	1 (0.1%)	75 (4.6%)	1,282 (78.7%)	8 (0.5%)	6 (0.4%)	140 (8.6%)	97.3	48^th of 2162 public high schools	97.8%		98.5	28^th of 2159 public high schools	98.7%	20																					74.3		73.5	83.3	83.3	85.7	85.7	$24,048	$326	$23,722

Frequently Asked Questions about Pescadero High

What schools feed into Pescadero High?

Pescadero High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : La Honda Elementary
Elementary : Pescadero Elementary and Middle

How many students attend Pescadero High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 81 students attended Pescadero High.

Is Pescadero High a good school?

Pescadero High ranks 594^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Pescadero High?

Students at Pescadero High are 78% Hispanic, 22% White.

What district is Pescadero High in?

La Honda-Pescadero Unified

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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.