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Cabrillo Elementary

Public Grades K-8
1723rd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 5,857 California Elementary Schools
Better than 71% of California elementary schools
Summary

Cabrillo Elementary is a well-regarded K-8 public school serving 524 students in the coastal community of Pacifica, operating within the Pacifica School District.

The school consistently earns a 4-star rating, with academic performance that exceeds both district and state averages in English, Math, and Science. A standout strength is its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 8.1%, which is the second-best in the district and far better than the state average, indicating a positive and engaging school environment. Cabrillo is also notably effective in supporting its economically disadvantaged students and operates in a cost-effective manner compared to some neighboring schools like Ortega Elementary and Sunset Ridge Elementary.

While a solid performer within its district, trailing only Vallemar Elementary and Ocean Shore Elementary, Cabrillo's outcomes are somewhat lower than some high-performing schools in adjacent districts, such as Monte Verde Elementary in San Bruno. The school shows some variability, with exceptional 8th-grade science scores but a notable dip in 4th-grade English proficiency, suggesting areas for potential curriculum review. Overall, Cabrillo provides a quality, stable education with clear strengths in attendance and student support.

524
Students ?
22.4
Student/teacher ratio ?
$8,872
Per pupil spending ?
13.5%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 601 Crespi Dr.
       Pacifica, CA  94044-3430

(650) 738-6660

District: Pacifica


Students who attend Cabrillo Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Ingrid B. Lacy Middle
High:    Terra Nova High
Racial breakdown:

White:
50.6%
Hispanic:
24.2%
Two or more races:
16.2%
more
 See top rated California elementary schools

 Compare Cabrillo Elementary to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Declining — 87th percentile in 2015 → 71st in 2025
Strengths
Test scores above the California average (52% vs 41% meeting standards)
Above the California median (71st percentile)
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2015
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Near the bottom of Pacifica's ranking
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school52%
District avg52%
California avg41%
Elementary school
1,723rd of 5,857
California public elementary schools ?
Top 29%▼ down 17 pts since 2015
From top 13% (2015) to top 29% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
554th of 2,761
California public middle schools ?
Top 20%▼ down 3 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
4th of 5Elementary Schools in the Pacifica
351st of 1,543Pacifica 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)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202567.31723 of 585770.6%★★★★☆
202475.11366 of 586976.7%★★★★☆
202375.81334 of 585977.2%★★★★☆
202277.21319 of 588377.6%★★★★☆
202164.5449 of 141768.3%★★★☆☆
201972.21510 of 578973.9%★★★★☆
201868.91621 of 566271.4%★★★★☆
201776.01293 of 569277.3%★★★★☆
201682.21039 of 561481.5%★★★★☆
201588.2718 of 561187.2%★★★★☆
201379.01108 of 553080.0%★★★★☆
201282.9853 of 539084.2%★★★★☆
201181.6915 of 537783.0%★★★★☆
201078.61066 of 531479.9%★★★★☆
200986.3690 of 519386.7%★★★★☆
200885.0753 of 511385.3%★★★★☆
200778.81019 of 511380.1%★★★★☆
200689.8487 of 481889.9%★★★★☆
200589.6502 of 482289.6%★★★★☆
200488.9550 of 480988.6%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202567.71614 of 559771.2%★★★★☆
202477.51196 of 561278.7%★★★★☆
202377.51191 of 560978.8%★★★★☆
202279.51133 of 563579.9%★★★★☆
202169.7346 of 126772.7%★★★★☆
201975.41280 of 549276.7%★★★★☆
201866.61684 of 541368.9%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202546.42533 of 510750.4%★★★☆☆
202459.51709 of 510766.5%★★★☆☆
202369.11219 of 508776.0%★★★★☆
202276.2888 of 508482.5%★★★★☆
201984.0551 of 496388.9%★★★★☆
201853.22025 of 483058.1%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202477.2962 of 551782.6%★★★★☆
202358.11868 of 536365.2%★★★☆☆
202285.7522 of 526490.1%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202562.81845 of 562867.2%★★★☆☆
202469.11558 of 564372.4%★★★★☆
202370.51486 of 563873.6%★★★★☆
202269.41560 of 566372.5%★★★★☆
202155.4503 of 127260.5%★★★☆☆
201965.41705 of 551069.1%★★★☆☆
201868.21561 of 543171.3%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202470.3206 of 67069.3%★★★☆☆
201939.4309 of 44530.6%★★☆☆☆
201831.2267 of 33921.2%★☆☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202544.91536 of 259840.9%★★☆☆☆
202457.31207 of 265154.5%★★★☆☆
202351.41389 of 266147.8%★★☆☆☆
202250.01460 of 272646.4%★★☆☆☆
201947.41639 of 283442.2%★★☆☆☆
201850.71502 of 273745.1%★★☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202576.5554 of 276179.9%★★★★☆
202484.0398 of 278385.7%★★★★☆
202384.9375 of 278186.5%★★★★☆
202280.1475 of 274082.7%★★★★☆
202173.0196 of 89478.1%★★★★☆
201980.1484 of 271582.2%★★★★☆
201876.1510 of 248079.4%★★★★☆
201789.2256 of 250889.8%★★★★☆
201682.5381 of 249784.7%★★★★☆
201579.7433 of 247782.5%★★★★☆
201382.4255 of 237989.3%★★★★☆
201285.3188 of 225991.7%★★★★★
201186.4158 of 223692.9%★★★★★
201083.5225 of 217989.7%★★★★☆
200976.5359 of 206382.6%★★★★☆
200881.8259 of 200587.1%★★★★☆
200777.4347 of 199982.6%★★★★☆
200682.9244 of 180486.5%★★★★☆
200587.5158 of 177791.1%★★★★★
200485.0200 of 176988.7%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202587.9295 of 253388.4%★★★★☆
202488.8273 of 255189.3%★★★★☆
202383.9360 of 253185.8%★★★★☆
202284.3356 of 250985.8%★★★★☆
202181.6112 of 73884.8%★★★★☆
201976.9489 of 238079.5%★★★★☆
201875.8484 of 226278.6%★★★★☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202562.5695 of 239571.0%★★★★☆
202483.2251 of 238889.5%★★★★☆
202287.5174 of 235992.6%★★★★★
201979.9311 of 221385.9%★★★★☆
201864.6572 of 207272.4%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202493.6132 of 257994.9%★★★★★
201866.7538 of 223075.9%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202557.7886 of 253465.0%★★★☆☆
202470.5619 of 255275.7%★★★★☆
202382.9375 of 253885.2%★★★★☆
202269.3635 of 252774.9%★★★★☆
202162.5253 of 76366.8%★★★☆☆
201980.9406 of 240783.1%★★★★☆
201874.4511 of 227377.5%★★★★☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202475.4160 of 70177.2%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankCalifornia percentileRating
202553.7699 of 152054.0%★★★☆☆
202465.1498 of 153767.6%★★★☆☆
202369.0435 of 154371.8%★★★★☆
202257.8626 of 155559.7%★★★☆☆
201963.7570 of 160264.4%★★★☆☆
201865.5507 of 149666.1%★★★☆☆
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)
Elementary school
Low Socio Economic Status (2024)83rd percentile+6 vs school
Female (2025)71st percentile~ school
Multi-racial (2024)69th percentile-7 vs school
Male (2025)67th percentile-3 vs school
Hispanic (2025)50th percentile-20 vs school
White (2025)41st percentile-30 vs school
Middle school
Low Socio Economic Status (2024)95th percentile+9 vs school
Female (2025)88th percentile+8 vs school
Multi-racial (2024)77th percentile-9 vs school
Hispanic (2025)71st percentile-9 vs school
Male (2025)65th percentile-15 vs school
White (2025)54th percentile-26 vs school
By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?
English Language Arts/Literacy56%+7 vs state
Mathematics52%+14 vs state
Science44%+11 vs state

3.0
2 ratings · 1 written review
51
40
30
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11
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What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, September 15, 2017

Open Quote This schools is great if your into head lice, and even greater at illpreparing students for further education. The math and english test scores just don't make sense. How is it that standardized test scores are well above average now, and then fall so sharply during high school? I was flabbergasted at the poor writing, reading, and mathematics skills these students possess, evident from dozens of examples I witnessed. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Cabrillo Elementary

Students at Cabrillo Elementary are 51% White, 24% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 9% Asian.

In the 2024-25 school year, 524 students attended Cabrillo Elementary.

Cabrillo Elementary ranks 1723rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Cabrillo Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ingrid B. Lacy Middle
High : Terra Nova High


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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.





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