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Ortega Elementary

Q: Is Ortega Elementary a good school?

Ortega Elementary ranks 1624 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1624^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of California elementary schools

Summary

Ortega Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 404 students in the coastal community of Pacifica, part of the Pacifica School District, which is a 4-star rated district.

The school is a solid performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide for the 2024-2025 year. A key strength is mathematics, where student proficiency (56.3%) outpaces both the district and state averages. The school has also made impressive progress in student attendance, reducing chronic absenteeism to 9.6%, which is better than both the Pacifica district and California averages. While English Language Arts performance is slightly below the district average, it remains above the state average. The school achieves these outcomes with moderate per-student spending compared to some higher-spending neighbors.

When compared to other schools in the area, Ortega Elementary ranks below district peer Vallemar Elementary but above Cabrillo Elementary. Its math scores are a relative strength, though schools like Monte Verde Elementary and Farallone View Elementary show higher proficiency in science. Performance can vary significantly between different student groups and from year to year, indicating areas where the school is focusing on consistent support for all learners.

404

Students ?

21.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,620

Per pupil spending ?

13.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1283 Terra Nova Blvd.
Pacifica, CA 94044-4341

(650) 738-6670

District: Pacifica

Students who attend Ortega Elementary usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.5%

Hispanic:

19.1%

Two or more races:

18.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Ortega Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 84th percentile in 2015 → 72nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (52% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Above the California median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg52%

California avg41%

1,624^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 16% (2015) to top 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5Elementary Schools in the Pacifica

351^st 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.5	1624 of 5857	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	64.9	1826 of 5869	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.2	1525 of 5859	74.0%	★★★★☆
2022	64.7	1822 of 5883	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.9	366 of 1417	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	81.5	1097 of 5789	81.1%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	1312 of 5662	76.8%	★★★★☆
2017	64.7	1814 of 5692	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	72.2	1429 of 5614	74.5%	★★★★☆
2015	84.9	887 of 5611	84.2%	★★★★☆
2013	70.2	1567 of 5530	71.7%	★★★★☆
2012	75.3	1255 of 5390	76.7%	★★★★☆
2011	78.6	1078 of 5377	80.0%	★★★★☆
2010	65.1	1715 of 5314	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	52.4	2335 of 5193	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	49.9	2377 of 5113	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	54.7	2079 of 5113	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	74.1	1329 of 5597	76.3%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	1274 of 5612	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.3	1445 of 5609	74.2%	★★★★☆
2022	70.3	1511 of 5635	73.2%	★★★★☆
2021	75.5	286 of 1267	77.4%	★★★★☆
2019	81.9	991 of 5492	82.0%	★★★★☆
2018	81.2	979 of 5413	81.9%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.6	3054 of 5107	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.4	1760 of 5107	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.2	1209 of 5087	76.2%	★★★★☆
2022	50.0	2199 of 5084	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.1	1453 of 4963	70.7%	★★★★☆
2018	63.4	1469 of 4830	69.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.9	968 of 5460	82.3%	★★★★☆
2019	71.1	1128 of 5173	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	52.6	2194 of 5084	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.2	1876 of 5628	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.3	2354 of 5643	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.3	1576 of 5638	72.0%	★★★★☆
2022	55.9	2151 of 5663	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.4	406 of 1272	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.0	1173 of 5510	78.7%	★★★★☆
2018	67.8	1573 of 5431	71.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.7	244 of 718	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.7	498 of 670	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	47.2	409 of 669	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.8	299 of 610	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.1	257 of 339	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	46.8	1071 of 2635	59.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.9	1754 of 2598	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.6	1716 of 2651	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.3	1685 of 2661	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.3	1755 of 2726	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.7	951 of 2834	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.0	1167 of 2737	57.4%	★★★☆☆

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)82nd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)76th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)67th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)66th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2024)59th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)40th percentile-32 vs school

White (2025)32nd percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics56%+19 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy51%~ state avg

Science44%+11 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Thus far, I give Ortega Elementary 5-stars not for being technologically advanced or academically rigorous, but for being well-organized and efficient. It is said that great management starts at the top, and works its way downward. I believe Debra Skiles, school principal, is directly responsible for creating an excellent climate for making learning fun. Close Quote

Schools Near Ortega Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	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	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ortega Elementary	Public	K-5	1283 Terra Nova Blvd.	Pacifica	94044	San Mateo County	Pacifica	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 738-6670	404	19	21.2	13.6%	204 (50.5%)	2 (0.5%)	77 (19.1%)	43 (10.6%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (1.0%)	73 (18.1%)	69.5	1624^th of 5857 public elementary schools	72.3%		64.9	1826^th of 5869 public elementary schools	68.9%	202	44.1		44.1	43.6	54.1	54.2				50.9	59.3	59.0	50.9				56.3							$10,620	$1,936	$8,684
Pacifica Independent Home Study	Public	K-8	1283 Terra Nova Blvd	Pacifica	94044	San Mateo County	Pacifica	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 738-6670	12	1	12.5	58.3%	4 (33.3%)	2 (16.7%)	5 (41.7%)	1 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																								$8,582	$1,440	$7,142
Cabrillo Elementary	Public	K-8	601 Crespi Dr.	Pacifica	94044	San Mateo County	Pacifica	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 738-6660	524	23	22.4	13.5%	265 (50.6%)	1 (0.2%)	127 (24.2%)	45 (8.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (16.2%)	67.3	1723^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	70.6%		75.1	1366^th of 5869 public elementary schools	76.7%	357	33.8	59.2	43.9	65.0	38.3	59.5	57.8	52.5	61.2	55.6	50.0	56.7	54.1	44.4	52.5	49.0	51.6							$8,872	$1,616	$7,256
Vallemar Elementary	Public	K-8	377 Reina del Mar Ave.	Pacifica	94044	San Mateo County	Pacifica	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 738-6655	500	21	23.9	15.6%	202 (40.4%)	3 (0.6%)	137 (27.4%)	68 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	89 (17.8%)	80.4	1146^th of 5857 public elementary schools	80.4%		78.4	1225^th of 5869 public elementary schools	79.1%	79	52.8	58.3	55.5	56.9	70.2	69.8	47.7	55.6	60.4	61.3	70.7	71.6	50.9	40.9	48.2	62.5	59.6							$8,518	$1,493	$7,025
Portola Elementary	Public	K-6	300 Amador Ave.	San Bruno	94066	San Mateo County	San Bruno Park Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 624-3175	378	14	27.0	36.0%	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.1%)	97 (25.7%)	178 (47.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	88 (23.3%)	77.6	1261^st of 5857 public elementary schools	78.5%		90.2	692^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	88.2%	569	52.5		52.5	63.0	52.6	63.2				59.4	69.6	48.2	55.9				57.1
John Muir Elementary	Public	K-6	130 Cambridge Ln.	San Bruno	94066	San Mateo County	San Bruno Park Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 624-3160	486	17	28.9	29.8%	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	125 (25.7%)	177 (36.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	173 (35.6%)	83.3	999^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.9%		89.3	731^st of 5869 public elementary schools	87.5%	268	63.8		63.8	50.0	69.0	67.8				61.6	63.2	68.3	59.3				63.6	96.8
Meadows Elementary	Public	K-5	1101 Helen Dr.	Millbrae	94030	San Mateo County	Millbrae Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 583-7590	360	16	22.4	14.7%	57 (15.8%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (12.2%)	218 (60.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	34 (9.4%)	90.4	637^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.1%		95.2	324^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.5%	313	48.0		48.0	73.1	72.6	70.0				72.0	86.5	72.2	64.0				74.1	87.5	92.9	92.9	87.5		89.3	$16,323	$1,586	$14,737
Farallone View Elementary	Public	K-5	250 LaConte and Kanoff	Montara	94037	San Mateo County	Cabrillo Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 712-7170	177	7	25.2	6.2%	120 (67.8%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (19.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (13.0%)	85.5	903^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	84.6%		84.8	957^th of 5869 public elementary schools	83.7%	54	72.7		72.7	56.0	65.6	86.4				68.4	48.0	75.0	77.3				67.1							$17,376	$1,450	$15,926
Monte Verde Elementary	Public	K-5	2551 St. Cloud Dr.	San Bruno	94066	San Mateo County	South San Francisco Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 877-8838	517	22	23.6	21.9%	39 (7.5%)	4 (0.8%)	62 (12.0%)	334 (64.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	73 (14.1%)	95.3	300^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.9%		95.9	275^th of 5869 public elementary schools	95.3%	25	64.8		64.8	78.0	80.7	75.8				78.2	86.8	78.4	71.4				78.9							$17,239	$1,236	$16,003
Green Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	401 Ludeman Ln.	Millbrae	94030	San Mateo County	Millbrae Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 588-6485	338	15	22.5	14.8%	35 (10.4%)	2 (0.6%)	52 (15.4%)	213 (63.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	33 (9.8%)	95.1	324^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.5%		92.5	543^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	90.7%	219	57.1		57.1	75.5	88.5	77.6				80.5	77.4	84.9	81.6				81.3	81.8			90.9	93.2		$15,718	$1,586	$14,132

Frequently Asked Questions about Ortega Elementary

What schools do graduates of Ortega Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ortega Elementary usually go on to attend:

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

How many students attend Ortega Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 404 students attended Ortega Elementary.

Is Ortega Elementary a good school?

Ortega Elementary ranks 1624^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Ortega Elementary?

Students at Ortega Elementary are 50% White, 19% Hispanic, 18% Two or more races, 11% Asian.

What district is Ortega Elementary in?

Pacifica

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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.