Best Public Schools in Zip Code 90275

Zip code 90275 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, is served by 10 public schools—seven elementary and three middle schools—across the Los Angeles Unified and Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified districts, with all high school students attending schools outside this zip.

The nine schools in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified district are exceptionally high-performing, with standout elementary schools like Cornerstone at Pedregal Elementary (ranked #17 in the state), Silver Spur Elementary, and Soleado Elementary, and the top middle school Ridgecrest Intermediate. These schools consistently achieve proficiency rates well above state averages, with strong attendance and lower student need. In contrast, the two Los Angeles Unified schools, Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle and Crestwood Street STEAM Magnet, serve student populations with significantly higher economic need and, despite higher per-student spending, have lower academic outcomes, though Dodson Middle has shown notable recent improvement in its state ranking.

An interesting finding is the inverse relationship between spending and results in this area; for instance, Crestwood Street STEAM Magnet has the highest per-student funding but the lowest scores, while top-ranked Cornerstone at Pedregal Elementary has the lowest spending. The data shows a clear performance divide between the two districts, with chronic absenteeism rates also varying widely and correlating with academic performance. Overall, the zip code features a cluster of elite schools alongside others facing greater challenges, highlighting how district resources and community factors can influence educational outcomes more than funding alone.