School district or education agency · NCES 0603300

Atascadero Unified

Atascadero, CA

District overview See comparisons

Students4,338

Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.

Schools12

operational schools · 2023–24

Students4,338

students in linked records

Latest attendance year2022–23

federal comparable series

Latest finance record$14,952

per student

District, state and country

How does this district compare?

State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.

MeasureDistrictCAUnited States

Academic standing2025

45th percentile42nd percentile45th percentile

This district is 3 percentile points higher than the state figure and about the same as the U.S. figure.

Students chronically absent2022–23

31.6%27.7%27.8%

This district is 3.9 percentage points higher than the state figure and 3.8 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Revenue per studentFY 2023

$22,053$25,614$19,509

This district is $3,561 per student lower than the state figure and $2,544 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Spending per studentFY 2023

$14,952$18,479$15,859

This district is $3,527 per student lower than the state figure and $907 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Capital outlay per studentFY 2023

$1,612$2,019$1,964

This district is $407 per student lower than the state figure and $352 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Equipment spending per studentFY 2023

$92$135$336

This district is $43 per student lower than the state figure and $244 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Special-education spending per studentFY 2023

$3,184$2,978$1,793

This district is $206 per student higher than the state figure and $1,391 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Salaries per studentFY 2023

$8,623$9,951$8,742

This district is $1,328 per student lower than the state figure and $119 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Benefits per studentFY 2023

$3,456$4,693$3,769

This district is $1,237 per student lower than the state figure and $313 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023

$22,966$18,517$11,715

This district is $4,449 per student higher than the state figure and $11,251 per student higher than the U.S. figure.

Debt retired per studentFY 2023

$670$916$869

This district is $246 per student lower than the state figure and $199 per student lower than the U.S. figure.

Students per teacher2023–24

22:122:115:1

This district is about the same as the state figure and 7.0 students per teacher higher than the U.S. figure.

Students per counselor2023–24

394:1443:1376:1

This district is 49 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 18 students per counselor higher than the U.S. figure.

District staff per 1,000 students2023–24

116.4108.2138.9

This district is 8.2 staff per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 22.5 staff per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24

17.916.918.5

This district is 1.0 aides per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 0.6 aides per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.

School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24

2.21.30.9

This district is 0.9 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the state figure and 1.3 psychologists per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.

Regular diplomas among completers2023–24

98.1%98.6%99.0%

This district is 0.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24

1.0%2.7%2.6%

This district is 1.7 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.6 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools

7.3%19.3%12.0%

This district is 12.0 percentage points lower than the state figure and 4.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools

13.2%12.5%14.0%

This district is 0.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.8 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools

5.1%2.1%3.9%

This district is 3.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools

100.0%95.9%95.8%

This district is 4.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24

0.0%-0.6%+0.5%

This district is 0.6 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records

44.7%57.8%50.6%

This district is 13.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 5.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment

3.8%2.8%4.5%

This district is 1.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment

16.4%6.1%9.0%

This district is 10.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 7.4 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment

6.8%4.5%6.7%

This district is 2.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 0.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.

School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate

8.4%13.9%14.4%

This district is 5.5 percentage points lower than the state figure and 6.0 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.

Enrollment · 2023–24

Who attends this district?

Kindergarten–grade 51,981 students

45.7%

Grades 6–8992 students

22.9%

Grades 9–121,365 students

31.5%

See enrollment for every grade

Kindergarten444

Grade 1304

Grade 2333

Grade 3292

Grade 4308

Grade 5300

Grade 6329

Grade 7347

Grade 8316

Grade 9308

Grade 10338

Grade 11378

Grade 12341

Students by race and ethnicity

White2,608 (60.1%)

Hispanic/Latino1,284 (29.6%)

Two or more races257 (5.9%)

Asian95 (2.2%)

Black or African American51 (1.2%)

American Indian or Alaska Native26 (0.6%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander8 (0.2%)

Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.

Current staffing · 2023–24

How many staff members support students?

505.1All district staff, full-time equivalent

198Teachers, full-time equivalent

11School counselors, full-time equivalent

9.6School psychologists, full-time equivalent

77.7Instructional aides, full-time equivalent

0.9Librarians and media specialists, full-time equivalent

15.3School administrators, full-time equivalent

12.9Student support staff, full-time equivalent

See detailed staffing

Kindergarten teachers20 FTE

Elementary teachers108.6 FTE

Secondary teachers69.4 FTE

Elementary school counselors6 FTE

Secondary school counselors5 FTE

District administrators5.8 FTE

District administrative support9.3 FTE

School administrative support26.2 FTE

Other support staff138.5 FTE

Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.

High-school outcomes · 2023–24

How many students completed school or dropped out?

320Total completers

314Regular diplomas

6Other state-recognized credentials

14Reported dropouts, grades 9–12

Regular diplomas among completers

District98.1%

CA98.6%

United States99.0%

Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12

District1.0%

CA2.7%

United States2.6%

Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.

Graduation · 2022–23

How many students graduated within four years?

Loading the district's official graduation record…

Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot

How many students may need specialized support?

Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.

7.3%Students learning English317 students · 12 of 12 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District7.3%

CA19.3%

U.S.12.0%

13.2%Students receiving IDEA special-education services573 students · 12 of 12 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District13.2%

CA12.5%

U.S.14.0%

5.1%Students with Section 504 plans220 students · 12 of 12 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District5.1%

CA2.1%

U.S.3.9%

1.5%English learners also receiving IDEA services64 students · 12 of 12 schools reported both this measure and enrollment

District1.5%

CA3.2%

U.S.1.7%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.

Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22

What did the district report about teachers and preschool?

100.0%Teachers reported as certified

Teacher certification comparison

District100.0%

CA95.9%

United States95.8%

U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.

Community context · 2024

How many school-age children live in poverty?

This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.

5,465children ages 5 to 17

461estimated to live in families below the poverty line

8.4%about 1 in 12 school-age children

District8.4%

CA13.9%

United States14.4%

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.

District geography · 2024–25

What area does this district cover?

NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.

Loading the official district boundary…

Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.

Comparable districts

Districts serving a similar student population

These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in CA receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.

Oak Park UnifiedOak Park, CA4,338 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Charter Oak UnifiedGlendora, CA4,248 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Buckeye Union ElementaryCameron Park, CA4,255 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Central ElementaryRancho Cucamonga, CA4,327 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Santa Cruz City HighSanta Cruz, CA4,504 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →

Academic results · 2025

How do results differ among student groups?

Students not economically disadvantaged1,568 assessments

56 out of 100

White students1,791 assessments

52 out of 100

Fem1,451 assessments

46 out of 100

Mal1,637 assessments

44 out of 100

Economically disadvantaged students1,526 assessments

34 out of 100

Hispanic students915 assessments

27 out of 100

A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.

District makeup

What kinds of schools are in the district?

1Other schools

2High schools

2Middle schools

7Elementary schools

9Suburb setting

3Rural setting

1Alternative schools

School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.

District finances

How is the district funded, and how does it spend?

Sources of funds

Where the money comes from

Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.

6.9%Federal

39.9%State

53.2%Local

Uses of funds

Where the money goes

Annual spending for each enrolled student.

$14,952Total current spending per student

$9,056Instruction per student

$5,485Support services per student

Revenue by source: percentages and dollars

$6.5MFederal revenue6.9% of total revenue

$37.8MState revenue39.9% of total revenue

$50.4MLocal revenue53.2% of total revenue

How operating money was used

$9,056Instructionper student

$5,485Student and instructional supportper student

$3,184Special educationper student

$1,550Building operations and maintenanceper student

$237Student transportationper student

$412Food servicesper student

$0Technologyper student

People costs

$37MSalaries$8,623 per student

$14.8MEmployee benefits$3,456 per student

Equipment, buildings and debt

$397KEquipmentFY 2023

$6.9MCapital outlay$1,612 per student

$2.6MConstructionincluded in capital outlay

$98.7MDebt outstanding at year end$22,966 per student

$234KNew debt issuedFY 2023

$2.9MDebt principal retiredFY 2023

$3.4MInterest paid on debtFY 2023

Selected federal program revenue

$1.1MTitle I$266 per student

$1.3MIDEA special education$304 per student

$30KCareer and technical education$7 per student

$970KChild nutrition$226 per student

What changed since FY 2022

Operating spending per student

FY 2022$13,091

FY 2023$14,952

Capital spending per student

FY 2022$734

FY 2023$1,612

Debt outstanding per student

FY 2022$23,338

FY 2023$22,966

Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.

Attendance

How has chronic absence changed?

2020–2122.4%

985 of 4,395 students

2021–2227.6%

1,196 of 4,339 students

2022–2331.6%

1,358 of 4,293 students

Specialized support and security · 2021–22

What specialized roles were reported?

10.8Sworn law-enforcement officer FTE12 reporting schools

3Security staff FTE12 reporting schools

Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.

Learning opportunities

What do district schools offer?

Algebra I3 reporting schools

Calculus3 reporting schools

Biology3 reporting schools

Chemistry3 reporting schools

Physics3 reporting schools

Computer science3 reporting schools

Advanced Placement3 reporting schools

Dual enrollment3 reporting schools

Gifted programs12 reporting schools

International Baccalaureate3 reporting schools

Athletics3 reporting schools

Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.

Safety and discipline

What was reported across district schools?

230Out-of-school suspensions12 reporting schoolsSee schools →28In-school suspensions12 reporting schoolsSee schools →39Law-enforcement referrals12 reporting schoolsSee schools →0School-related arrests12 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.

Technology and safety · 2021–22

What access and incident data is available?

100%Schools reporting Wi-Fi12 reporting schools

100%Schools reporting fiber12 reporting schools

12Student devices reported12 reporting schools

0Weapon-possession reports12 reporting schoolsSee schools →10Threats involving a weapon12 reporting schoolsSee schools →29Threats without a weapon12 reporting schoolsSee schools →20Attacks involving a weapon12 reporting schoolsSee schools →109Attacks without a weapon12 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Firearm incidents12 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Robberies without a weapon12 reporting schoolsSee schools →4Robberies involving a weapon12 reporting schoolsSee schools →0Homicide incidents12 reporting schoolsSee schools →

Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.

Six questions parents ask

What the available data says

Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.

Are students making academic progress?5 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2025Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?31.6% chronically absent2022–23 · 4,293 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?6 student groups2025 research estimatesExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$14,952current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?394:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →

Data status

8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.

See all sources →