Public schools in Pacifica, CA
9 open public schools with an address in Pacifica, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,851
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
20:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Pacifica public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Pacifica, CA: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,851 students, an average of 428 per school. The largest campus is Terra Nova High (740 students), and the largest elementary school is Cabrillo Elementary (524).
Pacifica operates the most schools here (7), and 2 regular districts have at least one Pacifica campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 20:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 18% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Pacifica
Elementary schools in Pacifica
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo Elementary Pacifica | KG–08 | 524 | 22.5:1 | |
| Ocean Shore Elementary Pacifica | KG–08 | 368 | 21.9:1 | |
| Ortega Elementary Pacifica | KG–05 | 404 | 21.3:1 | |
| Pacifica Independent Home Study Pacifica · Alternative School | KG–08 | 12 | 12.5:1 | |
| Sunset Ridge Elementary Pacifica | KG–05 | 348 | 19.3:1 | |
| Vallemar Elementary Pacifica | KG–08 | 500 | 24:1 |
Middle schools in Pacifica
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingrid B. Lacy Middle Pacifica | 06–08 | 484 | 19.8:1 |
High schools in Pacifica
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceana High Jefferson Union High · Alternative School | 09–12 | 471 | 17:1 | |
| Terra Nova High Jefferson Union High | 09–12 | 740 | 20:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White37.5%
- Hispanic26.6%
- Black1.1%
- Asian17.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial15.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Pacifica schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,851 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Pacifica
How many public schools are in Pacifica, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Pacifica: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 3,851 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Pacifica?
Schools with an address in Pacifica belong to 2 education agencies, led by Pacifica (7 schools), Jefferson Union High (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Pacifica?
Terra Nova High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Pacifica, with 740 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Pacifica?
No school with an address in Pacifica is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in California.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Pacifica schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Pacifica public schools is 20:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Pacifica guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities