Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified

Palos Verdes Estates, California — 17 schools

10,457
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$15,627
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified operates 17 public schools serving 10,457 students, placing it among the smaller districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 elementary, 3 high, 3 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 10,131 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Los Angeles County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,627 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 55.2% local, 39.0% state, and 5.7% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $92,881 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 26/100, ranked #1393 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 17 schools offering Advanced Placement (69 AP courses district-wide), a 272.7:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 36.4% White, 30.7% Asian, 17.3% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Palos Verdes Peninsula High accounts for 20.5% of all Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified school enrollment varies 63× across entities

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified school enrollment ranges from 33 students (lowest) to 2,075 students (highest), a spread of 2,042 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified student-counselor ratio is 273:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified is typically wider than the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 18.0% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified is typically wider than the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.7%
Federal
39.0%
State
55.2%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
1393 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Los Angeles County county, where this district is located.

$1,863
Studio/mo
$2,085
1 BR/mo
$2,601
2 BR/mo
$3,298
3 BR/mo
$3,672
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$92,881
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 17 schools in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified.

White 36.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.3%
African American 2.0%
Asian 30.7%
Multiracial 13.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

3 / 17
Schools with AP
69 AP courses total
272.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified

School Enrollment
Palos Verdes Peninsula High
2,075
Palos Verdes High
1,484
Ridgecrest Intermediate
881
Palos Verdes Intermediate
735
Miraleste Intermediate
720
Dapplegray Elementary
639
Silver Spur Elementary
540
Soleado Elementary
443
Montemalaga Elementary
416
Cornerstone at Pedregal Elementary
411
Mira Catalina Elementary
366
Vista Grande Elementary
355
Point Vicente Elementary
334
Lunada Bay Elementary
329
Rancho Vista Elementary
329
Rancho Del Mar High (Continuation)
41
Palos Verdes Distance Learning Academy
33

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $25,877/pupil
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San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
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Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
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Compare Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified?

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified has 17 schools, including 3 high, 3 middle, 10 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 10,457 students.

How much does Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified spend per student?

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified spends $15,627 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #1393 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified?

The average teacher salary in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified is $92,881 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Los Angeles County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified?

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified students are 36.4% White, 30.7% Asian, 17.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.0% African American, averaged across 17 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified?

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #1393 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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