Location: Cambria, CA
Are you a student or parent at Coast Union High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to Coast Union High available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe Coast Union High is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Coast Union High students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at Coast Union High
- Every sports team you can join at Coast Union High
Let's get started!
Basic Information
Coast Union High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Cambria, CA in San Luis Obispo County.
Based on its location, Coast Union High is classified as a school in a distant town, or more than 10 miles from an urbanized area. Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Coast Union High School2950 Santa Rosa Creek Rd. Cambria, CA 93428-3506
Phone number: 8059273889
Coast Union High School homepage: http://www.coastusd.org/index.php/schools/coast-union-high-school
Principal: Jonathan SisonEmail the principal: [email protected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at Coast Union High School is 238 students, making it a somewhat small high school, in the bottom half of all California high schools by size.
As a smaller-sized high school, Coast Union High will feel like a cozy learning environment. With fewer than 100 students in your class, you'll likely get to know most other students and your teachers well. This will give you the feeling of a small liberal arts college.
But with a smaller student body, you won't have as many activities and clubs to choose from. If you find Coast Union High lacking for your interests, consider looking to your local community to supplement your interests.
Growth in Student Body Size
Is Coast Union High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at Coast Union High has decreased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.
| Male Students | Female Students | All Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th grade | 28 | 31 | 59 |
| 10th grade | 34 | 25 | 59 |
| 11th grade | 29 | 26 | 55 |
| 12th grade | 38 | 27 | 65 |
As you can see in the table above, the senior class is 6 students larger than the freshman class. This suggests that Coast Union High is shrinking in size and taking on fewer students.
There are a few reasons this can happen. The population of Cambria could be decreasing, thus sending fewer students into Coast Union High. Alternatively, other schools (like charter or private schools) might be appearing, drawing students away.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at Coast Union High School?
From our statistics, Coast Union High has a 55:45 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
Coast Union High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in San Luis Obispo County. Since the student body is roughly half and half, it should feel like there are equal numbers of boys and girls in your classes.
This usually means that Coast Union High doesn't strongly select for either males or females, unlike other schools that have a large majority of males or females.
Ethnicity Breakdown
What's the racial diversity at Coast Union High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, Coast Union High has a somewhat homogenous student body, with the majority of students identifying as one ethnicity, but not representing over 70% of the student body. Most schools in California fit this profile, so Coast Union High isn't out of the ordinary. Most students attending class with you will be of the predominant ethnicity, but there will be meaningful diversity from other races.
The majority of students at Coast Union High are Hispanic. In California, Hispanic students make up the majority of all students at 51.5%, and are thus the most common ethnicity. Predominantly Hispanic schools are the most common type of homogenous school, and Coast Union High fits within this category.
| Percentage | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.0% | 0 |
| Asian | 2.1% | 5 |
| Hispanic | 50.8% | 121 |
| Black | 0.4% | 1 |
| White | 43.2% | 103 |
| Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 1.2% | 3 |
| Two or more races | 2.1% | 5 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Cambria. If you'd like to see how other nearby schools look in diversity, just google "[name of school] prepscholar" to find our guide to that specific school.
Income Level of Coast Union High Families
What are the family incomes of students at Coast Union High School? To determine this, we look at the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches, a classification by the US federal government.
To qualify for a reduced price meal, family income needs to be below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $45,000 or below.
To qualify for a free meal, family income needs to be below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $32,000 or below.
The lower the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price meals, the higher the income levels are likely to be.
At Coast Union High, 14.2% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 36.1% qualify for free lunches.
This means Coast Union High has a below average level of poverty. With most students not qualifying for free or reduced price lunches, Coast Union High is below average among California schools in poverty level. The income level of families in Cambria is thus likely to be relatively high.
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced-price lunches | 34 | 14.2% |
| Free lunches | 86 | 36.1% |
| Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches | 118 | 49.5% |
As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Cambria and doesn't speak much about the school itself.
Coast Union High is in the middle 50% of schools by income level. Generally, higher income level schools are better-funded and have a higher quality range of classes and activities. Coast Union High is likely in the middle of the pack in this regard and will give you a good set of options to try.
If you have any interests that Coast Union High doesn't cover, look to your local community for activities, or to the Internet for self-study AP classes.
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
School Safety
How safe is Coast Union High School to attend? Can you expect a lot of conflict as a student here?
To study this, we look at disciplinary data for two types of incidents at Coast Union High: referrals to law enforcement (when incidents are reported to police), and arrests.
These are the most serious disciplinary actions available to school administration and are more severe than suspensions or expulsions. Suspensions are often discretionary and can be given just for being disruptive in class. In contrast, law enforcement referrals and arrests often indicate incidents that put the safety of other Coast Union High students at risk.
In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 0 referrals to law enforcement, and 0 school-related arrests. This is out of a total enrollment of 223 students.
To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.
Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:
Coast Unified School District Safety
| School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leffingwell High (continuation) | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Cambria Community Day | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Academic Performance
Now we get to a major aspect of assessing a high school: academic performance. How good of an education will you get at Coast Union High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about Coast Union High's academics here.
Standardized Testing
Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for Coast Union High School students. These are tests that are administered to large populations of students for comparison purposes.
Let’s start by taking a look at the data for nationally administered standardized tests.
SAT Scores
As you probably know, the SAT is a critical test used for college admissions. The higher the score you get, the better your academic performance compared to students nationwide, and the easier it is to get into top colleges.
We did in-depth research and found the average Coast Union High School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1520 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 37 at Coast Union High take the SAT.
This is an average SAT score, putting Coast Union High School right around the national average. Because the SAT measures academic achievement, this suggests that Coast Union High will offer a fairly standard high school education, neither strongly lacking or outperforming.
Note, however, that this is just an average - the top students can still exceed the average significantly. If you can rise far above your school average, you'll have a great shot at entering a strong college.
Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)
| Source | Critical Reading | Math | Writing | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Union High | 520 | 504 | 503 | 1520 |
| California | 498 | 510 | 496 | 1504 |
| United States | 495 | 511 | 484 | 1490 |
Note that the SAT has since changed to a 1600 scale, but the trends above for your high school are likely to continue. Just use this guide to convert between the old 2400 scale and the new 1600 scale.
To learn more about SAT percentile rankings, read our guide on what SAT percentiles really mean.
How good is 1520 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1520 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1520 or any other SAT score!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
ACT Scores
In California, the ACT is less popular than the SAT. Fewer students take the ACT, and typically these students are more motivated and academically prepared for college. Therefore, it's harder to compare Coast Union High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At Coast Union High, the average ACT composite score was 21, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 12 out of 238 total students take the ACT.
This is above average performance, putting Coast Union High in the top 50% of California high schools. Since the ACT tests what you learn in school, these ACT scores are a good indication that you'll get an above-average education at Coast Union High.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Coast Union High compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
| Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Union High | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
| California | 21.8 | 22.8 | 22.3 | 21.7 |
| United States | 20.3 | 20.9 | 21.3 | 20.8 |
Scores provided are for the 2013-14 school year.
Find out more about percentile rankings and the ACT in this article.
Every individual is different. What counts as a good ACT score for you? Learn more with this article!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give Coast Union High School students credit for college.
Here's what we're looking for: high average AP test scores as well as high AP passing rates.
AP Scores
Every year, roughly 30 students in grades 9-12 at Coast Union High take 48 AP exams. It's important to understand how students score on the AP - earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test means passing the test and often earning college credit.
The average score of all AP exams taken at Coast Union High is 2.6 out of 5.
This score puts Coast Union High at average performance. For AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and the number of students who pass and don't pass are roughly even. This performance places Coast Union High School in the top 50% of schools for AP tests.
It's great that Coast Union High offers an AP program so you have the opportunity to take courses at a college level. Even though roughly half of all AP students here don't get a passing grade, half do - so with motivated studying throughout the year, you'll be able to beat the average.
We have specific data on how many students got a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) on AP exams in the chart below:
AP Test-Taking Statistics
Another way to gauge the quality of a school's AP program is to see how many AP students actually took AP exams at Coast Union High School. If a lot of students enroll in AP courses but don't actually take the AP tests, it can be a sign that students don't feel adequately prepared to take the test, or the school isn't encouraging students to take the exams enough.
At Coast Union High, there is a total enrollment of 76 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).
Of AP-taking students, 11 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 38 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 9 took AP courses but took NO tests.
This is acceptable test participation. Most AP students at Coast Union High School take the AP exam for just some of their AP courses, outnumbering students who take exams for all or none of their courses. The good news here is that Coast Union High students feel confident to take at least some AP tests. The question you may want to figure out is why more students don't feel confident enough to take tests for ALL their AP classes. This is something you can ask your counselor or AP teachers.
Note: The most recent data we have available is from 2012, so the statistics may have changed since then. Most likely, however, the trends are likely to continue - above average schools are likely to stay above average, and below average schools are likely to stay below average.
AP Passing Rates
For AP students at Coast Union High School who take the exam, it's important to know how they do. Here we have specific data on how many students got a passing grade (a 3 or above) on all, some, or none of the AP exams that they took.
Of all AP test takers, 11 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 8 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 14 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.
This is good performance. The majority of students pass SOME or ALL of the AP tests. Only a minority of students at Coast Union High School fail all the AP exams they take.
Overall, this points to a fairly strong AP program at Coast Union High. Most students are able to pass at least one of the AP tests they take, which means the teaching is likely of acceptable quality, and the students are motivated to do well. However, the program isn't strong across the board. Some teachers or courses may be better than others, and students at Coast Union High may be stronger at some subjects and weaker in others.
If you attend Coast Union High, this means you'll have a good starting point to work from - but if you want to pass all the AP tests you take, you'll need to work hard and use good study strategies.
To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Coast Union High School, you'll have to talk to your guidance counselor (who can then help you find that information). For instance, one AP Calculus teacher may have an above-90% passing rate, while another might only have a 50% passing rate. If you can, you'll want to take the class with the teacher who has more students get a 3 or above on the AP exam.
Find out more about the average score for each AP subject here.
State Tests
As of 2014, eleventh graders attending Coast Union High School must take standardized tests in English/Language Arts and Math as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These align with the new Common Core standards and are called the "Smarter Balanced" tests.
If Coast Union High students meet or exceed state standards, they're academically prepared to graduate high school and go to college. Specifically, we care about the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards. The larger this number, the higher the preparation of students at Coast Union High.
English/Language Arts
At Coast Union High School, 53% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered above average and puts Coast Union High in the top 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. Around half of Coast Union High students pass state standards, and around half do not.
This specific percentage isn't much cause for concern - because the standards have gotten harder with the Common Core, the pass rate at Coast Union High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects Coast Union High's roughly average ranking among California high schools.
English/Language Arts Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each ELA area score here.
Math
The other major test taken for state assessments is Math. Across the state, Math performance is generally lower than English/Language Arts performance, so it's natural for this number to be lower.
At Coast Union High School, 17% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Coast Union High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Coast Union High students don't meet state standards, and only a small percentage pass.
Math Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each Math area score, go here.
Academic Offerings
In addition to the standard high school curriculum, many high schools like Coast Union High School offer advanced coursework as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Brief Intro to AP/IB
AP and IB courses are designed at the difficulty level of college introductory classes. There are several important benefits to taking advanced coursework at Coast Union High. First, taking more advanced classes shows colleges that you're committed to challenging yourself academically, and that you're one of the more advanced students at Coast Union High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.
Furthermore, many colleges will accept your Coast Union High AP/IB coursework as college coursework. In some cases, you'll be able to skip introductory-level classes and move to more advanced classes. In other cases, you'll be able to avoid having to take required courses and might even be able to graduate earlier than the standard 4 years. Often this will require you to pass the AP test, getting a score of 3 or above.
So what advanced courses does Coast Union High School offer?
AP Courses
Coast Union High School offers AP courses in 10 subjects.
This is a reasonable number of AP subjects, putting Coast Union High School in the top 50% of California schools that offer AP courses. You'll likely have access to some of the most popular math and humanities AP subjects, as well as a few others.
The total number of AP subjects is 38, so Coast Union High is missing a large number of subjects, including some popular ones. If there are any AP courses you want to take that aren't being offered at Coast Union High, ask your counselor for ideas on how to cover the gap.
Of course, keep in mind that quality matters even more than quantity - even if Coast Union High doesn't offer every AP course under the sun, the classes might still be taught very well. You can see student performance in the AP score analysis section above.
The following AP courses were offered at Coast Union High during 2015-2016:
| Course Title |
|---|
| Biology |
| Calculus AB |
| English Literature and Composition |
| French Language and Culture |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
| Studio Art: 2-D Design |
| Studio Art: 3-D Design |
| Studio Art: Drawing |
| United States Government and Politics |
| United States History |
Sports Teams
Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at Coast Union High School. Sports are an integral part of many students' high school experiences. The more sports that are available, and the more levels supported (Frosh, JV, Varsity), the more likely you'll be able to participate in a sport at Coast Union High.
By the way, the Coast Union High mascot is the Broncos. Go Broncos!
Coast Union High School fields 10 teams for girls' sports. This is a relatively number that puts Coast Union High in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer girls' sports. This is understandable - sports teams are expensive to support, and many schools would rather put those resources elsewhere. If you participate in a sport that Coast Union High doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.
And now for the boys: Coast Union High School fields 9 teams for boys' sports. This relatively number puts Coast Union High in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Sports teams are expensive to support, and Coast Union High may not be able to offer the full range of options. If you participate in a sport that Coast Union High doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.
| Boys Teams | Girls Teams |
|---|---|
| Basketball
Var
JV
Fr
|
Basketball
Var
JV
Fr
|
| Tennis
Var
|
Tennis
Var
|
| Football
Var
JV
|
|
| Volleyball
Var
JV
|
|
| Baseball
Var
|
|
| Softball
Var
JV
|
|
| Soccer
Var
JV
|
Soccer
Var
JV
|
What’s Next?
Want to get more useful information about high school classes and preparing for colleges? Our blog has a ton of articles and advice on topics ranging from coursework and GPA to letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and much more!
Ready to bulk up your schedule and maximize your college preparedness? Read all about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
Not quite in high school yet, but eager to get started? We've also got information for younger students interested in advanced learning opportunities, both in and out of school.
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Sources
The data on this page is drawn from a variety of sources, including (but not limited to):
- National Center for Educational Statistics CCD 2013-2014
- "Free or reduced price lunch: A proxy for poverty?", NCES Blog
- CRDC 2011-2012 school year data
- California Department of Education SAT, ACT, and AP Test Results
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System Results
- AP Course Ledger
- IBO.org