These are the best schools in SLO County, Niche says. See who made the list

Where are the best public schools in San Luis Obispo County?

The top spots to send local students include campuses in Avila Beach, Los Osos, Nipomo and San Luis Obispo, according to Niche’s 2024 Best Schools in San Luis Obispo County list.

The ranking and review website graded schools on a scale of A+ through D-, focusing on factors such as academics, diversity, teachers and college preparation.

Niche, which aims to connect colleges and schools with students and families, based its rankings on “the most up-to-date data available from dozens of public data sources” such as the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Census Bureau and “millions of reviews from students, parents and residents,” the company said on its website.

The site has nearly 2.5 million school reviews from students, parents and teachers, it said.

Niche looked at both public schools and private schools on the Central Coast for its 2024 rankings.

Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School in Avila Beach took Niche’s top spot for the best public elementary school in SLO County, while Laguna Middle School in San Luis Obispo was ranked No. 1 among public middle schools.

Central Coast New Tech High School in Nipomo landed in first place on Niche’s list of best local public high schools.

One North Coast school — Cayucos Elementary School — made two separate top 10 lists. The campus serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School in San Luis Obispo was the best private high school in SLO County, according to Niche, while Coastal Christian School in Pismo Beach was the best private school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Here are the top 10 public elementary, middle and high schools in San Luis Obispo County, according to Niche:

Best public elementary schools in SLO County

1. Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School in Avila Beach
2. Teach Elementary School in San Luis Obispo
3. Los Ranchos Elementary School in San Luis Obispo
4. Monarch Grove Elementary School in Los Osos
5. Ocean View Elementary School in Arroyo Grande
6. Pleasant Valley Elementary School in San Miguel
7. Sinsheimer Elementary School in San Luis Obispo
8. Bishop’s Peak Elementary School in San Luis Obispo
9. Harloe Elementary School in Arroyo Grande
10. Cayucos Elementary School

Best public middle schools in SLO County

1. Laguna Middle School in San Luis Obispo
2. Los Osos Middle School
3. Templeton Middle School
4. Cayucos Elementary School
5. Judkins Middle School in Pismo Beach
6. Paulding Middle School in Arroyo Grande
7. Templeton Home alternative school
8. Daniel Lewis Middle School in Paso Robles
9. Fine Arts Academy in Atascadero
10. Atascadero Middle School

Best public high schools in SLO County

1. Central Coast New Tech High School in Nipomo
2. San Luis Obispo High School
3. Templeton High School
4. Arroyo Grande High School
5. Coast Union High School in Cambria
6. Paso Robles High School
7. Templeton Independent Study High School
8. Morro Bay High School
9. Nipomo High School
10. Atascadero High School

This story was originally published January 19, 2024 at 8:00 AM.

Sarah Linn

The Tribune

805-781-7907

Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.