Top Rankings
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 2,429 students in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 68% (versus the California public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 78% (versus the 46% statewide average).
The top ranked public middle schools in Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District are Ridgecrest Intermediate, Palos Verdes Intermediate and Palos Verdes Distance Learning Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Asian), which is less than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
18 Schools
3,501 Schools
# Students
10,336 Students
1,854,363 Students
# Teachers
456 Teachers
87,821 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
23:1
23:1
District Rank
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, which is ranked #46 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 98% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#46 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
72%
33%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
80%
47%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
29%
Graduation Rate
98%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.72
0.64
# American Indian Students
18 Students
9,887 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
3,264 Students
201,760 Students
% Asian Students
32%
11%
# Hispanic Students
1,599 Students
1,009,980 Students
% Hispanic Students
15%
55%
# Black Students
219 Students
97,908 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
3,978 Students
413,325 Students
% White Students
39%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
14 Students
7,600 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,235 Students
109,003 Students
% of Two or more races Students
12%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
827
90,358
# Students in 1st Grade:
636
70,728
# Students in 2nd Grade:
678
73,359
# Students in 3rd Grade:
695
73,090
# Students in 4th Grade:
692
76,068
# Students in 5th Grade:
751
82,191
# Students in 6th Grade:
765
289,122
# Students in 7th Grade:
772
439,549
# Students in 8th Grade:
846
441,705
# Students in 9th Grade:
837
59,696
# Students in 10th Grade:
928
51,846
# Students in 11th Grade:
957
51,149
# Students in 12th Grade:
952
55,419
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,755 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,060 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$153 MM
$116,387 MM

Spending
$145 MM
$107,188 MM

Revenue / Student
$14,755
$19,974

Spending / Student
$14,060
$18,396

Best Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Ridgecrest Intermediate
(Math: 77% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
28915 Northbay Rd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 544-2747
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 544-2747
Grades: 6-8
| 917 students
Rank: #22.
Palos Verdes Intermediate
(Math: 69% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2161 Via Olivera
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
(310) 544-4816
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
(310) 544-4816
Grades: 6-8
| 709 students
Rank: #33.
Palos Verdes Distance Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
38 Crest Rd. West
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
(310) 378-9966
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
(310) 378-9966
Grades: K-12
| 57 students
Rank: #44.
Miraleste Intermediate
(Math: 58% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
29323 Palos Verdes Dr. East
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 732-0900
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 732-0900
Grades: 6-8
| 746 students
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