About Us

A Place for Students to Dream and Achieve

Cabrillo Unified School District schools create a space where your students learn, find their passions, and achieve their dreams. School should be a place where students discover their dreams and believe their dreams can come true.

Helping students find their passions and prepare academically for each stage of their educational journey is the most important work we do in the Cabrillo Unified School District (CUSD), from instilling a love of learning in our youngest students to offering the classes and experiences our middle and high school students need to achieve their goals. 


Dreams come true on sand

Equity Statement

Equity in education is defined as the targeted allocation of resources based on critical unmet needs so that all students may develop to their full academic and social-emotional potential. These resources may include adequate funding; rigorous and culturally meaningful curriculum, instruction, and enrichment; technology; family engagement; and social-emotional support or other specialized support services. 

In CUSD we firmly believe all students can succeed when given support and experiences they need. Academic outcomes in school districts (including CUSD) have long been predictable due to a variety of student characteristics such as race, ethnicity, home language, national origin, family income, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, family educational attainment, religion, and immigration status. While achievement gaps in public education can be attributed to complex societal and historical factors, we regard all learners as having promise, and we pledge to help all students achieve their potential.

As leaders in our community, it is our responsibility to guide strategic district actions and leverage partnerships so opportunity gaps disappear and all can access academic excellence. To ensure all students achieve at high levels, we need to focus on student needs and a review of data to determine additional support. This work requires collaboration, continuous improvement, and commitment to the work required for success of all students. When all our students are empowered to choose their own paths to thrive in college, career, and life (rather than paths being pre-determined or predictable based on individual or family characteristics), then we will be successful in achieving our mission of serving “every child, every day” and getting students what they need when they need it.

(Equity Statement adopted by the Governing Board on October 14, 2021.)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Cabrillo Unified School District - an exemplary learning community committed to valuing our distinct cultural identities - is to develop critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens who actively participate in their individual learning and development and are fully prepared to embrace their next challenge. We accomplish this by utilizing our unique natural resources and engaging the entire Coastside community and its partners in providing a rich and academically rigorous curriculum in a safe and nurturing environment.

We believe that...

Education is a partnership between student, family, school, and community
Each individual deserves the opportunity to reach their potential
High expectations promote success
Knowledge creates opportunity
Learning is a lifelong process that enriches the quality of life
Flexibility provides opportunity and promotes innovation
The well-being of the individual is essential to learning
Everyone has the right to be treated with respect
Education is essential to our democratic society
Accountability guides continuous improvement
Leadership embraces responsible change
Excellence is worth the investment
Everyone has the right to be safe
Diversity enriches society
Everyone can learn

About us

We serve about 3200 students in four elementary, one middle, and two high schools in a district covering more than 135 square miles in a rural, small-town setting. Though we are geographically separated from the hustle and bustle of the San Francisco Bay Area, many of the parents of our students commute to jobs in San Francisco, San Jose, and the surrounding area, and our students benefit from our proximity to a culturally rich and economically-thriving region. 

Our Demographics

We are a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse district with about 51% Hispanic or Latino students, 40% white students, and 9% from other ethnic backgrounds.  About 26% of our students speak another language at home and are learning English, and about 46% of our students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

 

Farallone View students studying together

Our Schools

Our four elementary schools are assigned by residence area, but parents have the option of sending their students to any school in the district boundary that meets their needs.  All of our K-5 schools focus on the whole child and provide social-emotional as well as academic learning. Each school has a unique culture and focus, including exploratory learning, environmental science, multi-age classrooms, and two-way Spanish-English immersion.  Students from all four elementary schools come together at Cunha Middle School and Half Moon Bay High School. 10th-12th grade students who need a smaller, alternative high school setting have the option of attending Pilarcitos High School, which meets students’ needs with a customized educational plan. 

Our Community

We are fortunate to teach students in a close-knit community that works alongside local schools to support and nurture students every step of the way, from preschool to 12th grade.  Coastside students form deep roots with classmates, teachers, and coaches that allow them to discover and develop their natural gifts and talents in an atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and loving.  Our students leave us with a strong sense of belonging and a high level of confidence in their ability to navigate the world.

Our Students

More than 80% of our high school graduates have been with us since kindergarten, so we take pride in their achievements and celebrate their victories as proudly as their parents!  In recent years, 95% of our graduates are pursuing some form of post-secondary education and 59% have completed the University of California/California State University A-G requirements, a more rigorous standard than is required by many private colleges and universities.  Each year we send many students to our fine California public universities, including UC-Berkeley and UCLA, and to elite private institutions around the country, including Stanford University.

 

HMB band students

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