The Lucia Mar Unified School District is the largest school district in San Luis Obispo County, with about 10,900 students. It covers 550 square miles (1,424.5 km²) at the southern end of the county, from Shell Beach (at the north end of Pismo Beach) to the county line at the Santa Maria River. This territory encompasses the communities of Shell Beach

Shell Beach

Shell Beach may refer to:* A shell beach is a term for a beach that routinely has numerous seashells washed up* Several real places that feature a shell beach:** Shell Beach, California** Shell Beach, Guyana** Shell Beach, Louisiana...

, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach

Grover Beach, California

Grover Beach is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. The population was 13,156 at the 2010 census, up from 13,067 at the 2000 census. This city was originally called, "Grover City". The name was changed by popular vote in 1992 to emphasize the seaside...

, Arroyo Grande, Oceano

Océano

Océano is the third studio album by Argentine singer Pablo Ruiz. It was released in 1989.- Track listing :# Océano# La Chica De La Tele# Soñando En La Lluvia# Mi Corazón Se Fue# Este Mundo# Quiero Tu Amor# Hawái# Ámame Pronto# Hey Valentina...

, Halcyon

Halcyon, California

Halcyon, California is an unincorporated community of approximately 125 acres in San Luis Obispo County, California, located just beyond the southern border of the city of Arroyo Grande...

, and Nipomo.

The district has been busy with growth and new construction. Two brand new schools have been built in Nipomo: Nipomo High School

Nipomo High School

Nipomo High School is an American public high school located in Nipomo, California. It serves grades 9-12 as part of the Lucia Mar Unified School District...

 in 2002, and Dorothea Lange Elementary in 2006. A few years earlier, the Lopez

Lopez High School

Lopez High School serves as the magnet school of the fine arts as well as the teaching academy for the Brownsville Independent School District. Lopez High School has had many recognizations in the field of the fine arts...

 continuation high school moved to a brand new campus on the Nipomo Mesa. And Arroyo Grande High School

Arroyo Grande High School

Arroyo Grande High School is an American public high school located in Arroyo Grande, California. It serves grades 9-12 as part of the Lucia Mar Unified School District .-Campus:...

 is undergoing a major renovation with new buildings and facilities, including a new pool, tennis courts and multi-purpose room. The 'Clark Center For The Performing Arts' opened on the Arroyo Grande High School campus in 2002. It is used by all the schools in the district. A new gym was built for Mesa Middle School and a multi-purpose room with covered eating area was constructed at Paulding Middle School

Paulding Middle School

Paulding Middle School was originally the first high school built in the area in 1906. Decades later, the school became the lower school that fed into the new high school. Currently, the school is one of three middle schools in the Lucia Mar Unified School District teaching about 625 students in...

. All of this activity could not have happened without support from the community. Local voters passed bond measures to fund new schools and the AGHS renovation, and fund raisers to build the Clark Center were successful.

Lucia Mar is proud of the quality of its schools and educational programs. Its stated goal:
"The mission of the Lucia Mar Unified School District is to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to become productive members of society."

Elementary schools

• Branch Elementary School
• Dana Elementary School
• Dorothea Lange Elementary School
• Grover Beach Elementary School
• Grover Heights Elementary School
• Harloe Elementary School, K-6, opened September 1955, California Distinguished School
• Nipomo Elementary
• Fairgrove Elementary School
• Ocean View Elementary School
• Oceano Elementary School
• Shell Beach Elementary School