Top Rankings
Carlsbad Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 16 public schools serving 10,678 students in Carlsbad Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in Carlsbad Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the California public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 47% statewide average).
The top-ranked public schools in Carlsbad Unified School District are Pacific Rim Elementary School, Aviara Oaks Elementary School and Magnolia Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Carlsbad Unified School District has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in California.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
16 Schools
10,323 Schools
# Students
10,678 Students
5,788,587 Students
# Teachers
469 Teachers
267,491 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
23:1
23:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Carlsbad Unified School District, which is ranked #116 of all 1,903 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has decreased from 95% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#111 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
62%
34%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
73%
47%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
29%
Graduation Rate
92%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)18.5%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
Showing 2005–2014. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
6%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
26%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
1%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
56%
20%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,045 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,016 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$214 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$203 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$20,045
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$19,016
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Carlsbad Unified School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pacific Rim Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1100 Camino De Las Ondas
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6200
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6200
Gr: K-5 | 642 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #22.
Aviara Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
6900 Ambrosia Ln.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6000
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6000
Gr: K-5 | 612 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #33.
Magnolia Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1905 Magnolia Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5600
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5600
Gr: K-5 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #44.
Poinsettia Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2445 Mica Rd.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6500
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6500
Gr: K-5 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #55.
Kelly Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4885 Kelly Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5800
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5800
Gr: K-5 | 449 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #66.
Sage Creek High School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3900 Bobcat Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6600
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,289 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #77.
Aviara Oaks Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6880 Ambrosia Ln.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6100
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6100
Gr: 6-8 | 991 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #88.
Hope Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3010 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5900
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5900
Gr: K-5 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #99.
Buena Vista Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1330 Buena Vista Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5400
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5400
Gr: K-5 | 281 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1010.
Calavera Hills Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4100 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6300
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6300
Gr: K-5 | 441 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1111.
Carlsbad Seaside Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3557 Lancer Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5200
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5200
Gr: K-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1212.
Valley Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1645 Magnolia Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5300
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5300
Gr: 6-8 | 807 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Calavera Hills Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4104 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6400
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6400
Gr: 6-8 | 655 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Carlsbad High School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3557 Lancer Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5100
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5100
Gr: 9-12 | 2,336 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1515.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3743 Jefferson St.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5500
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5500
Gr: K-5 | 471 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1616.
Carlsbad Village Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3557 Lancer Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5200
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5200
Gr: 10-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Carlsbad Unified School District?
Carlsbad Unified School District manages 16 public schools serving 10,678 students.
What is the rank of Carlsbad Unified School District?
Carlsbad Unified School District is ranked #116 out of 1,903 school districts in California (top 10%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of California school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 10%), Highest math proficiency (Top 10%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%), Highest science proficiency (Top 10%), Highest graduation rate (Top 20%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Carlsbad Unified School District?
56% of Carlsbad Unified School District students are White, 26% of students are Hispanic, 11% of students are Two or more races, 6% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Carlsbad Unified School District?
Carlsbad Unified School District has a student/teacher ratio of 23:1, which is higher than the California state average of 22:1.
What is Carlsbad Unified School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $19,016 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
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