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 13 public elementary schools serving 7,015 students in Carlsbad Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Carlsbad Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 64% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 46% statewide average).
The top-ranked public elementary 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. Minority enrollment is 45% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public elementary school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
16 Schools
7,664 Schools
# Students
10,678 Students
3,815,621 Students
# Teachers
469 Teachers
173,890 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
0.64
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
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%
7%
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 Elementary 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.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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%
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