Top Rankings
San Marcos Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 15 public elementary schools serving 12,997 students in San Marcos Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in San Marcos Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 60% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
19 Schools
7,700 Schools
# Students
19,355 Students
3,822,920 Students
# Teachers
796 Teachers
174,006 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
San Marcos Unified School District, which is ranked #350 of all 1,910 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 95% has increased from 94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#327 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
29%
Graduation Rate
95%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
8%
12%
% Hispanic
46%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
37%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,236 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 $14,948 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$353 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$289 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,236
$19,974
Spending / Student
$14,948
$18,396
Best San Marcos Unified School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Discovery Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
730 Applewilde Dr.
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2077
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2077
Gr: K-5 | 687 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #22.
Carrillo Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2875 Poinsettia Ln.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2900
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2900
Gr: K-5 | 756 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #33.
Paloma Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
660 Camino Magnifico
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2199
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2199
Gr: K-5 | 742 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #44.
La Costa Meadows Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6889 El Fuerte St.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2121
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2121
Gr: K-5 | 723 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #55.
San Elijo Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1615 Schoolhouse Way
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2600
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2600
Gr: K-5 | 846 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #66.
Double Peak
(Math: 65% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
111 San Elijo Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2340
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2340
Gr: K-8 | 1,198 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #77.
Richland Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
910 Richland Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2400
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2400
Gr: K-5 | 869 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #88.
San Elijo Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1600 Schoolhouse Way
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2800
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2800
Gr: 6-8 | 1,482 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #99.
Knob Hill Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1825 Knob Hill Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2080
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2080
Gr: K-5 | 726 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1010.
Woodland Park Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1270 Rock Springs Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2455
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2455
Gr: 6-8 | 1,179 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1111.
Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
653 Poinsettia Ave.
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 290-2888
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 290-2888
Gr: K-5 | 600 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1212.
Twin Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1 Cassou Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2588
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2588
Gr: K-5 | 706 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1313.
San Marcos Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
650 West Mission Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2500
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2500
Gr: 6-8 | 987 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1414.
La Mirada Academy
(Math: 25% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3697 La Mirada Dr.
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2000
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2000
Gr: K-8 | 897 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1515.
San Marcos Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1 Tiger Way
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2430
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2430
Gr: K-5 | 599 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
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