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 2026-27 school year, there are 19 public schools serving 18,837 students in San Marcos Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in San Marcos Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the California public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 60% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 63% 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
19 Schools
10,323 Schools
# Students
18,837 Students
5,788,587 Students
# Teachers
804 Teachers
267,491 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
23:1
23:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
San Marcos Unified School District, which is ranked #350 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 95% has increased from 94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#327 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
34%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
47%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
39%
29%
Graduation Rate
95%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)21.2%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
Showing 2005–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
8%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
46%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
1%
5%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% White
37%
20%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,418 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,263 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$385 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$344 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$20,418
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$18,263
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best San Marcos Unified School District Public Schools (2026-27)
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 | 717 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
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 | 725 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
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 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
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 | 725 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
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 | 834 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
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 | 1,171 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
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 | 883 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 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 | 1,395 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 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 | 725 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
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 | 1,184 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1111.
San Marcos High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1615 San Marcos Blvd.
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2200
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2200
Gr: 9-12 | 3,067 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1212.
Mission Hills High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1 Mission Hills Ct.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2700
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2700
Gr: 9-12 | 2,751 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1313.
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 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1414.
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 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1515.
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 | 968 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1616.
Foothills High School
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
158 Cassou Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2544
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2544
Gr: 9-12 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1717.
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 | 868 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1818.
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 | 546 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1919.
Twin Oaks High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
158 Cassou Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2555
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2555
Gr: 9-12 | 192 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to San Marcos Unified School District?
San Marcos Unified School District manages 19 public schools serving 18,837 students.
What is the rank of San Marcos Unified School District?
San Marcos Unified School District is ranked #350 out of 1,903 school districts in California (top 20%) 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 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%), Highest graduation rate (Top 5%), Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in San Marcos Unified School District?
46% of San Marcos Unified School District students are Hispanic, 37% of students are White, 8% of students are Asian, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of San Marcos Unified School District?
San Marcos Unified School District has a student/teacher ratio of 23:1, which is higher than the California state average of 22:1.
What is San Marcos Unified School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $18,263 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
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