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%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 13 public elementary schools serving 7,022 students in Carlsbad Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Carlsbad Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the California public elementary school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 45% statewide average).
The top ranked public elementary schools in Carlsbad Unified School District are Pacific Rim Elementary School, Magnolia Elementary School and Aviara Oaks Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Minority enrollment is 44% 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
16 Schools
7,700 Schools
# Students
10,795 Students
3,822,920 Students
# Teachers
483 Teachers
174,000 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
22:1
22:1
District Rank
Carlsbad Unified School District, which is ranked #120 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#110 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
73%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
29%
Graduation Rate
95%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.64
# American Indian Students
21 Students
16,785 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
676 Students
454,357 Students
% Asian Students
7%
12%
# Hispanic Students
2,819 Students
2,114,366 Students
% Hispanic Students
26%
55%
# Black Students
124 Students
189,461 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
6,045 Students
787,389 Students
% White Students
56%
21%
# Hawaiian Students
17 Students
15,077 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,078 Students
240,557 Students
% of Two or more races Students
10%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
796
519,574
# Students in 1st Grade:
716
396,601
# Students in 2nd Grade:
752
414,466
# Students in 3rd Grade:
687
416,628
# Students in 4th Grade:
789
426,360
# Students in 5th Grade:
815
430,582
# Students in 6th Grade:
792
432,936
# Students in 7th Grade:
833
312,207
# Students in 8th Grade:
801
312,649
# Students in 9th Grade:
963
44,929
# Students in 10th Grade:
881
37,487
# Students in 11th Grade:
925
37,249
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,045
41,169
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,386 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 $18,889 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$177 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$204 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,386
$19,974
Spending / Student
$18,889
$18,396
Best Carlsbad Unified School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Pacific Rim Elementary School
(Math: 81% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 652 students
Rank: #22.
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
Grades: K-5
| 499 students
Rank: #33.
Aviara Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
6900 Ambrosia Ln.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6000
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6000
Grades: K-5
| 624 students
Rank: #44.
Poinsettia Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2445 Mica Rd.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6500
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6500
Grades: K-5
| 509 students
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
Grades: K-5
| 441 students
Rank: #66.
Aviara Oaks Middle School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6880 Ambrosia Ln.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6100
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6100
Grades: 6-8
| 985 students
Rank: #77.
Hope Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3010 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5900
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5900
Grades: K-5
| 657 students
Rank: #88.
Carlsbad Seaside Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3557 Monroe St.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5299
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5299
Grades: K-12
| 54 students
Rank: #99.
Buena Vista Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 288 students
Rank: #1010.
Calavera Hills Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4100 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6300
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6300
Grades: K-5
| 407 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Calavera Hills Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4104 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6400
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-6400
Grades: 6-8
| 640 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Valley Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1645 Magnolia Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5300
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 331-5300
Grades: 6-8
| 788 students
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
Grades: K-5
| 478 students
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