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%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public schools serving 19,355 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 46% (versus the California public school average of 33%), 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
10,369 Schools
# Students
19,355 Students
5,826,838 Students
# Teachers
796 Teachers
268,018 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
District Rank
San Marcos Unified School District, which is ranked #333 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 stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#335 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
33%
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
0.63
# American Indian Students
25 Students
25,796 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
1,563 Students
705,807 Students
% Asian Students
8%
12%
# Hispanic Students
8,937 Students
3,264,561 Students
% Hispanic Students
46%
56%
# Black Students
200 Students
286,112 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
7,084 Students
1,178,558 Students
% White Students
37%
20%
# Hawaiian Students
53 Students
23,731 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,487 Students
333,755 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
1,699
522,456
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,345
396,605
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,320
414,466
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,368
416,628
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,390
426,361
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,454
430,587
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,422
432,997
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,545
439,621
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,468
441,777
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,433
466,534
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,571
476,585
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,603
469,511
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,737
492,627
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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 Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Discovery Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
730 Applewilde Dr.
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2077
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2077
Grades: K-5
| 687 students
Rank: #22.
Carrillo Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2875 Poinsettia Ln.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2900
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2900
Grades: K-5
| 756 students
Rank: #33.
Paloma Elementary School
(Math: 70% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 742 students
Rank: #44.
La Costa Meadows Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6889 El Fuerte St.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2121
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 290-2121
Grades: K-5
| 723 students
Rank: #55.
San Elijo Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1615 Schoolhouse Way
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2600
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 290-2600
Grades: K-5
| 846 students
Rank: #66.
Double Peak
(Math: 61% | 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
Grades: K-8
| 1,198 students
Rank: #77.
San Elijo Middle School
(Math: 52% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 1,482 students
Rank: #88.
Richland Elementary School
(Math: 59% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 869 students
Rank: #99.
Knob Hill Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1825 Knob Hill Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2080
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2080
Grades: K-5
| 726 students
Rank: #1010.
Foothills High School
Alternative School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
158 Cassou Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2544
San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 290-2544
Grades: 9-12
| 110 students
Rank: #1111.
Woodland Park Middle School
(Math: 38% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 1,179 students
Rank: #1212.
Twin Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 49% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 706 students
Rank: #1313.
San Marcos High School
(Math: 33% | 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
Grades: 9-12
| 3,201 students
Rank: #1414.
Mission Hills High School
(Math: 29% | 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
Grades: 9-12
| 2,834 students
Rank: #1515.
Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
653 Poinsettia Ave.
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 290-2888
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 290-2888
Grades: K-5
| 600 students
Rank: #1616.
San Marcos Middle School
(Math: 29% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 987 students
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
Grades: K-8
| 897 students
Rank: #1818.
San Marcos Elementary School
(Math: 24% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 599 students
Rank: #1919.
Twin Oaks High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | 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
Grades: 9-12
| 213 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to San Marcos Unified School District?
San Marcos Unified School District manages 19 public schools serving 19,355 students.
What is the rank of San Marcos Unified School District?
San Marcos Unified School District is ranked #333 out of 1,925 school districts in California (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 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%), 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 24:1, 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 $14,948 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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