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 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 49% (versus the California public elementary school average of 35%), 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
174,000 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
0.64
# American Indian Students
25 Students
16,785 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
1,563 Students
454,357 Students
% Asian Students
8%
12%
# Hispanic Students
8,937 Students
2,114,366 Students
% Hispanic Students
46%
55%
# Black Students
200 Students
189,461 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
7,084 Students
787,389 Students
% White Students
37%
21%
# Hawaiian Students
53 Students
15,077 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,487 Students
240,557 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
1,699
519,574
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,345
396,601
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,320
414,466
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,368
416,628
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,390
426,360
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,454
430,582
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,422
432,936
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,545
312,207
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,468
312,649
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,433
44,929
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,571
37,487
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,603
37,249
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,737
41,169
# 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 Elementary 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.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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: #1313.
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: #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
Grades: K-8
| 897 students
Rank: #1515.
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
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