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Carmel Del Mar Elementary

Public Grades K-6

42^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of California elementary schools

Summary

Carmel Del Mar Elementary is a top-tier K-6 school serving 562 students in the affluent and highly-regarded Del Mar Union Elementary School District in San Diego, consistently ranking in the top 2% of all California elementary schools.

The school's academic performance is exceptional, with over 86% of students proficient in English and 88% in Math, significantly outpacing state averages. What truly sets Carmel Del Mar Elementary apart is its remarkable effectiveness with all students, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, where it ranks 4th in the entire state. This strength is notable compared to nearby high-performing schools like Ocean Air and Sage Canyon, as Carmel Del Mar achieves this with a more diverse student population and does so very cost-effectively.

While schools like Ocean Air show marginally higher test scores, Carmel Del Mar delivers elite, consistent results across all student groups and has maintained this excellence for over a decade. It is a cornerstone of the outstanding Del Mar Union Elementary district, offering families a proven, equitable, and resilient educational environment.

562

Students ?

22.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,136

Per pupil spending ?

10.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12345 Carmel Park Dr.
San Diego, CA 92130-2222

(858) 481-6789

District: Del Mar Union Elementary

Students who attend Carmel Del Mar Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Carmel Valley Middle
High:	Torrey Pines High

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

43.1%

White:

38.3%

Two or more races:

9.4%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Carmel Del Mar Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 97th percentile in 2013 → 99th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (86% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Del Mar Union Elementary

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school86%

District avg82%

California avg41%

42^nd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 9Elementary Schools in the Del Mar Union Elementary

32^nd of 1,543Del Mar Union Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.3	42 of 5857	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	96 of 5869	98.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.9	106 of 5859	98.2%	★★★★★
2022	98.5	61 of 5883	99.0%	★★★★★
2019	98.5	39 of 5789	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	98.0	70 of 5662	98.8%	★★★★★
2017	98.4	53 of 5692	99.1%	★★★★★
2016	95.0	318 of 5614	94.3%	★★★★★
2015	97.9	111 of 5611	98.0%	★★★★★
2013	94.2	163 of 5530	97.1%	★★★★★
2012	94.6	113 of 5390	97.9%	★★★★★
2011	94.1	180 of 5377	96.7%	★★★★★
2010	94.5	163 of 5314	96.9%	★★★★★
2009	93.7	246 of 5193	95.3%	★★★★★
2008	95.2	173 of 5113	96.6%	★★★★★
2007	96.2	156 of 5113	96.9%	★★★★★
2006	95.6	184 of 4818	96.2%	★★★★★
2005	96.3	149 of 4822	96.9%	★★★★★
2004	95.5	212 of 4809	95.6%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	82.1	108 of 1203	91.0%	★★★★★
2024	78.7	192 of 1205	84.1%	★★★★☆
2023	82.8	88 of 1190	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	85.6	42 of 1154	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	84.1	47 of 1149	95.9%	★★★★★
2018	81.8	81 of 1071	92.4%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	90.4	109 of 3162	96.6%	★★★★★
2023	87.5	168 of 3245	94.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.2	89 of 5597	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	68 of 5612	98.8%	★★★★★
2023	97.6	89 of 5609	98.4%	★★★★★
2022	97.9	68 of 5635	98.8%	★★★★★
2019	97.2	75 of 5492	98.6%	★★★★★
2018	96.2	143 of 5413	97.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	4 of 5460	99.9%	★★★★★
2024	98.3	90 of 5517	98.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.3	36 of 5628	99.4%	★★★★★
2024	96.9	132 of 5643	97.7%	★★★★★
2023	97.3	125 of 5638	97.8%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	70 of 5663	98.8%	★★★★★
2019	98.7	21 of 5510	99.6%	★★★★★
2018	98.5	28 of 5431	99.5%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	85.6	256 of 2635	90.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.4	75 of 2598	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	89.2	111 of 2651	95.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.5	123 of 2661	95.4%	★★★★★
2022	91.6	64 of 2726	97.7%	★★★★★
2019	92.8	28 of 2834	99.0%	★★★★★
2018	91.1	73 of 2737	97.3%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)100th percentile~ school

Male (2025)99th percentile~ school

Female (2025)98th percentile~ school

White (2025)97th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2024)97th percentile~ school

Asian (2025)91st percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2024)90th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics88%+51 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy86%+37 vs state

Science74%+42 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 25, 2018

We moved here in August 2017 and my 6th grader was bullied and the principal covered it up. Even though we had written statements from kids that bullied him. She wants you to think this school is perfect and they hide things. Close Quote

Schools Near Carmel Del Mar Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Varicella KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Carmel Del Mar Elementary	Public	K-6	12345 Carmel Park Dr.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 481-6789	562	25	22.4	10.5%	215 (38.3%)	6 (1.1%)	46 (8.2%)	242 (43.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (9.4%)	98.3	42^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	99.3%		97.7	96^th of 5869 public elementary schools	98.4%	54	74.5	74.5	86.1	83.9	89.3	84.9	86.0	86.3	93.1	86.2	88.1	88.4				$21,136	$387	$20,749
Carmel Creek Elementary	Public	K-3	4210 Carmel Center Rd.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Solana Beach Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 794-4400	317	14	22.6	14.2%	93 (29.3%)	1 (0.3%)	38 (12.0%)	141 (44.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (13.6%)								(n/a)			68.1				68.1	77.1				77.1	96.8	96.8	96.8	$25,443	$416	$25,027
Solana Highlands Elementary	Public	K-6	3520 Long Run Dr.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Solana Beach Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 794-4300	384	18	21.3	12.0%	177 (46.1%)	2 (0.5%)	37 (9.6%)	111 (28.9%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	52 (13.5%)	97.6	107^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.2%		94.6	376^th of 5869 public elementary schools	93.6%	269	75.0	75.0	92.0	70.0	82.9	84.9	84.1	92.2	86.1	88.6	86.5	89.1	97.0			$21,656	$416	$21,240
Ocean Air	Public	K-6	11444 Canter Heights Dr.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 481-4040	450	22	20.4	3.8%	137 (30.4%)	3 (0.7%)	32 (7.1%)	225 (50.0%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	49 (10.9%)	98.7	25^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.6%		99	18^th of 5869 public elementary schools	99.7%	7	77.9	77.9	90.2	82.9	87.0	96.1	89.1	98.0	88.6	88.3	94.7	92.0				$20,713	$321	$20,392
Del Mar Heights Elementary	Public	K-6	13555 Boquita Dr.	Del Mar	92014	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 755-9367	293	16	18.3	10.2%	172 (58.7%)	3 (1.0%)	36 (12.3%)	40 (13.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (14.3%)	98.2	59^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.0%		96	262^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	95.5%	203	74.5	74.5	86.1	85.0	93.6	88.0	88.3	90.7	77.5	83.0	84.0	83.9				$18,602	$321	$18,281
Del Mar Hills Elementary	Public	K-6	14085 Mango Dr.	Del Mar	92014	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 755-9763	224	14	16.4	9.4%	115 (51.3%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (21.4%)	29 (12.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (14.3%)	95.5	288^th of 5857 public elementary schools	95.1%		95.1	339^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.2%	51	79.3	79.3	81.4	67.7	89.7	72.0	78.1	83.7	71.9	93.1	80.0	82.2				$22,781	$321	$22,460
Ashley Falls Elementary	Public	K-6	13030 Ashley Falls Dr.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 259-7812	367	19	19.8	6.8%	172 (46.9%)	1 (0.3%)	44 (12.0%)	119 (32.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.4%)	94.3	375^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.6%		93	503^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	91.4%	128	63.8	63.8	77.6	76.3	74.5	73.1	75.6	80.6	74.4	83.0	69.2	76.6				$24,052	$321	$23,731
Sage Canyon	Public	K-6	5290 Harvest Run Dr.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 481-7844	457	24	19.0	4.2%	211 (46.2%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (9.8%)	154 (33.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (9.8%)	98.2	54^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.1%		98.6	41^st of 5869 public elementary schools	99.3%	13	81.0	81.0	78.0	83.1	90.5	91.8	86.6	81.7	86.7	91.7	90.4	88.1				$23,345	$688	$22,657
Torrey Hills	Public	K-6	10830 Calle Mar de Mariposa	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 481-4266	389	22	17.6	11.3%	151 (38.8%)	2 (0.5%)	33 (8.5%)	172 (44.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.5%)	94	398^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.2%		94.4	390^th of 5869 public elementary schools	93.4%	8	73.6	73.6	70.3	62.5	84.7	81.4	75.3	72.3	73.2	81.9	83.3	77.9				$19,907	$472	$19,435
Sycamore Ridge	Public	K-6	5333 Old Carmel Valley Rd.	San Diego	92130	San Diego County	Del Mar Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 755-1060	386	21	18.2	26.7%	142 (36.8%)	10 (2.6%)	45 (11.7%)	148 (38.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (10.4%)	93.8	411^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.0%		93.3	490^th of 5869 public elementary schools	91.7%	79	69.2	69.2	71.9	71.9	74.6	77.3	74.1	72.9	79.3	70.8	73.1	73.9				$19,917	$321	$19,596

Frequently Asked Questions about Carmel Del Mar Elementary

What schools do graduates of Carmel Del Mar Elementary attend?

Students who attend Carmel Del Mar Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Carmel Valley Middle
High : Torrey Pines High

What is the racial makeup of Carmel Del Mar Elementary?

Students at Carmel Del Mar Elementary are 43% Asian, 38% White, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 1% African American.

How many students attend Carmel Del Mar Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 562 students attended Carmel Del Mar Elementary.

Is Carmel Del Mar Elementary a good school?

Yes! Carmel Del Mar Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 42^nd of 5857 California elementary schools.

What district is Carmel Del Mar Elementary in?

Del Mar Union Elementary

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.