Beta You're viewing our redesigned school list. Prefer the classic layout?

Carlsbad Unified

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its California rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

At a glance

156^thof 1,530 California districts

Better than 89% of California districts

Elementary 9 Middle 3 High 3 Alternative 1Grades K-12

6225 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92009-1604·(760) 331-5000·All California district rankings →

Statewide performance 2017–2026

2026: better than 89.8% of districts

Schools

10,678

Students

5-star schools

Top rankedPacific Rim Elementary146^th of 5,817 California elementary schools

▲

Biggest riser

Calavera Hills Elementary up 251 spots statewide this year

◉

Smallest classes

Kelly Elementary 19.9 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

5★

4★

1 school without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

Compare California districts →See the top-ranked California schools →

Summary:

Carlsbad Unified has 16 schools—nine elementary, three middle, three high and one alternative—serving kindergarten through grade 12. In 2025–2026, the equal-weighted averages across schools with reported All Grades results were about 71% in ELA, 63% in math and 59% in science, compared with state averages of about 49%, 38% and 36%. Fourteen of the 15 schools with reported results exceeded the state in each subject; the most important takeaway is that this favorable area-wide picture masks major differences between individual schools.

Poinsettia Elementary led All Grades ELA with 87%, Pacific Rim Elementary led math with 81%, and Kelly Elementary led science with 74%. The math and science leaders were less than a point ahead of the next-highest scores. At the other end, Jefferson Elementary had the lowest elementary results in all three subjects: 51% in ELA, 49% in math and 39% in science. Carlsbad Village Academy was lowest among schools with reported results overall, at 45% in ELA, 14% in math and 21% in science—all below state levels. Among middle schools, Valley Middle was lowest in ELA and science, while Calavera Hills Middle was lowest in math.

Recent changes were mixed: the school average was essentially flat in ELA from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, while math rose about 1 point and science about 2; state averages rose in all three subjects, so the school-to-state gaps narrowed slightly. SchoolDigger’s 2025–2026 rankings placed Pacific Rim in the 98th percentile among California elementary schools and Sage Creek High in the 96th percentile among high schools. School-level context also varies: for 2024–2025, Jefferson reported 54% of students free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with 22% at Aviara Oaks Middle; these figures describe differences between schools, not what causes their results.

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)								Vaccination (2024-25)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th 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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Buena Vista Elementary	Public	K-5	1330 Buena Vista Way	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5400	281	12	23.4	39.9%	139 (49.5%)	4 (1.4%)	97 (34.5%)	12 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (10.0%)	94.4	384^th of 5817 public elementary schools	93.4%		90.4	632^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	89.2%	248	65.1				65.1	76.9	77.1	73.8					76.1	86.5	75.0	67.4					76.9	≥ 95%		$35,099	$34,658	$441
Carlsbad High	Public	9-12	3557 Lancer Way	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5100	2,336	98	23.8	31.5%	1,440 (61.6%)	37 (1.6%)	592 (25.3%)	65 (2.8%)	5 (0.2%)	8 (0.3%)	186 (8.0%)	86.3	267^th of 2135 public high schools	87.5%		89.3	211^th of 2162 public high schools	90.2%	56			52.2	27.3	51.7							76.0	76.0							48.6	48.6			$20,760	$20,308	$452
Jefferson Elementary	Public	K-5	3743 Jefferson St.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5500	471	23	20.2	54.4%	185 (39.3%)	11 (2.3%)	224 (47.6%)	8 (1.7%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.1%)	61.8	2002^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	65.6%		65.1	1832^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	68.7%	170	38.7				38.7	39.1	61.2	53.2					51.3	51.6	58.2	35.5					48.7	98%	0%	$28,149	$27,150	$999
Kelly Elementary	Public	K-5	4885 Kelly Dr.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5800	449	22	19.9	20.9%	270 (60.1%)	8 (1.8%)	72 (16.0%)	32 (7.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (14.5%)	95.8	251^st of 5817 public elementary schools	95.7%		96.4	202^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	96.6%	49	74.0				74.0	73.1	75.7	82.2					76.9	84.6	77.0	79.5					80.4	≥ 98%		$27,973	$27,602	$371
Carlsbad Village Academy	Public	10-12	3557 Lancer Way	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5200	38	6	6.5	76.3%	11 (28.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (57.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)	3 (7.9%)	33.3	1416^th of 2135 public high schools	33.7%		36.9	1332^nd of 2162 public high schools	38.4%	84			19.1		20.8							45.5	45.5							13.6	13.6			$66,231	$64,540	$1,691
Magnolia Elementary	Public	K-5	1905 Magnolia Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5600	488	20	24.4	21.1%	344 (70.5%)	0 (0.0%)	86 (17.6%)	10 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (9.8%)	95.9	248^th of 5817 public elementary schools	95.7%		95.2	310^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.7%	62	69.1				69.1	82.7	76.3	80.0					79.6	81.3	80.4	74.1					78.2	≥ 98%		$21,470	$21,032	$438
Valley Middle	Public	6-8	1645 Magnolia Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5300	807	36	22.2	36.6%	442 (54.8%)	11 (1.4%)	262 (32.5%)	20 (2.5%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (8.3%)	71.2	658^th of 2740 public middle schools	76.0%		73	621^st of 2761 public middle schools	77.5%	37		36.2			36.2				67.4	64.0	46.6		59.8				58.5	50.4	37.9		49.3			$21,503	$21,064	$439
Carlsbad Seaside Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	3557 Lancer Way	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5200	38	2	16.9	34.2%	27 (71.1%)	3 (7.9%)	7 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.6%)								(n/a)																								$25,034	$24,596	$438
Pacific Rim Elementary	Public	K-5	1100 Camino de las Ondas	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6200	642	26	24.6	17.4%	410 (63.9%)	3 (0.5%)	106 (16.5%)	54 (8.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (10.4%)	96.9	146^th of 5817 public elementary schools	97.5%		98	70^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.8%	76	73.8				73.8	82.7	78.1	86.7					82.3	86.4	79.0	77.4					80.9	≥ 98%		$22,946	$22,508	$438
Aviara Oaks Middle	Public	6-8	6880 Ambrosia Ln.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6100	991	44	22.3	21.9%	572 (57.7%)	15 (1.5%)	207 (20.9%)	89 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	107 (10.8%)	91.2	232^nd of 2740 public middle schools	91.5%		92.2	218^th of 2761 public middle schools	92.1%	14		65.9			65.9				71.0	75.2	72.5		72.9				62.1	61.2	59.0		60.8			$20,435	$19,996	$439
Hope Elementary	Public	K-5	3010 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5900	659	30	21.9	27.2%	365 (55.4%)	3 (0.5%)	163 (24.7%)	29 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	96 (14.6%)	91.7	557^th of 5817 public elementary schools	90.4%		90.6	624^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.3%	67	73.4				73.4	78.6	62.0	83.0					73.7	75.9	68.6	64.9					70.0	97%	0%	$22,859	$22,420	$439
Aviara Oaks Elementary	Public	K-5	6900 Ambrosia Ln.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6000	612	25	24.4	22.1%	343 (56.0%)	9 (1.5%)	123 (20.1%)	64 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	71 (11.6%)	96.6	179^th of 5817 public elementary schools	96.9%		96	241^st of 5857 public elementary schools	95.9%	62	66.1				66.1	80.5	80.8	87.3					82.8	86.2	79.8	74.6					80.4	97%	0%	$23,250	$22,812	$438
Calavera Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	4100 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6300	441	20	22.0	45.1%	194 (44.0%)	2 (0.5%)	181 (41.0%)	25 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.6%)	86.5	838^th of 5817 public elementary schools	85.6%		81.7	1089^th of 5857 public elementary schools	81.4%	251	60.3				60.3	55.3	68.2	73.4					65.1	67.1	76.9	59.4					67.8	97%	0%	$24,897	$24,040	$857
Calavera Hills Middle	Public	6-8	4104 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6400	655	31	20.8	33.1%	349 (53.3%)	7 (1.1%)	180 (27.5%)	33 (5.0%)	3 (0.5%)	3 (0.5%)	79 (12.1%)	76.8	534^th of 2740 public middle schools	80.5%		77.2	537^th of 2761 public middle schools	80.6%	3		60.1			60.1				62.3	64.0	61.3		62.6				50.5	38.7	48.3		45.7			$21,710	$21,272	$438
Poinsettia Elementary	Public	K-5	2445 Mica Rd.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6500	481	22	22.3	28.9%	237 (49.3%)	4 (0.8%)	136 (28.3%)	41 (8.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (12.7%)	95.3	299^th of 5817 public elementary schools	94.9%		95.9	243^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	95.9%	56	55.2				55.2	84.1	84.9	91.0					86.7	80.0	78.4	74.6					77.7	98%	0%	$25,822	$25,384	$438
Sage Creek High	Public	9-12	3900 Bobcat Blvd.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6600	1,289	52	24.7	29.8%	622 (48.3%)	15 (1.2%)	330 (25.6%)	173 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	143 (11.1%)	95.5	75^th of 2135 public high schools	96.5%		94.7	101^st of 2162 public high schools	95.3%	26			69.8	65.3	67.6							79.6	79.6							60.2	60.2			$20,985	$20,546	$439

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
State Board Of Education - Audeo Charter II	0.9 mi	1
Oceanside Unified	1.02 mi	25	788^th
Altus Schools Coastal District	3.06 mi	1
Mountain Empire Unified	3.14 mi	16	1361^st
Pacific View Charter District	3.33 mi	1

See the top CA California districts

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.