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Carlsbad Unified

At a glance

156^thof 1,543 California districts▲ 2

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 2016–2025

2025: better than 89.9% of districts

Schools

10,678

Students

5-star schools

Top rankedPacific Rim Elementary70^th of 5,857 California elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Carlsbad Village Academy up 291 spots statewide this year

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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:

The Carlsbad Unified school district consists of 16 public schools serving grades K-12 in this coastal North County San Diego community, with a strong overall academic reputation ranking in the 90th percentile statewide.

Performance varies across schools, with Pacific Rim Elementary and Sage Creek High standing out as top performers, while Carlsbad Village Academy and Jefferson Elementary face greater challenges. The district's elementary schools are particularly strong, with most ranking in the 89th percentile or higher, and graduation rates across the comprehensive high schools are excellent, exceeding 97%.

Key areas for parents to consider include notable differences between the two main high schools, with Sage Creek High showing higher test scores and lower absenteeism than Carlsbad High, and a district-wide pattern where middle school math scores are a relative weakness. Chronic absenteeism also varies widely, from under 8% at Magnolia Elementary to over 66% at the alternative high school.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	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/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 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	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	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	92008	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%)	90.4	632^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	89.2%		91.4	610^th of 5869 public elementary schools	89.6%	22	66.1				66.1	69.6	68.4	71.2					69.9	76.1	60.5	67.8					68.5	94.3			94.3			$35,099	$34,658	$441
Carlsbad High	Public	9-12	3557 Lancer Way	Carlsbad	92008	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%)	89.3	211^th of 2162 public high schools	90.2%		86.2	303^rd of 2159 public high schools	86.0%	92			51.9	35.3	51.4							76.9	76.9							49.1	49.1							$20,760	$20,308	$452
Jefferson Elementary	Public	K-5	3743 Jefferson St.	Carlsbad	92008	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%)	65.1	1832^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	68.7%		62	1981^st of 5869 public elementary schools	66.2%	149	44.1				44.1	48.7	49.2	59.1					52.3	54.1	47.5	42.7					48.3	91.7	96.7	95.0	95.0	93.3	95.0	$28,149	$27,150	$999
Kelly Elementary	Public	K-5	4885 Kelly Dr.	Carlsbad	92008	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%)	96.4	202^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	96.6%		95.3	319^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.6%	117	78.2				78.2	80.8	73.9	84.6					80.0	82.2	79.7	76.9					79.6	96.8						$27,973	$27,602	$371
Carlsbad Village Academy	Public	10-12	3557 Lancer Way	Carlsbad	92008	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%)	36.9	1332^nd of 2162 public high schools	38.4%		23.2	1623^rd of 2159 public high schools	24.8%	291			5.6		4.6							61.1	61.1							11.8	11.8							$66,231	$64,540	$1,691
Magnolia Elementary	Public	K-5	1905 Magnolia Ave.	Carlsbad	92008	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%)	95.2	310^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.7%		97.2	146^th of 5869 public elementary schools	97.5%	164	64.8				64.8	77.7	74.8	81.8					77.9	82.4	75.7	78.4					78.6	95.7	95.7	95.7	97.1	95.7	97.1	$21,470	$21,032	$438
Valley Middle	Public	6-8	1645 Magnolia Ave.	Carlsbad	92008	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%)	73	621^st of 2761 public middle schools	77.5%		78.4	518^th of 2783 public middle schools	81.4%	103		47.5			47.5				61.6	50.6	53.8		55.4				51.9	45.9	44.9		47.6							$21,503	$21,064	$439
Carlsbad Seaside Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	3557 Lancer Way	Carlsbad	92008	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	92011	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%)	98	70^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.8%		98.3	60^th of 5869 public elementary schools	99.0%	10	72.5				72.5	87.3	91.4	89.0					89.2	90.8	80.0	78.9					83.5	93.8			95.8		95.8	$22,946	$22,508	$438
Aviara Oaks Middle	Public	6-8	6880 Ambrosia Ln.	Carlsbad	92011	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%)	92.2	218^th of 2761 public middle schools	92.1%		94.3	176^th of 2783 public middle schools	93.7%	42		62.5			62.5				74.4	73.7	67.5		71.8				67.9	61.3	63.4		64.2							$20,435	$19,996	$439
Hope Elementary	Public	K-5	3010 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92010	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%)	90.6	624^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.3%		90.8	648^th of 5869 public elementary schools	89.0%	24	60.8				60.8	67.5	81.1	68.6					71.8	73.4	78.9	58.8					70.3							$22,859	$22,420	$439
Aviara Oaks Elementary	Public	K-5	6900 Ambrosia Ln.	Carlsbad	92011	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	241^st of 5857 public elementary schools	95.9%		97.5	123^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	97.9%	118	65.5				65.5	76.3	80.4	85.1					81.2	79.2	76.6	80.1					78.8							$23,250	$22,812	$438
Calavera Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	4100 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92010	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%)	81.7	1089^th of 5857 public elementary schools	81.4%		83.5	1016^th of 5869 public elementary schools	82.7%	73	43.2				43.2	79.6	57.4	67.1					67.5	83.3	59.0	53.4					63.1							$24,897	$24,040	$857
Calavera Hills Middle	Public	6-8	4104 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92010	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%)	77.2	537^th of 2761 public middle schools	80.6%		82.2	439^th of 2783 public middle schools	84.2%	98		65.0			65.0				55.1	63.3	69.0		62.2				47.6	38.1	47.3		44.4							$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%)	95.9	243^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	95.9%		97.3	135^th of 5869 public elementary schools	97.7%	108	62.5				62.5	82.4	89.4	75.0					82.4	88.0	83.3	70.3					81.0							$25,822	$25,384	$438
Sage Creek High	Public	9-12	3900 Bobcat Blvd.	Carlsbad	92010	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%)	94.7	101^st of 2162 public high schools	95.3%		97	69^th of 2159 public high schools	96.8%	32				59.8	59.8							76.9	76.9							59.5	59.5							$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	789^th
Audeo Charter II 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.