Summary:
Carmel Unified has six schools: three elementary schools, one middle school and two high schools, serving students from elementary through high school. Across the reported 2025–2026 results, schools averaged about 22 percentage points above California in ELA, math and science. That strong overall showing is the area’s clearest takeaway, though results vary considerably from school to school.
Carmel High led in ELA, at 87%, and science, at 68%; its scores were 38 points above the state in ELA and 32 points above in science. Carmel River Elementary led in math at 75%, about 5 points ahead of Tularcitos Elementary at 70%. Captain Cooper Elementary had the lowest reported ELA and math scores, at 56% and 40%; those were still above state results, by 7 points in ELA and 2 in math. Tularcitos had the lowest reported science result, 52%, but remained 16 points above the state. Carmel Valley High cannot be compared on current achievement because its test scores are suppressed.
Recent changes were mixed: school results were nearly flat in ELA, while the average fell 8 points in math and 3 in science; California rose 1 point in math and 3 in science. SchoolDigger’s percentile ranking rose 6 points for Carmel High, fell 3 for Carmel Middle and 5 for Tularcitos, while Carmel River ended where it began. Smaller staffing ratios did not guarantee higher scores: Captain Cooper’s was 9.4 students per teacher, yet it had the lowest reported ELA and math results. Its 2024–2025 free/reduced lunch eligible measure was 49%, compared with 15% at Carmel River and Carmel High, 23% at Tularcitos, 17% at Carmel Middle and 40% at Carmel Valley High; these figures are context, not an explanation of results. Carmel Valley High also stands out for chronic absenteeism: 73% versus 18% statewide and 13% districtwide.
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