San Diego Unified

The San Diego Unified School District serves 174 schools, including elementary, middle, high, and alternative schools, across a diverse urban and suburban landscape in San Diego, California. The district as a whole ranks in the 63rd percentile statewide, with average test scores in English Language Arts (56.17% proficient) and Math (45.3% proficient) that exceed state averages, though performance varies dramatically by school.

Standout top performers include Scripps Ranch High, which ranks in the 98th percentile with a 99.8% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate, and Scripps Elementary, ranking in the 99th percentile with the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 2.7%. Other high-achieving schools include La Jolla Elementary and Marshall Middle, both in the 97th percentile or higher. In contrast, schools like Lincoln High (30th percentile) and Hoover High (44th percentile) face significant challenges with low test scores and high chronic absenteeism. The four small schools on the Kearny campus—such as Kearny Digital Media & Design and Kearny College Connections—are notable exceptions, achieving strong academic results despite serving a high percentage of students from lower-income backgrounds.

Key findings show a strong link between socioeconomic factors and achievement, with schools having lower free/reduced lunch rates consistently outperforming those with higher rates. Chronic absenteeism is a critical indicator, as schools with the lowest absenteeism, like Mt. Everest Academy (2.0%), achieve top results, while those with the highest rates, such as Alba (79.6%), struggle. Math proficiency remains a district-wide challenge, with scores significantly lower than ELA at almost every school. Notably, Point Loma High showed remarkable improvement, jumping from the 72nd to the 86th percentile in one year.