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Carlsbad High

Q: Is Carlsbad High a good school?

Carlsbad High ranks 267 th of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

267^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,135 California High Schools

Better than 87% of California high schools

Summary

Carlsbad High serves 2,336 students in grades 9–12 in Carlsbad, California, within Carlsbad Unified. Its clearest academic strength is English, but the all-grades results conceal a notable weak spot: 12th-grade science proficiency is just 27%.

Carlsbad is strong compared with the state and nearby high schools, though math and science trail its district. In 2025–26, 76% were proficient in English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA), 49% in math and 52% in science. ELA was 27 percentage points above the state and 4 points above the district; math was 10 points above the state but 13 below the district, while science was 16 points above the state and 8 below the district. Carlsbad ranked second among itself and four nearby comprehensive high schools in all three subjects, and exceeded their averages by 13 points in ELA, 9 in math and 7 in science. The 12th-grade science result was below the state’s 33% and district’s 64%, and below reported results for Sage Creek High (65%) and El Camino High (38%).

Science has improved most over time: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, proficiency rose 10 percentage points, compared with 2 points in ELA and 3 in math. SchoolDigger ranks Carlsbad 267th of 2,137 California schools, at the 88th percentile, with four stars. Its 23.8 student-teacher ratio is higher than three of the four nearby comprehensive peers, while its 2024–25 free/reduced lunch eligible measure was 32%; among nearby schools with that measure, only Sage Creek was lower, at 30%. Graduation was 95% in 2025–26, but chronic absenteeism was 20%, 7 points above the district. SchoolDigger’s student-group rankings also show variation in how well the school serves groups: English Language Learner Students were at the 45th percentile in 2023–24, down from 77 the year before, while Special Education Students rose from the 62nd percentile in 2023–24 to the 90th in 2025–26.

2,336

Students ?

23.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,760

Per pupil spending ?

31.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

3557 Lancer Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009-2729

(760) 331-5100

District: Carlsbad Unified

Feeder schools for Carlsbad High:

Elementary:	Aviara Oaks Elementary
	Buena Vista Elementary
	Calavera Hills Elementary
	Hope Elementary
	More...
	Jefferson Elementary
	Kelly Elementary
	Magnolia Elementary
	Pacific Rim Elementary
	Poinsettia Elementary
Middle:	Aviara Oaks Middle
	Calavera Hills Middle
	Valley Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.6%

Hispanic:

25.3%

Two or more races:

8.0%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Carlsbad High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 89th percentile in 2015 → 87th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (59% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of California high schools

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school59%

District avg65%

California avg42%

267^th of 2,135

California public high schools ?

Top 13%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3High Schools in the Carlsbad Unified

156^th of 1,530Carlsbad Unified 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
2026	86.3	267 of 2135	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	89.3	211 of 2162	90.2%	★★★★★
2024	86.2	303 of 2159	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	86.1	293 of 2170	86.5%	★★★★☆
2022	83.2	308 of 2123	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	87.0	238 of 2133	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	81.3	386 of 2017	80.9%	★★★★☆
2017	82.9	354 of 2021	82.5%	★★★★☆
2016	88.7	217 of 2039	89.4%	★★★★☆
2015	87.4	224 of 1994	88.8%	★★★★☆
2013	68.6	330 of 2426	86.4%	★★★★☆
2012	66.6	379 of 2354	83.9%	★★★★☆
2011	64.8	400 of 2367	83.1%	★★★★☆
2010	62.5	455 of 2281	80.1%	★★★★☆
2009	68.1	286 of 2238	87.2%	★★★★☆
2008	65.5	357 of 2117	83.1%	★★★★☆
2007	62.9	395 of 2063	80.9%	★★★★☆
2006	64.9	369 of 1968	81.3%	★★★★☆
2005	69.2	262 of 1901	86.2%	★★★★☆
2004	68.6	214 of 1653	87.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	73.2	172 of 575	70.1%	★★★★☆
2025	75.6	149 of 585	74.5%	★★★★☆
2023	57.4	298 of 591	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	74.9	157 of 581	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	86.2	58 of 582	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	77.0	145 of 581	75.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	66.2	227 of 1161	80.4%	★★★★☆
2019	64.3	244 of 1117	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	56.5	324 of 1052	69.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	39.5	595 of 1085	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.1	243 of 1064	77.2%	★★★★☆
2022	62.0	177 of 1044	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	31.2	720 of 941	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	87.5	206 of 1864	88.9%	★★★★☆
2025	90.2	162 of 1906	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	82.5	321 of 1915	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	86.9	229 of 1915	88.0%	★★★★☆
2022	83.5	269 of 1858	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	86.0	224 of 1833	87.8%	★★★★☆
2018	82.5	298 of 1760	83.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	83.0	255 of 1880	86.4%	★★★★☆
2025	83.6	231 of 1900	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	402 of 1902	78.9%	★★★★☆
2023	79.8	318 of 1917	83.4%	★★★★☆
2022	75.9	330 of 1861	82.3%	★★★★☆
2019	79.4	278 of 1814	84.7%	★★★★☆
2018	78.4	341 of 1742	80.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	72.0	511 of 1997	74.4%	★★★★☆
2025	82.1	299 of 2013	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	316 of 2026	84.4%	★★★★☆
2023	80.7	322 of 2030	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	71.6	410 of 1943	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	75.9	367 of 1937	81.1%	★★★★☆
2018	68.6	555 of 1862	70.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	82.5	309 of 1930	84.0%	★★★★☆
2025	85.7	261 of 1942	86.6%	★★★★☆
2024	86.2	264 of 1948	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	82.9	324 of 1963	83.5%	★★★★☆
2022	79.1	343 of 1916	82.1%	★★★★☆
2019	83.6	274 of 1880	85.4%	★★★★☆
2018	74.0	469 of 1834	74.4%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	42 of 156	73.1%	★★★★☆
2025	59.2	61 of 175	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.9	42 of 183	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	48.5	92 of 190	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.0	57 of 168	66.1%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	188 of 588	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	90.9	33 of 577	94.3%	★★★★★
2024	82.2	87 of 574	84.8%	★★★★☆
2023	61.9	209 of 541	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.0	258 of 515	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.2	60 of 422	85.8%	★★★★☆
2018	67.2	132 of 366	63.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	85.3	118 of 1235	90.4%	★★★★★
2025	72.7	210 of 1252	83.2%	★★★★☆
2024	49.4	468 of 1216	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	90.0	80 of 1197	93.3%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	73.4	293 of 1130	74.1%	★★★★☆
2025	78.2	229 of 1155	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	74.1	294 of 1173	74.9%	★★★★☆
2023	76.5	263 of 1193	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	70.3	321 of 1204	73.3%	★★★★☆
2019	71.2	320 of 1222	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	67.4	420 of 1173	64.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)90th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)89th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)86th percentile~ school

Male (2026)84th percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)80th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)74th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)74th percentile-13 vs school

Military Connected (2026)73rd percentile-14 vs school

Asian (2026)70th percentile-17 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)68th percentile-19 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)45th percentile-41 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy76%+27 vs state

Science52%+16 vs state

Mathematics49%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Carlsbad High

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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 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)		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 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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
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
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
Surfside High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1125 South Ditmar St.	Oceanside	92054	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-8600	119	10	12.1	92.4%	15 (12.6%)	2 (1.7%)	96 (80.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	4 (3.4%)	10.1	1948^th of 2135 public high schools	8.8%		7.7	2131^st of 2162 public high schools	1.4%	183	4.3		4.1	6.4	6.4	6.4	6.4	$43,923	$42,800	$1,123
Oceanside High	Public	9-12	1 Pirates Cove	Oceanside	92054	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-8200	1,948	90	21.6	74.5%	391 (20.1%)	87 (4.5%)	1,232 (63.2%)	39 (2.0%)	10 (0.5%)	40 (2.1%)	141 (7.2%)	51.6	1006^th of 2135 public high schools	52.9%		41.6	1223^rd of 2162 public high schools	43.4%	217	32.1		31.7	50.6	50.6	25.4	25.4	$21,779	$20,874	$905
Oceanside Unified School District Adult Transition Program	Public	12	707 Carey Rd.	Oceanside	92058	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-7170	55	5	11.0	81.8%	8 (14.5%)	3 (5.5%)	37 (67.3%)	5 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.6%)								(n/a)								$69,022	$67,050	$1,972
El Camino High	Public	9-12	400 Rancho del Oro Dr.	Oceanside	92057	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-8000	2,463	106	23.2	67.0%	430 (17.5%)	96 (3.9%)	1,533 (62.2%)	157 (6.4%)	4 (0.2%)	51 (2.1%)	184 (7.5%)	66.9	674^th of 2135 public high schools	68.4%		64	713^th of 2162 public high schools	67.0%	39	43.9	38.5	43.8	58.5	58.5	31.2	31.2	$20,871	$19,776	$1,095
Rancho Buena Vista High	Public	9-12	1601 Longhorn Dr.	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 727-7284	1,949	103	18.9	70.1%	414 (21.2%)	32 (1.6%)	1,300 (66.7%)	79 (4.1%)	8 (0.4%)	10 (0.5%)	101 (5.2%)	68.8	644^th of 2135 public high schools	69.8%		68.2	632^nd of 2162 public high schools	70.8%	12	34.6		34.5	62.7	62.7	41.4	41.4	$26,391	$24,728	$1,663
Major General Raymond Murray High	Public	10-12	215 North Melrose Dr.	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 631-2502	146	14	10.3	89.7%	9 (6.2%)	2 (1.4%)	132 (90.4%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	7.5	2084^th of 2135 public high schools	2.4%		9.5	2042^nd of 2162 public high schools	5.6%	42	0.0		0.0	7.3	7.3	2.0	2.0	$48,252	$45,848	$2,404
SIATech	Public, Charter	10-12	2611 Temple Heights Dr. Ste. A	Oceanside	92056	San Diego County	SIATech District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 945-1227	1,174	44	26.4	92.7%	88 (7.5%)	154 (13.1%)	807 (68.7%)	12 (1.0%)	9 (0.8%)	9 (0.8%)	87 (7.4%)	18.2	1683^rd of 2135 public high schools	21.2%		18.2	1723^rd of 2162 public high schools	20.3%	40		21.3	20.3	23.7	23.7	2.0	2.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Carlsbad High

What schools feed into Carlsbad High?

Carlsbad High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Aviara Oaks Elementary
Elementary : Buena Vista Elementary
Elementary : Calavera Hills Elementary
Elementary : Hope Elementary
Elementary : Jefferson Elementary
Elementary : Kelly Elementary
Elementary : Magnolia Elementary
Elementary : Pacific Rim Elementary
Elementary : Poinsettia Elementary
Middle : Aviara Oaks Middle
Middle : Calavera Hills Middle
Middle : Valley Middle

Is Carlsbad High a good school?

Carlsbad High ranks 267^th of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Carlsbad High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,336 students attended Carlsbad High.

What is the racial makeup of Carlsbad High?

Students at Carlsbad High are 62% White, 25% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

What district is Carlsbad High in?

Carlsbad Unified

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

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.