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Jefferson Elementary

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 1832 nd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1832^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 69% of California elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 471 students within the highly-rated Carlsbad Unified School District in Carlsbad, CA, performing solidly in the 69th percentile statewide but facing distinct challenges compared to its district peers.

While the Carlsbad Unified district ranks in the state's top 10%, Jefferson's academic results are the lowest among its comparison schools in the district, with proficiency rates around 50% in core subjects, significantly below schools like Pacific Rim Elementary or Magnolia Elementary. The school serves a student population with greater economic need, with over half qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and contends with a chronic absenteeism rate of 21.1%, which is more than double that of most other Carlsbad Unified schools and is a likely factor in its academic performance.

Despite these challenges, Jefferson receives more funding per student than most nearby schools and shows notable strengths, particularly in supporting its economically disadvantaged students, who perform at the 74th percentile. Furthermore, when compared to schools with similar demographics in the neighboring Oceanside Unified district, such as Christa McAuliffe Elementary, Jefferson achieves higher academic results, indicating effectiveness within its context.

471

Students ?

20.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,149

Per pupil spending ?

54.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3743 Jefferson St.
Carlsbad, CA 92008-3336

(760) 331-5500

District: Carlsbad Unified

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Valley Middle
High:	Carlsbad High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

47.6%

White:

39.3%

Two or more races:

8.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 70th percentile in 2013 → 69th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (49% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Above the California median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Carlsbad Unified's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school49%

District avg65%

California avg41%

1,832^nd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 31%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From top 23% (2015) to top 31% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 9Elementary Schools in the Carlsbad Unified

156^th of 1,543Carlsbad 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
2025	65.1	1832 of 5857	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.0	1981 of 5869	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	2083 of 5859	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.4	1923 of 5883	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.4	1724 of 5789	70.2%	★★★★☆
2018	68.5	1643 of 5662	71.0%	★★★★☆
2017	78.9	1169 of 5692	79.5%	★★★★☆
2016	71.4	1468 of 5614	73.9%	★★★★☆
2015	76.2	1273 of 5611	77.3%	★★★★☆
2013	68.0	1679 of 5530	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.5	1863 of 5390	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	63.3	1829 of 5377	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	70.7	1428 of 5314	73.1%	★★★★☆
2009	67.1	1585 of 5193	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	67.6	1514 of 5113	70.4%	★★★★☆
2007	69.9	1378 of 5113	73.0%	★★★★☆
2006	60.8	1706 of 4818	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	54.7	1970 of 4822	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	55.8	1884 of 4809	60.8%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	60.4	592 of 2227	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	37.4	1411 of 2585	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	81.5	262 of 2128	87.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	43.1	1612 of 3162	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.4	2642 of 3245	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	59.6	775 of 3311	76.6%	★★★★☆
2019	77.8	352 of 3275	89.3%	★★★★☆
2018	78.1	380 of 3246	88.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	71.2	1450 of 5597	74.1%	★★★★☆
2024	71.1	1444 of 5612	74.3%	★★★★☆
2023	67.8	1604 of 5609	71.4%	★★★★☆
2022	65.0	1735 of 5635	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.1	1690 of 5492	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.4	1784 of 5413	67.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.0	1764 of 5107	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.2	1268 of 5107	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	65.0	1402 of 5087	72.4%	★★★★☆
2022	60.1	1639 of 5084	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.5	1777 of 4963	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.3	1560 of 4830	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.6	1413 of 5460	74.1%	★★★★☆
2024	62.4	1655 of 5517	70.0%	★★★★☆
2023	52.3	2211 of 5363	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.4	2132 of 5264	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.6	1924 of 5173	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.3	1276 of 5084	74.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.3	2105 of 5628	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.1	2305 of 5643	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.1	2388 of 5638	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.0	2051 of 5663	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.7	1657 of 5510	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.8	1492 of 5431	72.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.1	1201 of 2847	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.6	1399 of 2635	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.7	784 of 2420	67.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.9	949 of 2598	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.2	1261 of 2651	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.4	1532 of 2661	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.0	1220 of 2726	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.8	1067 of 2834	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.0	828 of 2737	69.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)74th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)74th percentile+5 vs school

Disabled (2022)73rd percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)65th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)63rd percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)63rd percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2025)58th percentile-11 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)49th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy52%+3 vs state

Mathematics48%+11 vs state

Science44%+11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Jefferson Elementary

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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 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 All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th 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
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
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
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
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
South Oceanside Elementary	Public	K-5	1806 South Horne St.	Oceanside	92054	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 435-2100	487	18	27.0	65.7%	175 (35.9%)	0 (0.0%)	245 (50.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (12.9%)	43.1	2998^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.8%		33	3681^st of 5869 public elementary schools	37.3%	683	21.1	21.1	60.8	35.1	32.4	42.8	56.8	35.4	21.1	38.0	94.7	96.8	96.8		95.7		$21,690	$20,634	$1,056
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
Palmquist Elementary	Public	K-5	1999 California St.	Oceanside	92054	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-8500	512	19	26.3	56.4%	230 (44.9%)	9 (1.8%)	220 (43.0%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	43 (8.4%)	47.9	2712^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.7%		54.3	2327^th of 5869 public elementary schools	60.4%	385	32.9	32.9	44.4	32.9	54.1	44.1	50.6	29.9	32.9	38.3							$23,640	$22,366	$1,274
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
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
Christa McAuliffe Elementary	Public	K-5	3701 Kelton Dr.	Oceanside	92056	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-8400	461	20	22.9	59.0%	162 (35.1%)	9 (2.0%)	225 (48.8%)	13 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	48 (10.4%)	45.3	2870^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.0%		53	2399^th of 5869 public elementary schools	59.1%	471	34.5	34.5	32.5	50.7	45.2	42.4	34.2	52.2	25.0	36.2	92.9	95.3		94.1	95.3	95.3	$22,709	$21,926	$783

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary

What district is Jefferson Elementary in?

Carlsbad Unified

Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 1832^nd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary?

Students at Jefferson Elementary are 48% Hispanic, 39% White, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 471 students attended Jefferson Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Valley Middle
High : Carlsbad High

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.