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Kelly Elementary

Public Grades K-5

202^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of California elementary schools

Summary

Kelly Elementary is a top-performing K-5 public school serving 449 students in the Carlsbad Unified School District, consistently ranking among the very best elementary schools in California.

The school excels academically, with nearly 80% of students proficient in English, math, and science, significantly outperforming district and state averages. What truly sets Kelly Elementary apart is its remarkable success with all student groups, from military-connected students to those in special education, demonstrating effective support for every learner. Furthermore, the school has dramatically improved student attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 8.5%, the second-lowest among nearby schools and well below the state average.

Within Carlsbad Unified, Kelly is a standout performer, achieving results comparable to higher-ranked schools like Pacific Rim Elementary while serving a more diverse student population. It also significantly outperforms schools in neighboring districts, such as Palmquist Elementary in Oceanside Unified. Kelly achieves these exceptional results with a strong focus on science and an efficient use of resources, delivering top-tier education that prepares all students for success.

449

Students ?

19.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,973

Per pupil spending ?

20.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4885 Kelly Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008-3734

(760) 331-5800

District: Carlsbad Unified

Students who attend Kelly Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Valley Middle
High:	Carlsbad High

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.1%

Hispanic:

16.0%

Two or more races:

14.5%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 89th percentile in 2013 → 97th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (80% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school80%

District avg65%

California avg41%

202^nd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From top 7% (2015) to top 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd 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	96.4	202 of 5857	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	95.3	319 of 5869	94.6%	★★★★★
2023	96.6	224 of 5859	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	95.5	329 of 5883	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	97.0	150 of 5789	97.4%	★★★★★
2018	94.6	311 of 5662	94.5%	★★★★★
2017	94.8	340 of 5692	94.0%	★★★★★
2016	95.4	286 of 5614	94.9%	★★★★★
2015	94.3	370 of 5611	93.4%	★★★★★
2013	87.8	594 of 5530	89.3%	★★★★☆
2012	90.8	378 of 5390	93.0%	★★★★★
2011	92.4	288 of 5377	94.6%	★★★★★
2010	87.7	591 of 5314	88.9%	★★★★☆
2009	92.0	347 of 5193	93.3%	★★★★★
2008	94.5	216 of 5113	95.8%	★★★★★
2007	96.4	141 of 5113	97.2%	★★★★★
2006	94.1	261 of 4818	94.6%	★★★★★
2005	95.6	184 of 4822	96.2%	★★★★★
2004	95.1	230 of 4809	95.2%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	92.5	137 of 2227	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	79.5	339 of 2585	86.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.6	132 of 5597	97.6%	★★★★★
2024	96.8	128 of 5612	97.7%	★★★★★
2023	95.8	224 of 5609	96.0%	★★★★★
2022	96.2	216 of 5635	96.2%	★★★★★
2019	97.3	68 of 5492	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	92.6	392 of 5413	92.8%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.7	134 of 5107	97.4%	★★★★★
2023	97.7	80 of 5087	98.4%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	181 of 5084	96.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	81.9	701 of 5460	87.2%	★★★★☆
2024	97.6	121 of 5517	97.8%	★★★★★
2023	97.2	106 of 5363	98.0%	★★★★★
2019	97.7	52 of 5173	99.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.6	294 of 5628	94.8%	★★★★★
2024	91.2	531 of 5643	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	95.8	238 of 5638	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	422 of 5663	92.5%	★★★★★
2019	95.3	231 of 5510	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.5	356 of 5431	93.4%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	99.0	1 of 140	99.3%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.5	29 of 718	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	86.3	53 of 670	92.1%	★★★★★
2023	83.9	60 of 669	91.0%	★★★★★
2022	84.9	46 of 610	92.5%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	93.8	141 of 2847	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	85.2	260 of 2635	90.1%	★★★★★
2023	91.6	155 of 2420	93.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.6	213 of 2598	91.8%	★★★★★
2024	83.8	285 of 2651	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	84.4	268 of 2661	89.9%	★★★★☆
2022	81.8	379 of 2726	86.1%	★★★★☆
2019	86.3	213 of 2834	92.5%	★★★★★
2018	81.4	400 of 2737	85.4%	★★★★☆

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)

Military Connected (2023)99th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)98th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)97th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)96th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)95th percentile~ school

Male (2025)95th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)94th percentile~ school

White (2025)92nd percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)87th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy80%+31 vs state

Mathematics80%+42 vs state

Science78%+46 vs state

★

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Schools Near Kelly 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 8th 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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology	Public	K-5	260 Cedar Dr.	Vista	92083	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 724-8442	744	28	26.5	42.3%	274 (36.8%)	8 (1.1%)	354 (47.6%)	43 (5.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (8.5%)	85.9	887^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.9%		88.7	766^th of 5869 public elementary schools	86.9%	121	54.4		54.4	58.5	63.2	70.4				64.1	76.3	65.4	60.8				67.3							$21,336	$20,340	$996
Bella Mente Montessori Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1737 West Vista Way	Vista	92083	San Diego County	Bella Mente Montessori Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 621-8948	424	22	19.2	60.1%	102 (24.1%)	12 (2.8%)	267 (63.0%)	12 (2.8%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	26 (6.1%)	54.5	2340^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.0%		38.7	3255^th of 5869 public elementary schools	44.5%	915	26.8	22.2	24.7	60.0	34.6	51.2	55.9	62.5	52.8	54.1	57.8	30.8	34.2	29.4	30.8	25.0	35.8	82.5	87.5	90.0	86.3	88.8	90.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Kelly Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Kelly Elementary?

Students at Kelly Elementary are 60% White, 16% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 7% Asian, 2% African American.

Is Kelly Elementary a good school?

Yes! Kelly Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 202^nd of 5857 California elementary schools.

How many students attend Kelly Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 449 students attended Kelly Elementary.

What district is Kelly Elementary in?

Carlsbad Unified

What schools do graduates of Kelly Elementary attend?

Students who attend Kelly 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.