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Calavera Hills Elementary

Q: Is Calavera Hills Elementary a good school?

Calavera Hills Elementary ranks 1089 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1089^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 81% of California elementary schools

Summary

Calavera Hills Elementary is a well-regarded public K-5 school serving 441 students in the Carlsbad Unified district, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 20% of all California elementary schools.

While Calavera Hills Elementary is a strong school overall, it's important for parents to know it performs a bit lower than some other schools in its own district, like Kelly Elementary or Magnolia Elementary, particularly in science. However, it serves a student population with greater economic needs, and its performance is very commendable in that context. A major strength is its exceptional support for specific student groups; the school is highly effective for students in special education and English learners, and it has made impressive strides in improving student attendance since the pandemic.

When compared to schools in neighboring districts, the advantage of being in Carlsbad Unified is clear. Calavera Hills outperforms many schools in Vista Unified and Oceanside Unified. An interesting nearby comparison is Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology, which has a similar student profile but achieves comparable academic results with a larger average class size, highlighting that factors beyond simple metrics influence school success.

441

Students ?

22.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,647

Per pupil spending ?

45.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4100 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92010-7101

(760) 331-6300

District: Carlsbad Unified

Students who attend Calavera Hills Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Calavera Hills Middle
High:	Carlsbad High

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.0%

Hispanic:

41.0%

Two or more races:

8.6%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Calavera Hills Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 58th percentile in 2013 → 81st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (61% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 23 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Near the bottom of Carlsbad Unified's ranking

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school61%

District avg65%

California avg41%

1,089^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 19%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^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	81.7	1089 of 5857	81.4%	★★★★☆
2024	83.5	1016 of 5869	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	82.0	1091 of 5859	81.4%	★★★★☆
2022	78.1	1281 of 5883	78.2%	★★★★☆
2019	75.9	1348 of 5789	76.7%	★★★★☆
2018	70.9	1528 of 5662	73.0%	★★★★☆
2017	81.5	1059 of 5692	81.4%	★★★★☆
2016	72.3	1425 of 5614	74.6%	★★★★☆
2015	77.8	1198 of 5611	78.6%	★★★★☆
2013	56.5	2323 of 5530	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	52.6	2468 of 5390	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	65.3	1728 of 5377	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	67.7	1580 of 5314	70.3%	★★★★☆
2009	75.2	1197 of 5193	76.9%	★★★★☆
2008	81.9	888 of 5113	82.6%	★★★★☆
2007	73.3	1231 of 5113	75.9%	★★★★☆
2006	76.8	1076 of 4818	77.7%	★★★★☆
2005	79.3	953 of 4822	80.2%	★★★★☆
2004	83.3	782 of 4809	83.7%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	89.0	178 of 2227	92.0%	★★★★★
2019	86.6	236 of 2585	90.9%	★★★★★
2018	67.3	447 of 2128	79.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	92.7	84 of 3162	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	51.2	1133 of 3311	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.9	1050 of 3275	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	1181 of 3246	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.3	1276 of 5597	77.2%	★★★★☆
2024	77.7	1188 of 5612	78.8%	★★★★☆
2023	75.4	1272 of 5609	77.3%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	1456 of 5635	74.2%	★★★★☆
2019	72.1	1408 of 5492	74.4%	★★★★☆
2018	67.2	1649 of 5413	69.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.3	1333 of 5107	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	67.5	1299 of 5107	74.6%	★★★★☆
2023	76.8	887 of 5087	82.6%	★★★★☆
2022	67.9	1251 of 5084	75.4%	★★★★☆
2019	71.0	1118 of 4963	77.5%	★★★★☆
2018	51.9	2118 of 4830	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.8	1397 of 5460	74.4%	★★★★☆
2024	70.8	1223 of 5517	77.8%	★★★★☆
2023	76.6	913 of 5363	83.0%	★★★★☆
2022	56.1	1918 of 5264	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.9	1092 of 5173	78.9%	★★★★☆
2018	60.0	1743 of 5084	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	84.4	863 of 5628	84.7%	★★★★☆
2024	86.2	809 of 5643	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	84.3	905 of 5638	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.0	1107 of 5663	80.5%	★★★★☆
2019	75.7	1273 of 5510	76.9%	★★★★☆
2018	70.5	1468 of 5431	73.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.6	253 of 2847	91.1%	★★★★★
2024	93.8	133 of 2635	95.0%	★★★★★
2023	92.4	140 of 2420	94.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	83.3	294 of 2598	88.7%	★★★★☆
2024	81.7	362 of 2651	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	75.1	616 of 2661	76.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.9	416 of 2726	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	72.8	710 of 2834	74.9%	★★★★☆
2018	71.1	787 of 2737	71.2%	★★★★☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)97th percentile+15 vs school

Disabled (2022)92nd percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2025)91st percentile+10 vs school

White (2025)89th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)85th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)77th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)74th percentile-7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)74th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy67%+19 vs state

Mathematics63%+26 vs state

Science43%+11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Calavera Hills Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)				CSA Spanish Listening (2025)				CSA Spanish Writing (2025)				CSA Spanish Reading (2025)				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 (2024)
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	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	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
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							$16,647	$878	$15,769
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							$15,483	$610	$14,873
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							$15,964	$1,809	$14,155
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	$16,389	$1,704	$14,685
Lake Elementary	Public	K-5	4950 Lake Blvd.	Oceanside	92056	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 945-5300	696	29	24.0	36.2%	394 (56.6%)	10 (1.4%)	221 (31.8%)	18 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	49 (7.0%)	70.6	1576^th of 5857 public elementary schools	73.1%		63.9	1883^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	67.9%	307																	48.4		48.4	58.6	47.6	65.9				56.4	59.5	47.6	46.2				51.2	98.4						$16,165	$1,865	$14,300
Grapevine Elementary	Public	K-5	630 Grapevine Rd.	Vista	92083	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 724-8329	730	31	23.8	81.0%	52 (7.1%)	8 (1.1%)	617 (84.5%)	15 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.1%)	29 (4.0%)	22.3	4647^th of 5857 public elementary schools	20.7%		31.1	3852^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	34.4%	795	16.2	14.5	6.9	12.9	42.7	15.8	29.3	28.7	22.1	23.7	6.9	18.3	5.9	14.7	1.7	8.0	16.4		16.4	31.9	31.0	32.5				31.7	24.6	24.2	16.5				21.9							$16,906	$2,158	$14,748
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						$17,531	$751	$16,780
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	$10,604	$1,074	$9,530
Breeze Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	1111 Melrose Way	Vista	92081	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 945-2373	742	30	25.1	65.0%	171 (23.0%)	14 (1.9%)	470 (63.3%)	32 (4.3%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (6.6%)	56.9	2217^th of 5857 public elementary schools	62.1%		60	2064^th of 5869 public elementary schools	64.8%	153																	35.2		35.2	56.0	38.6	52.4				48.7	58.6	36.8	39.8				44.6	96.2	97.1	98.1	98.1	97.1	98.1	$15,540	$1,835	$13,705
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	$15,043	$284	$14,759

Frequently Asked Questions about Calavera Hills Elementary

Is Calavera Hills Elementary a good school?

Calavera Hills Elementary ranks 1089^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Calavera Hills Elementary attend?

Students who attend Calavera Hills Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Calavera Hills Middle
High : Carlsbad High

What district is Calavera Hills Elementary in?

Carlsbad Unified

What is the racial makeup of Calavera Hills Elementary?

Students at Calavera Hills Elementary are 44% White, 41% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

How many students attend Calavera Hills Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 441 students attended Calavera Hills Elementary.

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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.