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Carmel High

Public Grades 9-12

74^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,135 California High Schools

Better than 97% of California high schools

Summary

Carmel High is a 780-student school serving grades 9–12 in Carmel, a coastal community in Monterey County. Its reported graduation rate was 99.5% in 2025–2026, and its academic results stand out across the local group. Most notably, Carmel had the highest reported proficiency among nearby schools in all three tested subjects.

Carmel’s strongest subject relative to the state and district was English language arts (ELA): 87% of students were proficient, compared with 49% statewide and 72% in Carmel Unified. In mathematics, 61% were proficient—23 percentage points above California, but 3 points below the district’s 64%. Science proficiency was 68%, 32 points above the state and 9 points above the district. Pacific Grove High was Carmel’s closest nearby competitor, at 81% in ELA, 54% in mathematics and 67% in science. Carmel’s graduation rate was also higher than the district’s 99% and California’s 88%.

Results have risen overall since 2022–2023: ELA increased 9 percentage points, mathematics 14 and science 11, though mathematics fell 4 points in the latest year. SchoolDigger ranked Carmel 74th among 2,137 California schools, in the 97th percentile with 5 stars; Pacific Grove High was next among nearby schools, in the 94th percentile. SchoolDigger’s measure of how well Carmel serves Hispanic students rose from the 69th to the 94th percentile between 2023–2024 and 2025–2026; for students receiving special education, it rose from the 70th to the 90th percentile. In 2024–2025, 15% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, the lowest reported share among nearby schools. Carmel’s student-teacher ratio was 14.3:1, below the 16.4:1 to 22.8:1 range at nearby comprehensive high schools. Chronic absenteeism has declined 6 points since 2021–2022 to 16%, below the state’s 18% but above the district’s 13%.

780

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$41,109

Per pupil spending ?

15.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

3600 Ocean Ave.
Carmel, CA 93922-8239

(831) 624-1821

District: Carmel Unified

Feeder schools for Carmel High:

Elementary:	Captain Cooper Elementary
	Carmel River Elementary
	Tularcitos Elementary
Middle:	Carmel Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.7%

Hispanic:

19.6%

Two or more races:

10.6%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Carmel High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 98th percentile in 2016 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (72% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of California high schools

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg66%

California avg42%

74^th of 2,135

California public high schools ?

Top 3%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

92^nd of 1,530Carmel 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	95.6	74 of 2135	96.5%	★★★★★
2025	95.4	87 of 2162	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	91.1	197 of 2159	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	92.3	184 of 2170	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	93.6	142 of 2123	93.3%	★★★★★
2021	92.4	95 of 1290	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	96.5	66 of 2133	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.8	69 of 2017	96.6%	★★★★★
2017	94.2	105 of 2021	94.8%	★★★★★
2016	96.3	45 of 2039	97.8%	★★★★★
2015	94.0	99 of 1994	95.0%	★★★★★
2013	77.0	182 of 2426	92.5%	★★★★★
2012	82.5	112 of 2354	95.2%	★★★★★
2011	82.9	106 of 2367	95.5%	★★★★★
2010	78.3	160 of 2281	93.0%	★★★★★
2009	78.7	130 of 2238	94.2%	★★★★★
2008	81.7	105 of 2117	95.0%	★★★★★
2007	75.3	187 of 2063	90.9%	★★★★★
2006	76.4	175 of 1968	91.1%	★★★★★
2005	80.6	92 of 1901	95.2%	★★★★★
2004	67.9	225 of 1653	86.4%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	84.2	66 of 581	88.6%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	86.4	98 of 1161	91.6%	★★★★★
2019	81.9	124 of 1117	88.9%	★★★★☆
2018	91.4	75 of 1052	92.9%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	93.2	95 of 1864	94.9%	★★★★★
2025	95.4	65 of 1906	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	89.7	185 of 1915	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	92.8	137 of 1915	92.8%	★★★★★
2022	93.4	121 of 1858	93.5%	★★★★★
2021	90.7	94 of 1054	91.1%	★★★★★
2019	96.0	65 of 1833	96.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.1	76 of 1760	95.7%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	91.3	122 of 1880	93.5%	★★★★★
2025	92.2	104 of 1900	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	64.4	585 of 1902	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	88.7	159 of 1917	91.7%	★★★★★
2022	88.3	144 of 1861	92.3%	★★★★★
2019	92.2	94 of 1814	94.8%	★★★★★
2018	93.7	91 of 1742	94.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	84.5	245 of 1997	87.7%	★★★★☆
2025	92.9	101 of 2013	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	78.9	347 of 2026	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	76.0	387 of 2030	80.9%	★★★★☆
2022	88.6	168 of 1943	91.4%	★★★★★
2021	89.3	92 of 1126	91.8%	★★★★★
2019	94.2	81 of 1937	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	91.0	145 of 1862	92.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	96.3	69 of 1930	96.4%	★★★★★
2025	94.1	109 of 1942	94.4%	★★★★★
2024	89.8	196 of 1948	89.9%	★★★★☆
2023	89.8	216 of 1963	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	91.9	152 of 1916	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	92.2	91 of 1122	91.9%	★★★★★
2019	95.2	86 of 1880	95.4%	★★★★★
2018	96.3	67 of 1834	96.3%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	89.7	45 of 588	92.3%	★★★★★
2025	88.3	55 of 577	90.5%	★★★★★
2024	88.5	45 of 574	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	66.6	179 of 541	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.9	160 of 515	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	77.3	87 of 422	79.4%	★★★★☆
2018	94.4	8 of 366	97.8%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	84.7	122 of 1235	90.1%	★★★★★
2025	72.5	212 of 1252	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	58.3	360 of 1216	70.4%	★★★★☆
2023	78.7	154 of 1197	87.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	89.1	68 of 1130	94.0%	★★★★★
2025	89.9	70 of 1155	93.9%	★★★★★
2024	80.0	205 of 1173	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	170 of 1193	85.8%	★★★★☆
2022	82.3	174 of 1204	85.5%	★★★★☆
2019	90.0	77 of 1222	93.7%	★★★★★
2018	92.3	45 of 1173	96.2%	★★★★★

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)

Male (2026)96th percentile~ school

Female (2026)95th percentile~ school

White (2026)94th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)94th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)92nd percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)92nd percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)90th percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2022)89th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)88th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy87%+38 vs state

Science68%+32 vs state

Mathematics61%+23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Carmel 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 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	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
Carmel High	Public	9-12	3600 Ocean Ave.	Carmel	93922	Monterey County	Carmel Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 624-1821	780	54	14.3	15.1%	497 (63.7%)	5 (0.6%)	153 (19.6%)	39 (5.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	83 (10.6%)	95.6	74^th of 2135 public high schools	96.5%		95.4	87^th of 2162 public high schools	96.0%	13			67.3		67.5			87.0	87.0			61.3	61.3	$41,109	$1,857	$39,252
Monterey High	Public	9-12	101 Herrmann Dr.	Monterey	93940	Monterey County	Monterey Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 392-3801	1,401	61	22.8	58.2%	401 (28.6%)	79 (5.6%)	702 (50.1%)	122 (8.7%)	6 (0.4%)	25 (1.8%)	65 (4.6%)	60.7	801^st of 2135 public high schools	62.5%		68	637^th of 2162 public high schools	70.5%	164				21.9	25.6			62.6	62.6			25.4	25.4	$20,346	$1,503	$18,843
Community High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1004 David Ave.	Pacific Grove	93950	Monterey County	Pacific Grove Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 646-6535	12	2	6.0	41.7%	4 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (33.3%)	1 (8.3%)	1 (8.3%)	1 (8.3%)	1 (8.3%)								(n/a)														$56,789	$1,636	$55,153
Pacific Grove High	Public	9-12	615 Sunset Dr.	Pacific Grove	93950	Monterey County	Pacific Grove Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 646-6590	552	34	16.4	18.7%	311 (56.3%)	11 (2.0%)	100 (18.1%)	78 (14.1%)	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.5%)	40 (7.2%)	93.1	132^nd of 2135 public high schools	93.8%		94.6	106^th of 2162 public high schools	95.1%	26			66.7		66.7			80.8	80.8			53.8	53.8	$28,249	$1,184	$27,065
Carmel Valley High	Public	9-12	27335 Schulte Rd.	Carmel	93922	Monterey County	Carmel Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 624-4462	10	3	3.5	40.0%	6 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Seaside High	Public	9-12	2200 Noche Buena St.	Seaside	93955	Monterey County	Monterey Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 392-3530	1,073	53	20.3	84.4%	60 (5.6%)	47 (4.4%)	869 (81.0%)	59 (5.5%)	2 (0.2%)	15 (1.4%)	20 (1.9%)	26.7	1552^nd of 2135 public high schools	27.3%		29	1501^st of 2162 public high schools	30.6%	51		15.7	14.3		15.6			39.2	39.2			9.9	9.9	$20,706	$2,101	$18,605
Central Coast High	Public	9-12	200 Coe Ave.	Seaside	93955	Monterey County	Monterey Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 392-3560	103	12	8.7	91.3%	13 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (77.7%)	2 (1.9%)	3 (2.9%)	2 (1.9%)	2 (1.9%)	8.7	2015^th of 2135 public high schools	5.6%		8.4	2098^th of 2162 public high schools	3.0%	83								5.6	5.6			2.6	2.6	$36,095	$2,527	$33,568
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Community Day	Public	9-12	200 Coe Ave.	Seaside	93955	Monterey County	Monterey Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 392-3822	3	1	3.0	—	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Marina High	Public	9-12	298 Patton Pkwy.	Marina	93933	Monterey County	Monterey Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 583-2060	721	35	20.8	77.9%	76 (10.5%)	47 (6.5%)	453 (62.8%)	104 (14.4%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.2%)	16 (2.2%)	41.6	1233^rd of 2135 public high schools	42.2%		42.5	1202^nd of 2162 public high schools	44.4%	31		17.4			17.4			50.8	50.8			21.6	21.6	$19,539	$1,500	$18,039
Learning for Life Charter	Public, Charter	7-12	3180 Imjin Rd. Ste. 110	Marina	93933	Monterey County	Learning for Life Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 582-9820	160	7	22.8	61.3%	31 (19.4%)	5 (3.1%)	100 (62.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	21 (13.1%)	12.8	1818^th of 2135 public high schools	14.8%		32.3	1443^rd of 2162 public high schools	33.3%	375	15.8				28.6	23.1	22.7	18.8	20.9		10.5	4.4	6.0	$17,146	$629	$16,517

Frequently Asked Questions about Carmel High

What schools feed into Carmel High?

Carmel High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Captain Cooper Elementary
Elementary : Carmel River Elementary
Elementary : Tularcitos Elementary
Middle : Carmel Middle

What district is Carmel High in?

Carmel Unified

What is the racial makeup of Carmel High?

Students at Carmel High are 64% White, 20% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

How many students attend Carmel High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 780 students attended Carmel High.

Is Carmel High a good school?

Yes! Carmel High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 74^th of 2135 California high schools.

Rate Carmel High!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

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

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

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 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.