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Bird Rock Elementary

Public Grades K-5

149^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of California elementary schools

Summary

Bird Rock Elementary is a top-performing K-5 public school with 383 students in the coastal La Jolla community, consistently ranking among the very best schools in California within the San Diego Unified district.

The school demonstrates remarkable and steady academic excellence, with over 80% of students proficient in English, Math, and Science, outperforming both district and state averages by a wide margin. This high performance is stable year after year, distinguishing it from some nearby schools that show more fluctuation in their rankings. Bird Rock is particularly strong in mathematics and shows impressive results across all grade levels, ensuring students are well-prepared as they advance. Furthermore, the school has an excellent record of supporting diverse student populations, with historically high statewide rankings for students in special education and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Compared to other high-performing schools in the area like La Jolla Elementary and Torrey Pines Elementary, Bird Rock stands out for its efficient use of resources, achieving elite results with per-student spending that is sensible relative to its peers. The school also maintains a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 9.9%, which is less than half the district average and correlates strongly with its academic success. This combination of consistent top-tier achievement, effective support for all learners, and a strong attendance culture makes Bird Rock Elementary a standout institution known for its sustained excellence.

383

Students ?

23.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,262

Per pupil spending ?

10.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5371 La Jolla Hermosa Ave.
La Jolla, CA 92037-8016

(619) 605-3500

District: San Diego Unified

Students who attend Bird Rock Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Muirlands Middle
High:	La Jolla High

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.5%

Two or more races:

13.8%

Hispanic:

11.0%

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Compare Bird Rock Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2013 → 97th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (82% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in San Diego Unified

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school82%

District avg49%

California avg41%

149^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 120Elementary Schools in the San Diego Unified

577^th of 1,543San Diego 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	97.0	149 of 5857	97.5%	★★★★★
2024	93.7	448 of 5869	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	94.8	367 of 5859	93.7%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	350 of 5883	94.1%	★★★★★
2019	97.3	124 of 5789	97.9%	★★★★★
2018	97.1	138 of 5662	97.6%	★★★★★
2017	96.5	218 of 5692	96.2%	★★★★★
2016	97.5	103 of 5614	98.2%	★★★★★
2015	97.7	126 of 5611	97.8%	★★★★★
2013	95.9	66 of 5530	98.8%	★★★★★
2012	95.8	48 of 5390	99.1%	★★★★★
2011	95.6	83 of 5377	98.5%	★★★★★
2010	96.4	54 of 5314	99.0%	★★★★★
2009	96.6	77 of 5193	98.5%	★★★★★
2008	96.7	94 of 5113	98.2%	★★★★★
2007	96.4	147 of 5113	97.1%	★★★★★
2006	96.0	157 of 4818	96.7%	★★★★★
2005	97.9	53 of 4822	98.9%	★★★★★
2004	96.0	182 of 4809	96.2%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	88.8	199 of 2585	92.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.6	134 of 5597	97.6%	★★★★★
2024	90.2	607 of 5612	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	92.2	487 of 5609	91.3%	★★★★★
2022	95.5	263 of 5635	95.3%	★★★★★
2019	97.2	73 of 5492	98.7%	★★★★★
2018	96.0	153 of 5413	97.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	99.1	27 of 4963	99.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	93.9	284 of 5517	94.9%	★★★★★
2023	88.9	430 of 5363	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	97.9	85 of 5264	98.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.7	289 of 5628	94.9%	★★★★★
2024	95.1	273 of 5643	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	95.3	283 of 5638	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	93.6	411 of 5663	92.7%	★★★★★
2019	96.0	178 of 5510	96.8%	★★★★★
2018	97.0	119 of 5431	97.8%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	91.3	173 of 2635	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	99.5	21 of 2420	99.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.1	168 of 2598	93.5%	★★★★★
2024	77.5	518 of 2651	80.5%	★★★★☆
2023	84.1	278 of 2661	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	86.1	229 of 2726	91.6%	★★★★★
2019	88.5	134 of 2834	95.3%	★★★★★
2018	89.0	122 of 2737	95.5%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2019)99th percentile~ school

Female (2025)98th percentile~ school

Male (2025)95th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)95th percentile~ school

White (2025)94th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2024)93rd percentile~ school

Disabled (2019)92nd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics84%+46 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy80%+31 vs state

Science79%+47 vs state

3.5

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Wonderful school with great teachers and staff! Very happy with the education my kids are receiving. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, January 13, 2019

Good school if your child can excel on his own.. poor if you have a child that needs extra attention or special needs. These kids are just glossed over. Close Quote

Schools Near Bird Rock Elementary

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)	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	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bird Rock Elementary	Public	K-5	5371 La Jolla Hermosa Ave.	La Jolla	92037	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-3500	383	16	23.5	10.7%	274 (71.5%)	1 (0.3%)	42 (11.0%)	12 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (13.8%)	97	149^th of 5857 public elementary schools	97.5%		93.7	448^th of 5869 public elementary schools	92.4%	299	79.4	79.4	72.7	81.8	85.5	80.2	85.5	85.2	81.0	83.7	97.0	97.0			97.0	$18,262	$2,545	$15,717
Pacific Beach Elementary	Public	K-5	1234 Tourmaline St.	San Diego	92109	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-4200	312	13	24.9	34.9%	199 (63.8%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (22.8%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	35 (11.2%)	82.9	1025^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.5%		86.7	883^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	85.0%	142	44.7	44.7	74.5	62.5	76.3	70.3	76.5	64.3	36.8	61.4						$20,807	$2,558	$18,249
Sessions Elementary	Public	K-5	2150 Beryl St.	San Diego	92109	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-3400	424	19	22.7	34.9%	239 (56.4%)	7 (1.7%)	101 (23.8%)	13 (3.1%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	60 (14.2%)	84.4	944^th of 5857 public elementary schools	83.9%		85.8	916^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.4%	28	41.5	41.5	63.2	64.6	78.9	68.4	77.2	63.1	55.6	65.3	95.7	96.8		95.7	95.7	$22,465	$3,739	$18,726
Crown Point Elementary	Public	K-5	4033 Ingraham St.	San Diego	92109	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 987-5500	313	12	26.0	49.5%	128 (40.9%)	8 (2.6%)	130 (41.5%)	8 (2.6%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.6%)	34 (10.9%)	60.5	2037^th of 5857 public elementary schools	65.2%		67.4	1711^th of 5869 public elementary schools	70.8%	326	28.3	28.3	65.9	55.6	39.1	53.2	70.5	55.6	26.1	50.0	96.8		96.8			$21,230	$3,734	$17,496
La Jolla Elementary	Public	K-5	1111 Marine St.	La Jolla	92037	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-3300	566	24	23.5	19.1%	348 (61.5%)	2 (0.4%)	96 (17.0%)	53 (9.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (11.7%)	97.9	75^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.7%		98.1	76^th of 5869 public elementary schools	98.7%	1	81.2	81.2	78.3	92.8	90.9	87.5	78.5	91.7	89.1	86.6						$18,095	$2,792	$15,303
Barnard Elementary	Public	K-5	2445 Fogg St.	San Diego	92109	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 800-5700	473	21	22.5	35.5%	69 (14.6%)	15 (3.2%)	97 (20.5%)	150 (31.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	141 (29.8%)	91.5	578^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.1%		92.8	518^th of 5869 public elementary schools	91.2%	60	52.6	52.6	71.0	75.7	71.9	73.0	81.4	79.5	59.7	74.5						$18,146	$2,275	$15,871
Alcott Elementary	Public	K-5	4680 Hidalgo St.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-1200	234	10	23.4	38.9%	100 (42.7%)	7 (3.0%)	97 (41.5%)	8 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.4%)	57.6	2189^th of 5857 public elementary schools	62.6%		52.9	2403^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	59.1%	214	30.4	30.4	57.1	30.3	60.9	46.8	47.8	48.5	52.2	49.4						$40,786	$5,841	$34,945
Cadman Elementary	Public	K-5	4370 Kamloop Ave.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 397-6500	184	8	23.0	54.9%	85 (46.2%)	4 (2.2%)	54 (29.3%)	19 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (12.0%)	67.1	1739^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.3%		70.3	1582^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	73.0%	157	30.0	30.0	57.1	60.0	55.0	57.5	50.0	52.0	50.0	50.7						$24,297	$4,196	$20,101
Toler Elementary	Public	K-5	3350 Baker St.	San Diego	92117	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 273-0294	235	12	19.5	54.0%	98 (41.7%)	4 (1.7%)	96 (40.9%)	7 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (12.3%)	68.4	1673^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	71.4%		78.3	1229^th of 5869 public elementary schools	79.1%	444	52.6	52.6	54.6	26.9	69.2	52.9	50.0	46.2	51.3	49.4						$26,918	$5,046	$21,872
Torrey Pines Elementary	Public	K-5	8350 Cliffridge Ave.	La Jolla	92037	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 605-3700	465	19	24.4	16.8%	217 (46.7%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (17.8%)	102 (21.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (13.5%)	97.2	141^st of 5857 public elementary schools	97.6%		98	80^th of 5869 public elementary schools	98.6%	61	76.1	76.1	86.3	83.3	82.1	84.0	83.6	82.7	74.6	80.5						$18,674	$2,289	$16,385

Frequently Asked Questions about Bird Rock Elementary

Is Bird Rock Elementary a good school?

Yes! Bird Rock Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 149^th of 5857 California elementary schools.

What district is Bird Rock Elementary in?

San Diego Unified

What is the racial makeup of Bird Rock Elementary?

Students at Bird Rock Elementary are 72% White, 14% Two or more races, 11% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Bird Rock Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 383 students attended Bird Rock Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Bird Rock Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bird Rock Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Muirlands Middle
High : La Jolla High

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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.