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San Marcos Elementary

Public Grades K-5

5191^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of California elementary schools

Summary

San Marcos Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 546 students in the San Marcos Unified district, notable for having the highest rate of economic need among its neighboring schools.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with proficiency rates in English, Math, and Science far below district and state averages and ranking in the bottom 11% of California schools. This performance is part of a concerning decline and stands in stark contrast to nearby schools like Discovery Elementary and Paloma Elementary, where proficiency is often 55-60 percentage points higher. While chronic absenteeism has improved, it remains nearly double the rate of some peers, such as Richland Elementary.

Despite receiving more funding per student than most comparable schools in the district, outcomes have not improved. A relevant comparison is La Mirada Academy, which serves a similarly high-need population but achieves better academic results, indicating that the challenges at San Marcos Elementary may extend beyond socioeconomic factors and require specific, targeted interventions.

546

Students ?

22.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,721

Per pupil spending ?

87.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 Tiger Way
San Marcos, CA 92069-2703

(760) 290-2430

District: San Marcos Unified

Students who attend San Marcos Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	San Marcos Middle
High:	Mission Hills High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

94.9%

White:

2.2%

Two or more races:

1.5%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare San Marcos Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 31st percentile in 2013 → 11th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (20% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school20%

District avg50%

California avg41%

5,191^st of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 12Elementary Schools in the San Marcos Unified

488^th of 1,543San Marcos 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	15.9	5191 of 5857	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.9	4880 of 5869	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.0	4164 of 5859	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.7	3894 of 5883	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.4	4070 of 5789	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.0	5000 of 5662	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	25.1	4250 of 5692	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.2	4413 of 5614	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	15.8	5014 of 5611	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	33.2	3801 of 5530	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.0	3267 of 5390	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.8	3184 of 5377	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.2	2830 of 5314	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	47.6	2630 of 5193	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	38.1	3060 of 5113	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	17.6	4471 of 5113	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	13.1	4456 of 4818	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	12.7	4479 of 4822	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	15.9	4280 of 4809	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	34.2	1304 of 2227	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.6	1981 of 2585	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.9	1817 of 2128	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	42.3	1664 of 3162	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.9	1057 of 3245	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.2	1458 of 3311	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.0	1088 of 3275	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	27.2	2586 of 3246	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	13.2	5242 of 5597	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	5018 of 5612	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	4329 of 5609	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.3	3799 of 5635	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.6	3372 of 5492	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	15.4	4889 of 5413	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	22.1	4312 of 5107	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.8	3816 of 5107	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.7	3080 of 5087	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.4	2639 of 5084	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.5	2855 of 4963	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.7	4059 of 4830	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	23.2	319 of 364	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	24.1	4430 of 5460	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.6	4410 of 5517	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.1	3217 of 5363	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.8	2548 of 5264	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.5	3392 of 5173	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	17.2	4656 of 5084	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.4	4749 of 5628	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.4	4239 of 5643	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.0	3685 of 5638	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.7	3731 of 5663	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.3	4447 of 5510	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.5	4707 of 5431	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.1	2580 of 2847	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	2357 of 2635	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.8	1557 of 2420	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)47th percentile+31 vs school

Disabled (2022)41st percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)16th percentile+4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)16th percentile+4 vs school

Homeless (2024)12th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2025)9th percentile~ school

Female (2025)6th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics22%-15 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy21%-27 vs state

Science12%-21 vs state

★

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Schools Near San Marcos 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
San Marcos Elementary	Public	K-5	1 Tiger Way	San Marcos	92069	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2430	546	24	22.7	87.2%	12 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	518 (94.9%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)	15.9	5191^st of 5857 public elementary schools	11.4%		19.9	4880^th of 5869 public elementary schools	16.9%	311	11.7		11.7	17.7	17.7	28.7				21.5	30.6	20.8	14.9				21.8							$30,721	$29,524	$1,197
Baypoint Preparatory Academy - San Diego	Public, Charter	K-8	520 E. Carmel St.	San Marcos	92078	San Diego County	Baypoint Preparatory Academy - San Diego District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 203-4383	162	9	17.9	58.0%	46 (28.4%)	6 (3.7%)	89 (54.9%)	12 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.9%)	58.9	2124^th of 5857 public elementary schools	63.7%		71.8	1511^th of 5869 public elementary schools	74.3%	613	43.8		43.5	70.6	47.6	43.8	61.5	66.7		58.4	64.7	28.6	25.0	38.5	46.7		42.7	93.8	93.8	93.8		93.8		$45,930	$44,824	$1,106
Discovery Elementary	Public	K-5	730 Applewilde Dr.	San Marcos	92078	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2077	717	28	26.0	17.4%	321 (44.8%)	7 (1.0%)	175 (24.4%)	141 (19.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (10.2%)	95.8	251^st of 5857 public elementary schools	95.7%		93.8	443^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	92.5%	192	69.1		69.1	72.4	82.0	85.5				80.1	77.1	81.1	76.4				78.2							$22,240	$21,664	$576
Paloma Elementary	Public	K-5	660 Camino Magnifico	San Marcos	92069	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2199	758	34	22.3	31.4%	253 (33.4%)	13 (1.7%)	283 (37.3%)	128 (16.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	77 (10.2%)	93.6	436^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.6%		93.5	470^th of 5869 public elementary schools	92.0%	34	61.3		61.3	73.6	75.0	83.0				76.9	72.8	76.7	69.8				73.2	97.4				98.3		$22,430	$21,854	$576
Richland Elementary	Public	K-5	910 Richland Rd.	San Marcos	92069	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2400	883	37	23.8	30.8%	349 (39.5%)	6 (0.7%)	374 (42.4%)	63 (7.1%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	87 (9.9%)	84.8	931^st of 5857 public elementary schools	84.1%		83.7	1011^th of 5869 public elementary schools	82.8%	80	48.9		48.9	70.5	66.0	66.2				67.6	75.9	67.4	47.7				64.0	96.7	98.0		98.0	98.0	98.0	$24,976	$24,400	$576
High Technical Elementary North County	Public, Charter	K-5	1480 West San Marcos Blvd.	San Marcos	92078	San Diego County	High Technical Elementary North County District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 759-2785	438	18	24.3	50.2%	112 (25.6%)	10 (2.3%)	230 (52.5%)	65 (14.8%)	5 (1.1%)	7 (1.6%)	9 (2.1%)	28.3	4114^th of 5857 public elementary schools	29.8%		40.7	3145^th of 5869 public elementary schools	46.4%	969	19.4		19.4	36.5	37.0	34.7				36.1	41.9	16.4	13.9				24.2	97.1		97.1				$30,292	$29,234	$1,058
La Mirada Academy	Public	K-8	3697 La Mirada Dr.	San Marcos	92078	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2000	868	37	23.3	77.4%	37 (4.3%)	3 (0.3%)	785 (90.4%)	26 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	14 (1.6%)	26.7	4250^th of 5857 public elementary schools	27.4%		32.1	3777^th of 5869 public elementary schools	35.6%	473	26.1	8.7	15.9	27.2	23.4	52.3	26.8	24.0	23.0	28.7	25.9	30.5	27.3	11.8	14.9	4.8	17.8							$26,078	$24,938	$1,140
Double Peak	Public	K-8	111 San Elijo Rd.	San Marcos	92078	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2340	1,171	51	23.1	21.0%	576 (49.2%)	20 (1.7%)	280 (23.9%)	166 (14.2%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	125 (10.7%)	93	471^st of 5857 public elementary schools	92.0%		91.8	584^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.0%	113	66.4	43.0	53.4	69.6	74.1	79.0	73.2	72.6	66.0	72.2	72.0	72.5	73.1	68.0	70.3	55.4	68.1	97.1	97.8		97.8	97.8		$24,167	$23,586	$581
Twin Oaks Elementary	Public	K-5	1 Cassou Rd.	San Marcos	92069	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2588	648	31	20.9	47.7%	204 (31.5%)	6 (0.9%)	380 (58.6%)	24 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	31 (4.8%)	54	2367^th of 5857 public elementary schools	59.6%		57.8	2161^st of 5869 public elementary schools	63.2%	206	39.6		39.6	31.5	45.1	58.0				45.4	42.7	36.7	47.5				42.5	96.6	96.6	98.0	98.0	97.3		$27,907	$27,010	$897
Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary	Public	K-5	653 Poinsettia Ave.	Vista	92081	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2888	579	26	22.2	69.1%	100 (17.3%)	6 (1.0%)	424 (73.2%)	28 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	18 (3.1%)	52.8	2444^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.3%		59.3	2099^th of 5869 public elementary schools	64.2%	345	22.8		22.8	48.4	46.5	35.6				43.3	59.1	49.0	40.6				49.3							$28,212	$27,150	$1,062

Frequently Asked Questions about San Marcos Elementary

Is San Marcos Elementary a good school?

San Marcos Elementary ranks in the bottom 11.4% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend San Marcos Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 546 students attended San Marcos Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of San Marcos Elementary?

Students at San Marcos Elementary are 95% Hispanic, 2% White, 1% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is San Marcos Elementary in?

San Marcos Unified

What schools do graduates of San Marcos Elementary attend?

Students who attend San Marcos Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : San Marcos Middle
High : Mission Hills 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.