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San Marcos Elementary

Public Grades K-5

4943^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,804 California Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of California elementary schools

Summary

San Marcos Elementary serves 546 students in grades K–5 in San Marcos, California. Its 2025–2026 results are below state and district levels in English language arts (ELA), math and science; science is the clearest concern, with 11% proficient compared with 36% statewide, 43% in the district and higher rates at every nearby K–5 school.

Math is the school’s strongest subject relative to the state and district, though its results remain well below both: 21% were proficient, 18 points below the state and 27 below the district. ELA proficiency was 27%, 22 points below the state and 31 below the district. Science was lowest at 11%, 25 points below the state and 32 below the district. Nearby K–5 schools averaged 57% in ELA, 54% in math and 44% in science; those averages were 29, 33 and 34 points above San Marcos, respectively. The school scored below all seven of those peers in each subject.

Results have declined overall since 2022–2023: ELA proficiency fell 4 points, math 1 point and science 9 points, though ELA improved in the latest year. SchoolDigger ranks the school 4,943rd of 5,804 California schools, at the 15th percentile with 1 star; the San Marcos Unified rating is higher, at the 72nd percentile with 4 stars. The school’s student–teacher ratio was 22.7 in 2024–2025. That year, 87% of students were eligible for free/reduced lunch, the highest rate among nearby schools with the same measure. SchoolDigger’s English Language Learner Students ranking suggests stronger effectiveness for that group than for the school overall: it was at the 47th percentile in 2023–2024, compared with 17th overall, but had fallen 20 points from the group’s 67th-percentile ranking in 2022–2023.

546

Students ?

22.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,721

Per pupil spending ?

87.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

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: Holding steady — 11th percentile in 2015 → 15th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (22% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Science scores 25 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school22%

District avg51%

California avg42%

4,943^rd of 5,804

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 21% (2016) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

271^st of 968San 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
2026	18.3	4943 of 5804	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	16.7	4923 of 5569	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	24.6	4111 of 5085	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	25.3	4299 of 5412	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	21.0	4609 of 5590	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	20.0	2669 of 2920	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
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 (2026)21st percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)19th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)18th percentile+3 vs school

Homeless (2024)12th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)12th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)9th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy27%-22 vs state

Mathematics21%-17 vs state

Science11%-25 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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)							% 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/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 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%)	18.3	4943^rd of 5804 public elementary schools	14.8%		15.9	5191^st of 5857 public elementary schools	11.4%	248	10.8		10.8	34.3	16.5	31.4				27.3	23.3	14.1	24.8				20.9							$30,721	$29,524	$1,197
Baypoint Preparatory Academy - San Diego	Public, Charter	K-8	520 E. Carmel St.	San Marcos	92079	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%)	45.3	2877^th of 5804 public elementary schools	50.4%		58.9	2124^th of 5857 public elementary schools	63.7%	753	42.9	41.7	42.4	17.7	52.4	57.1	52.4	71.4	76.9	53.3	29.4	42.9	28.6	9.5	30.8	41.7	29.5	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%)	94.8	344^th of 5804 public elementary schools	94.1%		95.8	251^st of 5857 public elementary schools	95.7%	93	68.6		68.6	78.3	72.6	80.0				77.1	77.4	77.9	72.4				75.9							$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%)	87.8	753^rd of 5804 public elementary schools	87.0%		93.6	436^th of 5857 public elementary schools	92.6%	317	58.1		58.1	64.1	65.9	75.0				68.4	64.1	68.3	66.9				66.5	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%)	83.1	1006^th of 5804 public elementary schools	82.7%		84.8	931^st of 5857 public elementary schools	84.1%	75	48.0		48.0	73.7	64.4	60.8				66.2	70.4	67.9	52.7				63.3	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	92106	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%)	28.4	4121^st of 5804 public elementary schools	29.0%		28.3	4114^th of 5857 public elementary schools	29.8%	7	25.7		25.7	34.3	28.8	40.5				34.6	35.1	28.8	14.9				26.2	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%)	30.4	3958^th of 5804 public elementary schools	31.8%		26.7	4250^th of 5857 public elementary schools	27.4%	292	29.9	10.2	19.5	37.8	28.6	50.6	19.5	24.4	21.4	29.9	31.7	19.1	37.1	8.5	10.6	8.2	18.5							$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%)	93.7	427^th of 5804 public elementary schools	92.6%		93	471^st of 5857 public elementary schools	92.0%	44	59.6	51.8	55.2	80.8	66.4	73.4	85.5	76.4	66.4	74.9	83.2	69.0	75.7	77.4	67.8	54.9	70.8	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%)	45.3	2882^nd of 5804 public elementary schools	50.3%		54	2367^th of 5857 public elementary schools	59.6%	515	36.0		36.0	33.0	32.9	44.9				36.9	55.7	31.7	39.3				42.9	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%)	67.2	1724^th of 5804 public elementary schools	70.3%		52.8	2444^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.3%	720	39.6		39.6	55.8	50.0	56.4				54.3	55.2	49.4	50.5				51.8							$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 14.8% 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 »

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

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 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.