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Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 92009

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the California Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the California Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

Schools

7,810

Students

Districts

5-star schools

Top rankedEl Camino Creek Elementary58^th of 5,857 California elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Carrillo Elementary up 333 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Kelly Elementary 19.9 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

5★

4★

See the top-ranked California schools →

Summary:

Seven elementary schools serve grades K-5 or K-6 in the 92009 zip code of Carlsbad, California, operating across three districts and collectively representing a very high-performing educational area.

Schools in the Encinitas Union Elementary district stand out, with El Camino Creek Elementary ranking in the state's top 1% and showing exceptional test scores alongside the area's lowest chronic absenteeism. Other top performers include Poinsettia Elementary from Carlsbad Unified, which achieves a 96th percentile rank despite having a higher rate of economic need, and Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary. Schools in the San Marcos Unified district, like Carrillo Elementary and La Costa Meadows Elementary, show strong improvement and performance but generally rank below their Encinitas counterparts.

Overall, all seven schools rank in California's top 11%, with attendance and district affiliation being notable indicators of performance. While spending and class size vary, the data shows that effective educational practices can lead to excellent results across different contexts, with La Costa Heights Elementary and Mission Estancia Elementary rounding out a consistently high-achieving group of schools for families in this area.

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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 (2025)	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 6th 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 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
Buena Vista Elementary	Public	K-5	1330 Buena Vista Way	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5400	281	12	23.4	39.9%	139 (49.5%)	4 (1.4%)	97 (34.5%)	12 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (10.0%)	90.4	632^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	89.2%		91.4	610^th of 5869 public elementary schools	89.6%	22	66.1	66.1	69.6	68.4	71.2		69.9	76.1	60.5	67.8		68.5	94.3			94.3			$35,099	$34,658	$441
Jefferson Elementary	Public	K-5	3743 Jefferson St.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-5500	471	23	20.2	54.4%	185 (39.3%)	11 (2.3%)	224 (47.6%)	8 (1.7%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.1%)	65.1	1832^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	68.7%		62	1981^st of 5869 public elementary schools	66.2%	149	44.1	44.1	48.7	49.2	59.1		52.3	54.1	47.5	42.7		48.3	91.7	96.7	95.0	95.0	93.3	95.0	$28,149	$27,150	$999
Kelly Elementary	Public	K-5	4885 Kelly Dr.	Carlsbad	92009	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						$27,973	$27,602	$371
Magnolia Elementary	Public	K-5	1905 Magnolia Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	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	$21,470	$21,032	$438
Pacific Rim Elementary	Public	K-5	1100 Camino de las Ondas	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6200	642	26	24.6	17.4%	410 (63.9%)	3 (0.5%)	106 (16.5%)	54 (8.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (10.4%)	98	70^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.8%		98.3	60^th of 5869 public elementary schools	99.0%	10	72.5	72.5	87.3	91.4	89.0		89.2	90.8	80.0	78.9		83.5	93.8			95.8		95.8	$22,946	$22,508	$438
Hope Elementary	Public	K-5	3010 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	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							$22,859	$22,420	$439
Aviara Oaks Elementary	Public	K-5	6900 Ambrosia Ln.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6000	612	25	24.4	22.1%	343 (56.0%)	9 (1.5%)	123 (20.1%)	64 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	71 (11.6%)	96	241^st of 5857 public elementary schools	95.9%		97.5	123^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	97.9%	118	65.5	65.5	76.3	80.4	85.1		81.2	79.2	76.6	80.1		78.8							$23,250	$22,812	$438
Calavera Hills Elementary	Public	K-5	4100 Tamarack Ave.	Carlsbad	92009	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							$24,897	$24,040	$857
Poinsettia Elementary	Public	K-5	2445 Mica Rd.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6500	481	22	22.3	28.9%	237 (49.3%)	4 (0.8%)	136 (28.3%)	41 (8.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (12.7%)	95.9	243^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	95.9%		97.3	135^th of 5869 public elementary schools	97.7%	108	62.5	62.5	82.4	89.4	75.0		82.4	88.0	83.3	70.3		81.0							$25,822	$25,384	$438
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary	Public	K-6	8000 Calle Acervo	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Encinitas Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 943-2000	520	22	23.6	6.5%	386 (74.2%)	6 (1.2%)	52 (10.0%)	19 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (11.0%)	95.4	299^th of 5857 public elementary schools	94.9%		95.3	322^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	94.5%	23	62.4	62.4	78.5	83.6	83.5	74.4	79.9	80.0	77.9	70.2	76.8	75.9							$23,486	$23,048	$438
El Camino Creek Elementary	Public	K-6	7885 Paseo Aliso	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Encinitas Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 943-2051	409	16	25.5	5.1%	306 (74.8%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (9.3%)	15 (3.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (11.2%)	98.2	58^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.0%		96.6	203^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	96.5%	145	72.2	72.2	89.3	85.3	85.7	89.3	87.4	91.1	96.7	76.7	80.0	85.2							$22,157	$21,796	$361
La Costa Heights Elementary	Public	K-6	3035 Levante St.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Encinitas Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 944-4375	552	23	24.0	14.5%	369 (66.8%)	2 (0.4%)	82 (14.9%)	21 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (14.1%)	94.7	360^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.9%		95.4	311^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.7%	49	66.7	66.7	75.0	79.6	77.7	85.2	79.6	69.2	71.3	73.8	82.5	74.3							$24,419	$23,620	$799
Mission Estancia Elementary	Public	K-6	3330 Calle Barcelona	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	Encinitas Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 943-2004	355	16	22.1	12.7%	239 (67.3%)	5 (1.4%)	40 (11.3%)	30 (8.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (11.3%)	90	657^th of 5857 public elementary schools	88.8%		91.4	616^th of 5869 public elementary schools	89.5%	41	55.2	55.2	70.8	83.9	72.4	74.5	75.8	79.2	72.6	51.7	57.5	65.1							$28,278	$27,656	$622
Carrillo Elementary	Public	K-5	2875 Poinsettia Ln.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2900	725	29	25.0	22.6%	384 (53.0%)	6 (0.8%)	174 (24.0%)	77 (10.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (11.2%)	90.3	639^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.1%		84.5	972^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	83.4%	333	54.9	54.9	70.6	71.8	69.7		70.7	78.0	70.2	65.6		71.0	93.8	96.1	96.9	95.3	94.5	96.1	$24,692	$24,116	$576
La Costa Meadows Elementary	Public	K-5	6889 El Fuerte St.	Carlsbad	92009	San Diego County	San Marcos Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 290-2121	725	31	23.6	17.1%	470 (64.8%)	2 (0.3%)	131 (18.1%)	41 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	80 (11.0%)	91.4	586^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.0%		91.3	622^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	89.4%	36	61.3	61.3	71.0	68.6	74.5		71.4	78.0	66.7	69.5		71.4	95.6				97.1		$24,852	$24,276	$576

Cities Near Zip Code 92009

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Carlsbad	0.4 mi	24	73^rd
Encinitas	1.95 mi	12	117^th
San Marcos	3.05 mi	29	307^th
Vista	3.79 mi	32	462^nd
Cardiff by the Sea	4.71 mi	2	60^th

See the top CA California cities

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.