The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in San Diego for 2026 are Solana Ranch Elementary (9.4/10), Carmel Del Mar Elementary (9.3/10), and Ocean Air (9.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 208 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
San Diego's elementary landscape spans 181 ranked schools, giving families a wide but navigable field. The average composite score sits at 6.5/10, yet nearly half the ranked schools — 82 in total — clear the 7/10 threshold, signaling a strong upper tier worth examining closely. Leading that tier is Sequoia Elementary at 9.4/10, followed by Sage Canyon at 9.0/10 and a cluster of schools including Holmes Elementary, Clairemont Canyons Academy, and Wegeforth Elementary each scoring 8.8/10. The gap between the average and the top performers means school choice here genuinely matters. A family zoned for a 6.5 school and a family zoned for a 9.4 school are looking at meaningfully different academic environments. Use the table below to sort by score, filter by neighborhood, or compare specific campuses side by side — the data will do the heavy lifting.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.4
- 29.3
- 39.2
- 49.2
- 59.2
- 69.2
- 79.2
- 89.1
- 99.1
- 109.0
All 208 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 208
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Solana Ranch ElementarySolana Beach Elementarystudents 512student-teacher ratio 24.4:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 2Carmel Del Mar ElementaryDel Mar Union Elementarystudents 583student-teacher ratio 22.4:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 3Ocean AirDel Mar Union Elementarystudents 493student-teacher ratio 21.4:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 4Barnard ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 471student-teacher ratio 22.4:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 5Holmes ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 503student-teacher ratio 25.1:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 6Ocean Beach ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 406student-teacher ratio 22.6:1grades Kindergarten–4th
- 7Rolando Park ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 279student-teacher ratio 19.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 8Nye ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 375student-teacher ratio 23.4:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 9Carmel Creek ElementarySolana Beach Elementarystudents 324student-teacher ratio 21.6:1grades Kindergarten–3rd
- 10Sage CanyonDel Mar Union Elementarystudents 478student-teacher ratio 19.9:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 11Adobe Bluffs ElementaryPoway Unifiedstudents 549student-teacher ratio 20.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12Cadman ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 196student-teacher ratio 21.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 13Innovations AcademycharterInnovations Academy Districtstudents 434student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 14Rolling Hills ElementaryPoway Unifiedstudents 496student-teacher ratio 22.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Sundance ElementaryPoway Unifiedstudents 436student-teacher ratio 19.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 16Birney ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 535student-teacher ratio 24.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 17Jerabek ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 714student-teacher ratio 27.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Marvin ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 549student-teacher ratio 26.1:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 19Sunset View ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 411student-teacher ratio 21.6:1grades Kindergarten–4th
- 20Scripps ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 762student-teacher ratio 26.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21Kavod ChartercharterKavod Charter Districtstudents 399student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 22Field ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 263student-teacher ratio 20.2:1grades Kindergarten–6th
- 23Jefferson ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 381student-teacher ratio 23.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Silver Gate ElementarySan Diego Unifiedstudents 410student-teacher ratio 25.6:1grades Kindergarten–4th
- 25San Diego Global Vision AcademycharterSan Diego Global Vision Academy Districtstudents 432student-teacher ratio 20.6:1grades Kindergarten–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and California education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in California. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Solana Ranch Elementary
Solana Beach Elementary
512 students · 24.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 8.3
- 2
Carmel Del Mar Elementary
Del Mar Union Elementary
583 students · 22.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 8.7
- 3
Ocean Air
Del Mar Union Elementary
493 students · 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 1% in California
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 9.1
- 4
Barnard Elementary
San Diego Unified
471 students · 22.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 8.5
- 5
Holmes Elementary
San Diego Unified
503 students · 25.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 7.1
- 6
Ocean Beach Elementary
San Diego Unified
406 students · 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–4th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 7.8
- 7
Rolando Park Elementary
San Diego Unified
279 students · 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 8.7
- 8
Nye Elementary
San Diego Unified
375 students · 23.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in California
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 7.0
- 9
Carmel Creek Elementary
Solana Beach Elementary
324 students · 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–3rd
Top 3% in California
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 9.0
- 10
Sage Canyon
Del Mar Union Elementary
478 students · 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–6th
Top 3% in California
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 8.5
Questions
What is the best elementary school in San Diego, California?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Solana Ranch Elementary is the top-rated elementary school in San Diego with a composite score of 9.4/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in San Diego, California?
San Diego has 237 elementary schools, including 26 charter schools. Of these, 210 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in San Diego?
Among 210 San Diego elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.8/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in California).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within California, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in California, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the San Diego elementary school rankings?
San Diego has 26 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in San Diego2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in San Diego2026 rankings and ratings
- All 412 schools in San DiegoElementary, middle and high
- California schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings