5.3 avg / 10

Best Schools in Carlsbad, New Mexico

13 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 13

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 5.3/10

Estimated Scores: 15%

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Choosing a school in Carlsbad?

Use this page to compare every school in Carlsbad by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High · Carlsbad. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Carlsbad. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Carlsbad for 2026 are Carlsbad Early College High (8.2/10), Ocotillo Elementary (8.2/10), and Desert Willow Elementary (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Ocotillo Elementary

Rates 8.2/10 despite 35% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Carlsbad schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Carlsbad

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Carlsbad Early College High	8.2 / 10	High	+1.8	90th
2	Ocotillo Elementary	8.2 / 10	Elementary	+2.4	90th
3	Desert Willow Elementary	7.5 / 10	Elementary	+1.9	79th
4	Monterrey Elementary	6.0 / 10	Elementary	+0.6	46th
5	Jefferson Montessori	5.9 / 10	Other	+1.5	43th
6	Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus	5.3 / 10	Middle	-0.1	28th
7	Sunset Elementary	5.0 / 10	Elementary	-0.7	22th
8	Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus	3.5 / 10	Middle	-2.2	3th
9	Carlsbad High	3.4 / 10	High	-2.5	2th
10	Carlsbad Enrichment Center	2.4 / 10	Other	-2.8	0th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.3/10
Median household income: $79,668
Median home value: $192,600
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 76%

How Carlsbad compares

New Mexico rank

#74 of 79

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.9

below New Mexico avg (6.2)

Median household income

$80k

138% of New Mexico median

Schools in this city

13

About Schools in Carlsbad, New Mexico

Carlsbad, New Mexico is home to 13 schools, including 13 public schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.3 out of 10, schools in Carlsbad show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Carlsbad is Carlsbad Early College High with a composite score of 8.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Carlsbad is served by 1 school district: CARLSBAD. These districts collectively serve 7,343 students.

Carlsbad's community shows 20% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $79,668. The poverty rate in the area is 12.0%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (13) Elementary (6) Middle (2) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (13) Public (13)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (13) Academics (13) Growth (9) Resources (13)

Filter by ZIP: 88220 (13)

Elementary Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Ocotillo Elementary 711 students · Kindergarten–5th	711	Kindergarten–5th	8.2
2	Desert Willow Elementary 820 students · Kindergarten–5th	820	Kindergarten–5th	7.5
3	Monterrey Elementary 345 students · Kindergarten–5th	345	Kindergarten–5th	6.0
4	Early Childhood Education Center 212 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	212	Pre-K–Kindergarten	5.4
5	Sunset Elementary 419 students · Kindergarten–5th	419	Kindergarten–5th	5.0
6	Cottonwood Elementary 671 students · Kindergarten–5th	671	Kindergarten–5th	3.8

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus 714 students · 6th–8th	714	6th–8th	5.3
2	Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus 834 students · 6th–8th	834	6th–8th	3.5

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Carlsbad Early College High 170 students · 9th–12th	170	9th–12th	8.2
2	Carlsbad High 1,623 students · 9th–12th	1,623	9th–12th	3.4

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Jefferson Montessori 258 students · Kindergarten–12th	258	Kindergarten–12th	5.9
2	Hillcrest Preschool 320 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	320	Pre-K–Pre-K	4.4
3	Carlsbad Enrichment Center 234 students · 1st–12th	234	1st–12th	2.4

Schools in Carlsbad

Carlsbad, New Mexico · 13 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$79,668

Median Home Value

$192,600

Median Rent

$1,218/mo

Population

40,151

College Educated

20%

Homeownership

76%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

12.0%

Community Profile

Carlsbad has a median household income of $79,668. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $192,600, with a median rent of $1,218/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.0%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: New Mexico
Elementary: 6
Middle: 2
High: 2
Other: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Carlsbad schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Carlsbad 📊 Niche Carlsbad Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

CARLSBAD

14 schools · 7,343 students

Nearby Cities

Other Major Cities in New Mexico

Top metros statewide by school count.

Albuquerque 243 schools Santa Fe 60 schools Las Cruces 50 schools Farmington 29 schools Rio Rancho 25 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Carlsbad, New Mexico

How many schools are in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

Carlsbad has 13 schools, including 13 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Carlsbad is 5.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The top-ranked school in Carlsbad on MySchoolScout is Carlsbad Early College High with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best elementary school in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The top-ranked elementary school in Carlsbad on MySchoolScout is Ocotillo Elementary with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best middle school in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The top-ranked middle school in Carlsbad on MySchoolScout is Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus with a composite score of 5.3/10.

What is the best high school in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The top-ranked high school in Carlsbad on MySchoolScout is Carlsbad Early College High with a composite score of 8.2/10.

How many school districts serve Carlsbad, New Mexico?

Carlsbad is served by 1 school district: Carlsbad.

What is the education level in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

According to Census data, 20% of adults in Carlsbad have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The median household income in Carlsbad is approximately $79,668 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Carlsbad is 36.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Carlsbad, New Mexico?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.