Carlsbad Unified School District
School District · Carlsbad, California
Avg Rating
7.8
out of 10
Schools
16
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,076
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.4:1
Avg Rating
7.8
out of 10
Schools
16
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,076
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.4:1
Evaluating Carlsbad Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Carlsbad Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Poinsettia Elementary
Carlsbad · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Kelly Elementary
Carlsbad · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Aviara Oaks Middle
Carlsbad · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#91 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.5
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,076
$2,571 vs California median
District size
10,832 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Carlsbad Unified ranks #91 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Carlsbad Unified's schools with real test data average 7.8/10 across 16 schools. Its top-rated schools are Poinsettia Elementary (9.3/10), Kelly Elementary (9.0/10), and Aviara Oaks Middle (8.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.3/10 despite 20% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Carlsbad Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Carlsbad Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (16 of 16). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poinsettia Elementary | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Kelly Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Aviara Oaks Middle | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Aviara Oaks Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Magnolia Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Pacific Rim Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Buena Vista Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Sage Creek High | 8.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Calavera Hills Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Calavera Hills Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
See all 16 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Carlsbad Unified
Carlsbad Unified is a Carlsbad, California school district serving 16 schools. The district educates 10,832 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22.4:1. The district invests $15,076 per student annually.
With an average rating of 7.8/10, Carlsbad Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Poinsettia Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.3/10.
In standardized testing, Carlsbad Unified students show an average math proficiency of 65.7% and ELA proficiency of 72.8%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Carlsbad Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Carlsbad Unified with test data.
Schools in Carlsbad Unified
16 schools Elementary Schools 9
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 3
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Carlsbad
- Total Enrollment
- 10,832
- Teachers (FTE)
- 483
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Carlsbad Unified?
Carlsbad Unified has 16 schools in total — 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Carlsbad Unified?
The average composite rating for Carlsbad Unified is 7.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Carlsbad Unified?
Carlsbad Unified spends $15,076 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Carlsbad Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Carlsbad Unified is 22.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Carlsbad Unified?
Poinsettia Elementary is the highest-rated school in Carlsbad Unified with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What are the test scores in Carlsbad Unified?
Across schools in Carlsbad Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 65.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 72.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Carlsbad Unified compare to other districts in California?
Carlsbad Unified has an average school rating of 7.8/10 across 16 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 65.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 72.8%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Carlsbad Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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