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6.9 avg / 10

Carlsbad Unified School District

School District · Carlsbad, California

Students: 10,832
Teachers (FTE): 483

Avg Rating

6.9

out of 10

Schools

16

9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$15,076

Student-Teacher Ratio

22.4:1

How this district compares

California rank

#178 of 713

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+0.6

above California avg

Per-pupil spending

$15,076

$2,571 vs California median

District size

10,832 students

Much larger than California median

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 6.9/10, Carlsbad Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Poinsettia Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.

In standardized testing, Carlsbad Unified students show an average math proficiency of 64.2% and ELA proficiency of 72.2%.

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

Math Proficiency 64.2%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 72.2%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Carlsbad Unified with test data.

District Details

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 6.9/10. 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 8.9/10.

What are the test scores in Carlsbad Unified?

Across schools in Carlsbad Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 64.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 72.2%. 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 6.9/10 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 are based on a comprehensive methodology that weighs Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
6.9/10
Math Proficiency
64.2%
ELA Proficiency
72.2%

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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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