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6.1 avg / 10

San Marcos Unified School District

School District · San Marcos, California

Students: 19,374
Teachers (FTE): 794

Avg Rating

6.1

out of 10

Schools

19

12 elem, 3 mid, 4 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$14,639

Student-Teacher Ratio

24.4:1

How this district compares

California rank

#396 of 713

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.2

below California avg

Per-pupil spending

$14,639

$3,008 vs California median

District size

19,374 students

Much larger than California median

About San Marcos Unified

San Marcos Unified is a San Marcos, California school district serving 19 schools. The district educates 19,374 students with a student-teacher ratio of 24.4:1. The district invests $14,639 per student annually.

With an average rating of 6.1/10, San Marcos Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Discovery Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.2/10.

In standardized testing, San Marcos Unified students show an average math proficiency of 48.7% and ELA proficiency of 56.8%.

The district includes 12 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 4 high schools.

District Map

Schools in San Marcos Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 48.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 56.8%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in San Marcos Unified with test data.

District Details

City
San Marcos
Total Enrollment
19,374
Teachers (FTE)
794
Child Poverty Rate
0.1%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in San Marcos Unified?

San Marcos Unified has 19 schools in total — 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for San Marcos Unified?

The average composite rating for San Marcos Unified is 6.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in San Marcos Unified?

San Marcos Unified spends $14,639 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in San Marcos Unified?

The average student-teacher ratio in San Marcos Unified is 24.4:1.

What is the top-rated school in San Marcos Unified?

Discovery Elementary is the highest-rated school in San Marcos Unified with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What are the test scores in San Marcos Unified?

Across schools in San Marcos Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 48.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 56.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does San Marcos Unified compare to other districts in California?

San Marcos Unified has an average school rating of 6.1/10 across 19 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
6.1/10
Math Proficiency
48.7%
ELA Proficiency
56.8%

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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