San Marcos Unified School District
School District · San Marcos, California
Avg Rating
6.2
out of 10
Schools
19
12 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,639
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.4:1
Avg Rating
6.2
out of 10
Schools
19
12 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,639
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.4:1
Evaluating San Marcos Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge San Marcos 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.
Discovery Elementary
San Marcos · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
La Costa Meadows Elementary
Carlsbad · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Paloma Elementary
San Marcos · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#365 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,639
$3,008 vs California median
District size
19,374 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
San Marcos Unified ranks #365 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. San Marcos Unified's schools with real test data average 6.2/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Discovery Elementary (8.3/10), La Costa Meadows Elementary (8.0/10), and Paloma Elementary (7.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.3/10 despite 20% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 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 San Marcos Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among San Marcos Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in San Marcos Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discovery Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | La Costa Meadows Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Paloma Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Richland Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Double Peak | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | San Elijo Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Carrillo Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | San Marcos Middle | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | San Elijo Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Knob Hill Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
See all 19 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
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 6.2/10, San Marcos Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Discovery Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.3/10.
In standardized testing, San Marcos Unified students show an average math proficiency of 54.5% and ELA proficiency of 61.6%.
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
Average proficiency across all schools in San Marcos Unified with test data.
Schools in San Marcos Unified
19 schools Elementary Schools 12
Middle Schools 3
District Details
- State
- California
- 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 6.2/10. 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 8.3/10.
What are the test scores in San Marcos Unified?
Across schools in San Marcos Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 54.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 61.6%. 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 6.2/10 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 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
- 6.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 54.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 61.6%
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 San Marcos 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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