Holmes Elementary

Holmes Elementary is a public K–6 school in San Diego, California, enrolling 503 students across kindergarten through sixth grade. The student-teacher ratio is 25.1 to 1. The school earns a composite score of 9.3 out of 10 — rated Exceptional — anchored by a near-perfect academic score of 9.9 and a growth score of 9.6 that reflects strong student progress.

The numbers put Holmes in rare company. It ranks third among 288 public schools in San Diego and 120th out of 9,533 California public schools statewide, placing it in the top 1 percent of schools across the state. That standing is not driven by a single metric — both the achievement and growth scores put Holmes well above nearly every comparable campus in the region.

Among California's 5,817 elementary schools, Holmes ranks 96th — a position most elementary schools in the state never reach. For families prioritizing academic outcomes in San Diego, this school sits at the top of a very short list. Fewer than 1 in 100 California elementary schools match Holmes's 9.9 academic score.

The student-teacher ratio at Holmes Elementary is 25.1:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.