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Very Good

#2324 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 24% in state

Paloma Elementary

Elementary School · San Marcos Unified

660 Camino Magnifico, San Marcos, CA 92069

Enrollment

742

Student-Teacher

26.5:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In San Marcos

#3 of 19

public schools

California elementary schools

#1,596 of 5,817

In district

#3 of 19

San Marcos Unified

Equity

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Paloma Elementary

Paloma Elementary serves 742 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in San Marcos, California. This regular public school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 26.5 to 1 with 28 full-time equivalent teachers supporting the academic program. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning an impressive 8.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking in the 87th percentile among California elementary schools at #1275 out of 9566 statewide.

Students consistently excel in core subjects, with 73% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and reading, while an even stronger 77% meet or exceed proficiency standards in mathematics. These results reflect the school's academic score of 9.4 out of 10. Paloma Elementary draws families from the 92069 ZIP code area, where the median household income reaches $86,156 and 34% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The neighborhood's median home value of $659,900 reflects the area's desirability, while an 11.3% poverty rate indicates a relatively stable community of 46,648 residents. Located on Camino Magnifico, Paloma Elementary sits within San Diego County's large suburban landscape, providing students with access to both educational excellence and the benefits of a well-established residential community.

What Parents Should Know

The student-teacher ratio at Paloma Elementary is 26.5:1, 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+0.08 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.5Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency76.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency73.6%
Math vs. State Avg+30.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+30.8 pts
Overall Proficiency75%
Expected (poverty-adj.)58%
vs. Expected+17.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile93th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment2.6Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio26.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,981

Paloma Elementary — Students at Paloma Elementary score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 75.2%
School
State
39.4%
ELA Proficiency 74.4%
School
State
45.3%

Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
70%
ELA
79%
2024
Math
76.5%
ELA
73.2%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.2/10.

How Paloma Elementary Compares

See how Paloma Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.5/10
76th percentile in CA
Academic
9.5/10
9.5/10
Growth
8.2/10
Above average
Environment
2.6/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
30%
Teaching Staff
27:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers

Location

660 Camino Magnifico, San Marcos, CA 92069

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Paloma Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Dual Language Immersion North County (rated 8.5/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Vista), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Discovery Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, KIDS TOWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Vista), with a very similar rating. For more schools in San Marcos, see our San Marcos schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
San Marcos Middle San Marcos 1.1 mi 5.4
La Mirada Academy San Marcos 1.5 mi 6.0
ST JOSEPH ACADEMY San Marcos 1.4 mi 6.0
San Marcos Elementary San Marcos 1.6 mi 4.3
Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary Vista 1.5 mi 6.3
North Coastal Consortium Schools San Marcos 1.7 mi 6.9
High Tech Elementary North County San Diego 2.0 mi 3.1
High Tech Middle North County San Diego 2.1 mi 8.0
High Tech High North County San Diego 2.1 mi 6.9
VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL San Marcos 2.2 mi 4.9
Discovery Elementary San Marcos 2.2 mi 8.2
Foothills High San Marcos 2.1 mi 5.3
Twin Oaks High San Marcos 2.1 mi 5.8
Kid's Town Montessori School Vista 2.0 mi
Twin Oaks Elementary San Marcos 2.1 mi 6.0
KIDS TOWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Vista 2.0 mi 7.2
San Marcos High San Marcos 2.3 mi 5.4
Hannalei Elementary Vista 2.2 mi 6.0
Dual Language Immersion North County Vista 2.2 mi 8.5
Classical Academy Vista Vista 2.2 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92069 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$93,065

Median Home Value

$714,700

Median Rent

$2,078/mo

Population

46,825

College Educated

34.9%

Homeownership

55.8%

Avg Commute

26.1 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

36.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Paloma Elementary has a median household income of $93,065. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $714,700, with a median rent of $2,078/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.8%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion Atherton, CA 7.5
Andrew Jackson Elementary Santa Ana, CA 7.5
Armona Elementary Armona, CA 7.5
Bancroft Elementary Walnut Creek, CA 7.5
Blossom Hill Elementary Los Gatos, CA 7.5
Bud Rank Elementary Clovis, CA 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Paloma Elementary

What grades does Paloma Elementary serve?

Paloma Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Paloma Elementary?

Paloma Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 742 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Paloma Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Paloma Elementary is 26.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Paloma Elementary rank in CA?

Paloma Elementary is ranked #2324 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Paloma Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Paloma Elementary has a composite rating of 7.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Paloma Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Paloma Elementary has 75.2% math proficiency and 74.4% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Paloma Elementary a charter school?

No, Paloma Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Paloma Elementary a Title I school?

No, Paloma Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Paloma Elementary?

30.2% of students at Paloma Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
24 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (890/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Marcos). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
742
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Free/Reduced Lunch
30.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
San Diego County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

San Marcos Unified
District Enrollment
19,374
Schools in District
19
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,639
District Rank
#3 of 19

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

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