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
Enrollment
742
Student-Teacher
26.5:1
Score
7.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
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
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Paloma Elementary — Students at Paloma Elementary score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
30.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
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.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 70% (2019) to 76.58% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 79% (2019) to 73.57% (2024).
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (760) 290-2199
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
San Marcos Unified- District Enrollment
- 19,374
- Schools in District
- 19
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,639
- District Rank
- #3 of 19
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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