Average
#6124 of 9,539 schools in CA
San Marcos High
High School · San Marcos Unified · San Marcos, CA
A San Marcos Unified high school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1615 San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078
- Math 30% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 53% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 96.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at San Marcos High score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 14 points since 2017, to 42% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 26 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
32.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where San Marcos High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Diego map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 79Very Walkable
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated890/100K
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FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (San Marcos), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$114,905
Median home value
$874,000
Median rent
$2,468/mo
College educated
48.3%
Homeownership
71.3%
Poverty rate
8.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92078; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Tech High North CountyCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.5 | 9–12 | 0.3 mi | 401 | Compare → |
| Pivot Charter School - San Diego IICharter · enrollment unverified | 5.6 | K–12 | 0.4 mi | 82 | Compare → |
| St Joseph AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 359 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
San Marcos Unified
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #12 of 19
- District spending per student
- $14,639NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
San Marcos High is listed in San Marcos Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About San Marcos High
San Marcos High is a public high school in San Marcos, CA, part of San Marcos Unified, serving approximately 3,201 students in grades 9th-12th with a 27.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #6,124 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
What's said publicly about San Marcos High
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.
Sources (2)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about San Marcos High
What grades does San Marcos High serve?
San Marcos High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend San Marcos High?
San Marcos High has an enrollment of approximately 3,201 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Marcos High?
The student-teacher ratio at San Marcos High is 27.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does San Marcos High rank in CA?
San Marcos High ranks #6,124 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is San Marcos High's MySchoolScout rating?
San Marcos High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at San Marcos High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, San Marcos High has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is San Marcos High a charter school?
No, San Marcos High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is San Marcos High a Title I school?
No, San Marcos High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for San Marcos High?
32.6% of students at San Marcos High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 3,201
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 27.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 118
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- San Diego County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.4%
- Phone
- (760) 290-2200
- 4-Year Graduation
- 96.0%
- Area population (ZIP 92078)
- 53,542
- Area average commute
- 27.7 min
- Area median age
- 38.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92078; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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