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Elementary Schools in Oceanside, California: Oceanside schools average near the state. The 39.1-point spread is where the choice actually lives.

Near Average2024–25 data24 schools · avg 43.6/100

Oceanside, California has 24 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 43.6/100 — within 0.3 points of the state average of 43.2. The highest-scoring school is Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary at 66/100, where 38.4% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Oceanside schools average 20.2% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.1% (near the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
43.6
State avg: 43.2
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
39.1
26.5 – 65.6
Avg Exceeded %
20.2%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
18.1%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
24
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary24Developing
43.6/100
20.2%+0.3
High5Developing
40.1/100
15.0%-3.6
Middle7Developing
30.0/100
9.3%-10.4

How Oceanside schools compare

Oceanside has 24 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 43.6/100 — within 0.3 points of the state average of 43.2 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary with a Scope Score of 66 and 38.4% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Oceanside averages 18.1% — near the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%

School archetypes in Oceanside

5 Culture First2 Strong All-Around18 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Oceanside

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Mission Vista High
Vista Unified Strong All-Around
40.2%Solid
66/100
2Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary
Fallbrook Union Elementary Strong All-Around
38.4%Solid
66/100
3Empresa Elementary
Vista Unified Strong All-Around
36.8%Solid
58/100
4Coastal Academy Charter
Oceanside Unified Culture First
30.5%Solid
58/100
5Bonsall West Elementary
Bonsall Unified Building Momentum
28.6%Solid
55/100
6Alamosa Park Elementary
Vista Unified Culture First
26.6%Solid
54/100
7Libby Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
20.8%Solid
53/100
8El Camino High
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
20.2%Solid
52/100
9Scholarship Prep - Oceanside
San Diego County Office of Education Culture First
31.6%Solid
52/100
10Lake Elementary
Vista Unified Culture First
25.2%Developing
50/100
11Santa Margarita Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
24.1%Developing
49/100
12Ivey Ranch Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
29.1%Developing
47/100
13North Terrace Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
20.5%Developing
47/100
14Oceanside High
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
11.3%Developing
46/100
15T.H.E Leadership Academy
Vista Unified Building Momentum
18.6%Developing
44/100
16Mission Meadows Elementary
Vista Unified Building Momentum
17.9%Developing
41/100
17Palmquist Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
17.8%Developing
41/100
18Del Rio Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
15.2%Developing
38/100
19Stuart Mesa Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
10.9%Developing
38/100
20South Oceanside Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
16.7%Developing
37/100
21Pacific View Charter
Oceanside Unified Culture First
4.1%Developing
36/100
22Christa McAuliffe Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
18.5%Developing
36/100
23Martin Luther King Jr. Middle
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
15.3%Developing
36/100
24Cesar Chavez Middle
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
12.9%Developing
36/100
25Laurel Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
9.1%Developing
34/100
26Pablo Tac School of the Arts
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
8.3%Developing
33/100
27Lincoln Middle
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
10.8%Developing
32/100
28Mission Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
11.7%Developing
32/100
29Nichols Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
14.0%Needs Support
30/100
30SIATech
Vista Unified Building Momentum
3.5%Needs Support
28/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 36 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Oceanside

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Oceanside good?
Oceanside's 24 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 43.6/100, which is within 0.3 points of the state average. 20.2% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights seven dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC proficiency (5%), suspension rate (5%), and baseline proficiency (3%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Oceanside?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Oceanside is Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary with a Scope Score of 66/100 and 38.4% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Oceanside schools compare to the state average?
Oceanside elementary schools average a Scope Score of 43.6/100 — within 0.3 points of the state average of 43.2. The exceeded rate averages 20.2% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.1% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Oceanside?
Oceanside has 24 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.