Elementary Schools in San Diego, California
Above Average2024–25 data212 schools · avg 68.6/100
San Diego, California has 212 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 68.6/100 — 24.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Canyon Crest Academy at 94/100, where 69.1% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. San Diego schools average 43.0% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 212 schools, 28 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 11.7% (below the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Avg Scope Score
68.6
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
41.7
52.4 – 94.2
Schools Ranked
212
With Scope Scores
How San Diego schools compare
San Diego's 212 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 68.6 — 24.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 52.4 to 94.2, a 41.7-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Canyon Crest Academy with a Scope Score of 94 and 69.1% of students exceeding standard.
High-ceiling schools: San Diego schools average 43.0% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.6%. These schools aren't just getting students to proficiency, they're pushing them further.
Chronic absenteeism in San Diego averages 11.7%, which is above the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
School archetypes in San Diego
51 Strong All-Around28 High Ceiling4 Solid Base3 Culture First14 Building Momentum
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in San Diego ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canyon Crest Academy San Dieguito Union High High Ceiling | Strong 94/100 |
| 2 | Carmel Del Mar Elementary Del Mar Union Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 90/100 |
| 3 | Sage Canyon Del Mar Union Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 90/100 |
| 4 | Ocean Air Del Mar Union Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 89/100 |
| 5 | Solana Ranch Elementary Solana Beach Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 88/100 |
| 6 | Del Norte High Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 84/100 |
| 7 | Dingeman Elementary San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 84/100 |
| 8 | Scripps Elementary San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 84/100 |
| 9 | Scripps Ranch High San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 82/100 |
| 10 | Westview High Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 82/100 |
| 11 | Willow Grove Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 82/100 |
| 12 | Design 39 Campus Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 81/100 |
| 13 | Rolling Hills Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 81/100 |
| 14 | Solana Highlands Elementary Solana Beach Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 81/100 |
| 15 | Torrey Pines High San Dieguito Union High Strong All-Around | Strong 80/100 |
| 16 | Stone Ranch Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 80/100 |
| 17 | Monterey Ridge Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 80/100 |
| 18 | Pacific Sky Del Mar Union Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 79/100 |
| 19 | Deer Canyon Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 79/100 |
| 20 | Adobe Bluffs Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 79/100 |
| 21 | Mesa Verde Middle Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 79/100 |
| 22 | Curie Elementary San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 77/100 |
| 23 | Jerabek Elementary San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 77/100 |
| 24 | Oak Valley Middle Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 76/100 |
| 25 | Ashley Falls Elementary Del Mar Union Elementary High Ceiling | Strong 76/100 |
| 26 | Marshall Middle San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 76/100 |
| 27 | Park Village Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 76/100 |
| 28 | University City High San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 75/100 |
| 29 | McKinley Elementary San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 74/100 |
| 30 | Torrey Hills Del Mar Union Elementary Strong All-Around | Strong 74/100 |
| 31 | Holmes Elementary San Diego Unified High Ceiling | Strong 74/100 |
| 32 | Mt. Carmel High Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 74/100 |
| 33 | Green Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 73/100 |
| 34 | Del Sur Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 72/100 |
| 35 | Dailard Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 72/100 |
| 36 | Hearst Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 72/100 |
| 37 | Rancho Bernardo High Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 72/100 |
| 38 | Creekside Elementary Poway Unified High Ceiling | Strong 72/100 |
| 39 | Sundance Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 71/100 |
| 40 | Henry High San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 71/100 |
| 41 | Point Loma High San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 71/100 |
| 42 | Birney Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Strong 70/100 |
| 43 | Canyon View Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 70/100 |
| 44 | Sycamore Ridge Del Mar Union Elementary Strong All-Around | Solid 70/100 |
| 45 | Westwood Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 70/100 |
| 46 | Sunset Hills Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 69/100 |
| 47 | Miramar Ranch Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 69/100 |
| 48 | Barnard Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 69/100 |
| 49 | Marvin Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 69/100 |
| 50 | Ericson Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 69/100 |
| 51 | Los Penasquitos Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 68/100 |
| 52 | Benchley/Weinberger Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 67/100 |
| 53 | Kumeyaay Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 67/100 |
| 54 | Mira Mesa High San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 67/100 |
| 55 | Hickman Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 67/100 |
| 56 | Jonas Salk Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 67/100 |
| 57 | Challenger Middle San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 66/100 |
| 58 | Highland Ranch Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 66/100 |
| 59 | De Portola Middle San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 66/100 |
| 60 | Grant K-8 San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 66/100 |
| 61 | Mission Bay High San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 65/100 |
| 62 | Hardy Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 65/100 |
| 63 | Shoal Creek Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 65/100 |
| 64 | Standley Middle San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 64/100 |
| 65 | Morning Creek Elementary Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 64/100 |
| 66 | John Muir San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 64/100 |
| 67 | Pacific Beach Middle San Diego Unified Solid Base | Solid 64/100 |
| 68 | Sandburg Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 63/100 |
| 69 | Canyon Hills High San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 62/100 |
| 70 | Black Mountain Middle Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 62/100 |
| 71 | Spreckels Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 62/100 |
| 72 | Chesterton Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 62/100 |
| 73 | Nye Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 62/100 |
| 74 | Bernardo Heights Middle Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 61/100 |
| 75 | Sessions Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 61/100 |
| 76 | Vista Grande Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 60/100 |
| 77 | Tierrasanta Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 59/100 |
| 78 | Doyle Elementary San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 59/100 |
| 79 | Longfellow K-8 San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 59/100 |
| 80 | Poway to Palomar Middle College High Poway Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 59/100 |
| 81 | Lewis Middle San Diego Unified Strong All-Around | Solid 58/100 |
| 82 | Montgomery Senior High Sweetwater Union High Building Momentum | Solid 58/100 |
| 83 | Bay Park Elementary San Diego Unified Solid Base | Solid 58/100 |
| 84 | Kearny School of Biomedical Science and Technology San Diego Unified Culture First | Solid 57/100 |
| 85 | Sequoia Elementary San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 57/100 |
| 86 | Pershing Middle San Diego Unified Culture First | Solid 56/100 |
| 87 | Kearny College Connections San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 56/100 |
| 88 | Southwest Senior High Sweetwater Union High Building Momentum | Solid 56/100 |
| 89 | East Village Middle College High San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 55/100 |
| 90 | Jefferson Elementary San Diego Unified Solid Base | Solid 55/100 |
| 91 | Pacific Beach Elementary San Diego Unified Solid Base | Solid 55/100 |
| 92 | Kearny Eng Innov & Design San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 55/100 |
| 93 | Bethune K-8 San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 54/100 |
| 94 | San Ysidro High Sweetwater Union High Building Momentum | Solid 54/100 |
| 95 | Marston Middle San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 54/100 |
| 96 | Nestor Language Academy Charter South Bay Union Culture First | Solid 54/100 |
| 97 | Ocean View Hills San Ysidro Elementary Building Momentum | Solid 53/100 |
| 98 | Angier Elementary San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 53/100 |
| 99 | Rowan Elementary San Diego Unified Building Momentum | Solid 53/100 |
| 100 | Turtleback Elementary Poway Unified Building Momentum | Solid 52/100 |
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.
Private Schools in San Diego
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
Cathedral Catholic High School
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 1612 students
16:1Private
Maranatha Christian Schools
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-12 · 855 students
13:1Private
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 750 students
17:1Private
St. Augustine High School
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 743 students
14:1Private
The Rock Academy
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-12 · 403 students
10:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about San Diego
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology
Frequently asked questions
Are the schools in San Diego good?
San Diego's 212 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 68.6/100, which is 24.8 points above the California state average of 43.8. 43.0% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in San Diego?
The highest-scoring elementary school in San Diego is Canyon Crest Academy with a Scope Score of 94/100 and 69.1% 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 San Diego schools compare to the state average?
San Diego elementary schools average a Scope Score of 68.6 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (24.8 points above). The exceeded rate averages 43.0% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 11.7% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 52.4 to 94.2, a 41.7-point spread.
How many schools are in San Diego?
San Diego has 212 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 six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner 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.