ExploreMapCompareBlogSign in

Oceanside Unified

Below Average2024–25 data22 schools · avg 37.7/100

Oceanside Unified has 22 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 37.7/100 — 6.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is El Camino High at 58/100, where 20.2% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $14,594 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
37.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
49.0
9.4 – 58.4
Avg Exceeded %
13.8%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
26.6%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
22
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
38.8/100
1515.3%22.2%
MiddleDeveloping
32.3/100
410.7%28.1%
HighDeveloping
39.3/100
310.5%46.4%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Oceanside Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
38.8
avg score · 15 schools
Libby Elementary
Solid
54/100
Ivey Ranch Elementary
Developing
49/100
+12 more elementary schools
Middle
32.3
avg score · 4 schools
Cesar Chavez Middle
Developing
39/100
Lincoln Middle
Developing
34/100
+1 more middle schools
High
39.3
avg score · 3 schools
El Camino High
Solid
58/100
Oceanside High
Solid
50/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Oceanside Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 39.3.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.7pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.

Consistency: Score range of 49.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 26.6%, 8.4pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.3%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: El Camino High leads the district at 58 with 20.2% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Oceanside Unified

5 On the Rise2 Growth Engine15 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 7 schools in Oceanside Unified are classified as On the Rise (5) or Growth Engine (2) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

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

Student demographics

Hispanic
62.3%
White
20.8%
Asian
1.5%
Black
3.5%
Other
11.9%
Free/Reduced Lunch
75%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Oceanside Unified spends $14,594 per student in current expenditures — $220 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$14,594
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
16,373
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 34.7%
$10,838 → $14,594
Spending Efficiency
2.58
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 61%Support 36%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$53,318–$118,979
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
757
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (15)

Oceanside Unified has 15 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.8 — 5.0 points below the state average of 43.8.

District-wide growth averages +0.7pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Libby Elementary with a Scope Score of 54 and 20.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Libby Elementary
Oceanside Unified Growth Engine
20.8%Solid
54/100
2Santa Margarita Elementary
Oceanside Unified Growth Engine
24.1%Developing
49/100
3Ivey Ranch Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
29.1%Developing
49/100
4North Terrace Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
20.5%Developing
47/100
5Palmquist Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
17.8%Developing
44/100
6Del Rio Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
15.2%Developing
39/100
7South Oceanside Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
16.7%Developing
38/100
8Stuart Mesa Elementary
Oceanside Unified On the Rise
10.9%Developing
37/100
9Christa McAuliffe Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
18.5%Developing
37/100
10Laurel Elementary
Oceanside Unified On the Rise
9.1%Developing
34/100
11Mission Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
11.7%Developing
33/100
12Pablo Tac School of the Arts
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
8.3%Developing
33/100
13Nichols Elementary
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
14.0%Needs Support
30/100
14Surfside Academy
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
4.5%Needs Support
29/100
15Louise Foussat Elementary
Oceanside Unified On the Rise
8.6%Needs Support
29/100

Middle Schools (4)

Oceanside Unified has 4 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.3 — 8.2 points below the state average of 40.5.

District-wide growth averages +3.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Cesar Chavez Middle with a Scope Score of 39 and 12.9% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Cesar Chavez Middle
Oceanside Unified On the Rise
12.9%Developing
39/100
2Martin Luther King Jr. Middle
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
15.3%Developing
37/100
3Lincoln Middle
Oceanside Unified On the Rise
10.8%Developing
34/100
4Jefferson Middle
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
3.7%Needs Support
19/100

High Schools (3)

Oceanside Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.3 — 8.2 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is El Camino High with a Scope Score of 58 and 20.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1El Camino High
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
20.2%Solid
58/100
2Oceanside High
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
11.3%Solid
50/100
3Surfside High (Continuation)
Oceanside Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
9/100

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Oceanside Unified

  • 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 resources are distributed across schools within the district

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Oceanside Unified a good school district?
Oceanside Unified has 22 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 37.7/100, which is 6.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. 13.8% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Oceanside Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Oceanside Unified is El Camino High with a Scope Score of 58/100 and 20.2% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Oceanside Unified spend per student?
Oceanside Unified spends $14,594 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Oceanside Unified?
Teacher salaries in Oceanside Unified range from $53,318–$118,979 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
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-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.