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Schools in 92008 — Carlsbad, California

92008 has 10 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 57.7 — 13.9 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 34.9 to 74.5, a 39.6-point spread. 2 schools rank in the 90th percentile or above statewide.

Avg Scope Score
57.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
39.6
34.9 – 74.5
Avg Exceeded %
32.7%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
18.0%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
10
With Scope Scores

How 92008 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Kelly Elementary with a Scope Score of 74 and 51.0% of students exceeding standard.

High-ceiling zip code: Schools here average 32.7% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.6%. These schools aren't just meeting proficiency; they're pushing students beyond it.

Declining trajectory: Average proficiency drops by 4.1 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 92008. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 92008 averages 18.0%, near the state average of 18.1%.

How 92008 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 92008
92008Carlsbad10Solid
57.7/100
92009Carlsbad10Strong
72.4/100
+14.7
92004Borrego Springs3Developing
35.1/100
-22.6
92003Bonsall3Developing
47.4/100
-10.2

School archetypes in 92008

3 Solid Base2 Strong All-Around1 High Ceiling1 Growth Engine3 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in 92008 is classified as Growth Engine — 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

All schools in 92008

#SchoolExceededScore
1Kelly Elementary
Carlsbad Unified High Ceiling
51.0%Strong
74/100
2Magnolia Elementary
Carlsbad Unified Strong All-Around
45.3%Strong
71/100
3Carlsbad High
Carlsbad Unified Strong All-Around
34.9%Solid
70/100
4Buena Vista Elementary
Carlsbad Unified Solid Base
38.1%Solid
64/100
5Calavera Hills Elementary
Carlsbad Unified Solid Base
37.8%Solid
63/100
6Hope Elementary
Carlsbad Unified Solid Base
39.6%Solid
61/100
7Calavera Hills Middle
Carlsbad Unified Growth Engine
22.5%Developing
50/100
8Jefferson Elementary
Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum
25.1%Developing
46/100
9Valley Middle
Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum
21.8%Developing
42/100
10Carlsbad Village Academy
Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum
11.1%Developing
35/100

Schools in 92008 on the map

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 92008

  • 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 Carlsbad good?
Carlsbad's 10 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 57.7/100, which is 13.9 points above the California state average of 43.8. 32.7% 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 Carlsbad?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Carlsbad is Kelly Elementary with a Scope Score of 74/100 and 51.0% 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 Carlsbad schools compare to the state average?
Carlsbad elementary schools average a Scope Score of 57.7 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (13.9 points above). The exceeded rate averages 32.7% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.0% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 34.9 to 74.5, a 39.6-point spread.
How many schools are in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad has 10 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.