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Schools in 92120 — San Diego, California

92120 has 6 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 62.9 — 19.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 35.3 to 72.2, a 36.9-point spread. 2 schools rank in the 90th percentile or above statewide.

Avg Scope Score
62.9
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
36.9
35.3 – 72.2
Avg Exceeded %
37.6%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
14.0%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
6
With Scope Scores

How 92120 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Dailard Elementary with a Scope Score of 72 and 47.1% of students exceeding standard.

High-ceiling zip code: Schools here average 37.6% 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 4.4 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 92120. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 92120 averages 14.0%, above the state average of 18.1%.

How 92120 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 92120
92120San Diego6Solid
62.9/100
92119San Diego4Solid
62.2/100
-0.8
92118Coronado4Solid
65.2/100
+2.3
92122San Diego5Solid
67.3/100
+4.4
92117San Diego14Developing
46.9/100
-16.0
92123San Diego7Developing
40.4/100
-22.5

School archetypes in 92120

1 Strong All-Around1 Growth Engine4 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in 92120 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 92120

#SchoolExceededScore
1Dailard Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
47.1%Strong
72/100
2Hearst Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
48.1%Strong
72/100
3Henry High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
32.7%Strong
71/100
4Marvin Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
48.7%Solid
69/100
5Lewis Middle
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
31.6%Solid
58/100
6Foster Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
17.6%Developing
35/100

Schools in 92120 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 92120

  • 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 6 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 62.9/100, which is 19.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. 37.6% 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 Dailard Elementary with a Scope Score of 72/100 and 47.1% 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 62.9 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (19.2 points above). The exceeded rate averages 37.6% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 14.0% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 35.3 to 72.2, a 36.9-point spread.
How many schools are in San Diego?
San Diego has 6 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.