Public school · San Marcos Unified

San Marcos High — Rating & test scores

1615 San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos · 3,067 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 77

SolidScope Score · 59th percentile. Higher than 59 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 95% of the class graduated in four years (752 of 789); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 789
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is San Marcos High a good high school?

Solid. San Marcos High is higher than most California high schools on math test results and attendance. San Marcos High is lower than most on English test results.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced2949%
Math, Proficient or Advanced5931%
English, Advanced4422%
Math, Advanced6514%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance5819 in 100
San Marcos High’s place among California high schools, out of 100San Marcos Unified’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 36% scored Proficient or Advanced in math, against 32% across California.

Each bar is San Marcos High’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 413,523 in math tested).

In its own words

What does San Marcos High say about itself?

We haven’t read San Marcos High’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.

Open sanmarcosusd18.smartsiteshost.com (opens in a new tab)

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

3 of the 6 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than San Marcos High. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

7 high schools within 4.4 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Sage CreekCarlsbad Unified · by addressScope Score 8891st
  2. High Tech High North CountyCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8585th
  3. La Costa CanyonSan Dieguito Union High · by addressScope Score 8483rd
  4. San MarcosScope Score 7759th
  5. Mission HillsNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 7758th
  6. Rancho Buena VistaVista Unified · by addressScope Score 7757th
  7. FoothillsSchool of choice · by applicationScope Score 635th
San Marcos UnifiedA neighborhood school in another districtCharterMagnet or school of choice

A neighborhood school in another district takes students who live in its area. Ask that district about a transfer. A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats. A magnet or other school of choice takes applications through its district.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

6 of 7 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does San Marcos High compare with schools like it?

San Marcos High’s Scope Score is 77. 135 California high schools, counting San Marcos High, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 82. San Marcos High’s result is higher than 33 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 135

  1. Students from low-income families: 31%

    Scope Score 100Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 37%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 36%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 27%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 32%

    Scope Score 94Strong · 97th percentile

135 California public high schools where 26% to 38% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 26% to 38% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of San Marcos High’s share. The count includes San Marcos High. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

Results in both subjects were higher than in 2025. English went from 49% to 56% and math from 31% to 36%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202677%81%59%San Marcos UnifiedDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia56%San Marcos HighThis school

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202640%43%36%San Marcos HighThis school34%San Marcos UnifiedDistrict32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. San Marcos Unified’s line combines its 3 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other schools. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. San Marcos Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSan Marcos HighSan Marcos UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201781%77%60%734
201868%65%56%730
201970%67%57%780
202259%62%55%818
202362%60%55%808
202453%54%56%748
202549%53%57%725
202656%59%57%624
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSan Marcos HighSan Marcos UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201743%40%32%733
201842%37%31%733
201943%40%32%784
202233%31%27%819
202336%33%27%808
202430%30%28%744
202531%29%30%726
202636%34%32%623

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Near California in both subjects.

English

56%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

25192828
San Marcos Unified57%California57%

Math

36%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

38262016
San Marcos Unified33%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 56% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 36% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 20 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school28%28%19%25%624
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · San Marcos Unified28%29%18%25%1,296
Math, grade 11 · This school16%20%26%38%623
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · San Marcos Unified13%20%24%43%1,292

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 624 tested in English, 623 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here, at 42% of students. 541 of 3,088 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

18in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (541 of 3,088 students).

At the average San Marcos Unified high school: 42 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 3.1% of students were suspended at least once (98 of 3,118). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

3,067

students in grades 9–12.

Hispanic or Latino 42%White 42%Two or more races 8%Asian 6%Filipino 2%Black or African American 1%

Family income

32%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 980 of 3,067. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

120

teachers, with 11 years of experience on average.

5% were in their first year.

84% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

43%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (59 of 137 students).

San Marcos Unified: 51%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
Hispanic or Latino42%
White42%
Two or more races8%
Asian6%
Filipino2%
Black or African American1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 104.1 of 123.6 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Low-income students scored below the same group across California in math.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Asian43 tested70%California 67%
  • Two or more races55 tested51%California 43%
  • White258 tested45%California 44%
  • Hispanic or Latino244 tested19%California 21%
  • Low-income199 tested16%California 23%
  • Students with disabilities53 tested4%California 8%

16% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math (grade 11, spring 2026), against 23% for the same group across California. Every group’s English results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 math, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs San Marcos Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 196 tested in English, 199 in math
English42%−244%−749%
Math16%016%−723%
White · 260 tested in English, 258 in math
English61%−162%−768%
Math45%+243%+144%
Hispanic or Latino · 245 tested in English, 244 in math
English46%−147%−349%
Math19%019%−221%
Two or more races · 55 tested
English69%−675%+267%
Math51%+546%+843%
Asian · 42 tested in English, 43 in math
English76%−480%−379%
Math70%070%+367%
Students with disabilities · 52 tested in English, 53 in math
English10%−313%−919%
Math4%−26%−48%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in San Marcos Unified, and across California. No group that is behind across California does 10 or more points better here.

Filipino, homeless and military-family students and English learners: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native and Pacific Islander students and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

95% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 70% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 81% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

70%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

73%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

95%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 752 of 789 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

70%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 552 of 790 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

73%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 552 of 752 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

81% enrolled in college within 12 months · 829 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓108 · 13%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓129 · 15%
  • California community college249 · 30%
  • In-state private22 · 3%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year163 · 20%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year3 · <1%
  • Not enrolled155 · 19%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
81%enrolled in college within a year

829 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California108 (13%)
  • California State University129 (15%)
  • California community college249 (30%)
  • In-state private22 (3%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year163 (20%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year3 (0%)
  • Not enrolled155 (19%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 752 of 789 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 552 of 790 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 552 of 752 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
233
Admitted
169
Enrolled
71

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC San DiegoApplied 190 · Admitted 45 · Enrolled 16
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 162 · Admitted 52 · Enrolled 9
  • UCLAApplied 161 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled 11
  • UC IrvineApplied 156 · Admitted 30 · Enrolled 7
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 129 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled 9
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 106 · Admitted 84 · Enrolled 10
  • UC DavisApplied 103 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled 4
  • UC RiversideApplied 72 · Admitted 67 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC MercedApplied 46 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 233 · Admitted 169 · Enrolled 71
  • Fall 2024Applied 300 · Admitted 175 · Enrolled 83
  • Fall 2023Applied 339 · Admitted 204 · Enrolled 112
  • Fall 2022Applied 331 · Admitted 171 · Enrolled 102
  • Fall 2021Applied 287 · Admitted 176 · Enrolled 106
  • Fall 2020Applied 230 · Admitted 147 · Enrolled 83
  • Fall 2019Applied 242 · Admitted 141 · Enrolled 75
  • Fall 2018Applied 201 · Admitted 114 · Enrolled 70
  • Fall 2017Applied 198 · Admitted 105 · Enrolled 58
  • Fall 2016Applied 167 · Admitted 111 · Enrolled 57

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
359
Admitted
349
Enrolled
121

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • San Diego StateApplied 1,327 · Admitted 463 · Enrolled 122
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 1,135 · Admitted 1,092 · Enrolled 318
  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 928 · Admitted 192 · Enrolled 62
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 695 · Admitted 370 · Enrolled 33
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 372 · Admitted 316 · Enrolled 30
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 294 · Admitted 205 · Enrolled 11
  • San José StateApplied 277 · Admitted 247 · Enrolled 39
  • Chico StateApplied 213 · Admitted 200 · Enrolled 20
  • San Francisco StateApplied 202 · Admitted 196 · Enrolled 11
  • Sonoma StateApplied 136 · Admitted 135 · Enrolled 8
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 129 · Admitted 119 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 121 · Admitted 113 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 115 · Admitted 110 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 86 · Admitted 82 · Enrolled 7
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 72 · Admitted 68 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 57 · Admitted 53 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 57 · Admitted 53 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 51 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 46 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled —
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 41 · Admitted 36 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 32 · Admitted 29 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 14 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied 11 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled under 6

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 359 · Admitted 349 · Enrolled 121
  • Fall 2024Applied 401 · Admitted 386 · Enrolled 141
  • Fall 2023Applied 430 · Admitted 411 · Enrolled 140
  • Fall 2022Applied 444 · Admitted 415 · Enrolled 157
  • Fall 2021Applied 376 · Admitted 345 · Enrolled 129
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 22 AP courses in 7 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science5
  • Sciences5
  • English2
  • History & Social Science5
  • World Languages & Cultures1
  • Arts2
  • AP Capstone2
Every approved AP course22 courses in 7 subjects
Math & Computer Science 5
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science A
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Statistics
Sciences 5
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
  • Physics 2
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 5
  • Human Geography
  • Psychology
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
  • World History: Modern
World Languages & Cultures 1
  • Spanish Language and Culture
Arts 2
  • 2-D Art and Design
  • Art History
AP Capstone 2
  • Research
  • Seminar

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
126 students took one

2023–24

Students taking a college course for credit while in high school, often through a community college. Federal Civil Rights Data Collection, school-reported.

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families can answer a short set of questions about San Marcos High. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  2. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  3. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

Staff can’t answer for this school yet

We don’t check staff emails for San Marcos Unified yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

Money

Where does the money go?

$15,556 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. San Marcos Unified’s plan for 2026–27 covers $25 million.

$15,556

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$10,370
The school’s share of district office costs
$5,186
Of the total, from federal funds
$631
  • San Marcos High$15,556
  • San Marcos Unified high schools$16,092
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

San Marcos Unified’s yearly plan

$25million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$20million

planned for services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 4 goals. The district’s page lists each one. The plan covers $25 million of $333 million in total budgeted spending. Source: San Marcos Unified Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around San Marcos High like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 92078. They are not figures for the families at San Marcos High.

Typical household income in a year

$120,268

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 92078.

Typical home value
$942,300
People who live in this ZIP code
53,605
Typical age
38.8 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
49%

What you can do

Who can act on San Marcos High’s results?

San Marcos Unified’s board decides San Marcos High’s plan.

How to take part

  1. Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  2. Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  3. Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  4. Read the midyear report, due by February 28.

State support

The state hasn’t placed San Marcos High in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Extra state help for the district

The state is giving San Marcos Unified extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. The 2026 Dashboard flagged results for long-term English learners on two measures: English, and math; and for students with disabilities on two measures: English, and math. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.

Extra help for San Marcos Unified: CDE’s assistance status files for the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. Source 

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 6 questions to San Marcos High. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do low-income students get, and how do you know it’s working?16% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (199 students tested); the same group across California: 23%
  2. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  3. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  4. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into San Marcos High, and how do I get in?

Ask San Marcos Unified which school serves your address.

  1. Elementary
    Scope Score 83Strong · 81st percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  2. Middle
    Scope Score 77Solid · 62nd percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
  3. High · this school
    San Marcos High
    Grades 9–12Scope Score 77Solid · 59th percentile

These links come from past records and from distance. Confirm your child’s school with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Carrillo Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 83 · Strong · 81st percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • La Costa Meadows Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 86 · Strong · 87th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • San Elijo Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 86 · Strong · 88th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • La Mirada Academy

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 77 · Solid · 59th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Paloma Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 84 · Strong · 84th percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 78 · Solid · 62nd percentile · elementary · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • San Marcos Elementary

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 72 · Developing · 30th percentile · elementary · 2026

    76% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • Discovery Elementary

    Inferred through another school · underlying source period unavailable; not a direct feeder

    Scope Score 91 · Strong · 95th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Double Peak

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    Scope Score 89 · Strong · 93rd percentile · elementary · 2026

Middle-school links

  • San Elijo Middle

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 77 · Solid · 62nd percentile · middle · 2026

    100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • San Marcos Middle

    Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)

    Scope Score 76 · Solid · 56th percentile · middle · 2026

    71% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students

  • La Mirada Academy

    Inferred through another school · underlying source period unavailable; not a direct feeder

  • Double Peak

    Inferred through another school · underlying source period unavailable; not a direct feeder

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking. Older zone links come from the federal School Attendance Boundary Survey (NCES SABS).

Where it is

Where is San Marcos High?

Address
1615 San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos 92078Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Christina WildeAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated June 28, 2024.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask San Marcos Unified which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is San Marcos High a good high school?

San Marcos High has a Scope Score of 77. It scored higher than 59 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Solid, 59th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 18 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 42 in 100 at the average San Marcos Unified high school. 3.1% of students (98 of 3,118) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 20 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 42% of low-income students in grade 11 at San Marcos High scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 22 AP courses in 7 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 126 students took a college course for credit in 2023–24, by the federal Civil Rights Data Collection

See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

81% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #607 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #1 of 3 in San Marcos Unified
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate95%5925%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math18%5222%
Ready for college or career (state measure)70%6620%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math40%5318%
Chronically absent18 in 100595%
Suspension rate3.3% (104 of 3,155)515%
English learners: top level21%585%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–257759#607California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–199 in 1000.8% (29 of 3,536)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2422 in 1004.1% (135 of 3,297)
2024–2518 in 1003.3% (104 of 3,155)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1162428%28%19%25%56%57%−1

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1162316%20%26%38%36%32%+4

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English62428%56%
2026 · Math62316%36%
2025 · English72522%49%
2025 · Math72614%31%
2024 · English74826%53%
2024 · Math74413%30%
2023 · English80834%62%
2023 · Math80817%36%
2022 · English81825%59%
2022 · Math81912%33%
2019 · English78041%70%
2019 · Math78420%43%
2018 · English73035%68%
2018 · Math73317%42%
2017 · English73448%81%
2017 · Math73321%43%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English72549%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math72631%
2024 · Grade 11 · English74853%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math74430%
2023 · Grade 11 · English80862%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math80836%
2022 · Grade 11 · English81859%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math81933%
2019 · Grade 11 · English78070%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math78443%
2018 · Grade 11 · English73068%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math73342%
2017 · Grade 11 · English73481%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math73343%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide65620%31%44%5%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income19642%−2−7
White26061%−1−7
Hispanic or Latino24546%−1−3
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 18 in 100 → 2025–26 · 18 in 100 · 0 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 3.3% (104 of 3,155) → 2025–26 · 3.1% (98 of 3,118) · −0.2 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female10 in 10019 in 100+9 in 100
Male9 in 10016 in 100+7 in 100
Asian4 in 10010 in 100+6 in 100
Black or African American6 in 1005 of 32—
Filipino2 in 10010 of 50—
Hispanic or Latino12 in 10019 in 100+7 in 100
American Indian or Alaska Native1 of 27——
Pacific Islander1 of 25——
White9 in 10018 in 100+9 in 100
Students with disabilities15 in 10026 in 100+11 in 100
English learners14 in 10025 in 100+11 in 100
Homeless12 of 3633 in 100—
Military families9 of 345 of 14—
Low-income14 in 10022 in 100+8 in 100
All students9 in 10018 in 100+9 in 100
Two or more races—16 in 100—

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 70% · numerator 552 students classified Prepared · denominator 790 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 74% · AP-pathway numerator 410 · denominator 552 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 552 of 790 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
95%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
74%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
73%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
81%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
2025233169713.984.054.14
2024300175833.944.084.20
20233392041123.964.084.12
20223311711023.974.134.17
20212871761063.874.034.09
2020230147833.874.024.06
2019242141753.834.014.11
2018201114703.824.044.07
2017198105583.713.913.94
2016167111573.743.883.90

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley2025129109
Berkeley2024142208
Berkeley20231612610
Berkeley2022173165
Berkeley2021129117
Davis2025103384
Davis2024140486
Davis20231586512
Davis20221385314
Davis2021120347
Irvine2025156307
Irvine2024182205
Irvine20231893111
Irvine2022210244
Irvine2021180208
Los Angeles20251611511
Los Angeles20242031916
Los Angeles20232231913
Los Angeles20222302219
Los Angeles20211871411
Merced202546433
Merced20242120under 3
Merced20232724under 3
Merced20222623under 3
Merced20212322under 3
Riverside20257267under 3
Riverside202470564
Riverside2023836112
Riverside202268406
Riverside202161459
San Diego20251904516
San Diego2024232439
San Diego20232504616
San Diego20222705827
San Diego20212068750
Santa Barbara2025162529
Santa Barbara20241966319
Santa Barbara20232335817
Santa Barbara20222124116
Santa Barbara2021173315
Santa Cruz20251068410
Santa Cruz20241087314
Santa Cruz20231419720
Santa Cruz2022122379
Santa Cruz2021101518
Universitywide202523316971
Universitywide202430017583
Universitywide2023339204112
Universitywide2022331171102
Universitywide2021287176106

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
2-D Art and Designthis school
Art Historythis school
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Computer Science Athis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
Human Geographythis school
Physics 1this school
Physics 2this school
Psychologythis school
Researchthis school
Seminarthis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school
World History: Modernthis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count23
AP enrollment (male/female)1,500
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 126 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections16
Physics sections14
Chemistry sections50
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)3,198

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California10813%
California State University12915%
California community college24930%
In-state private223%
Out-of-state, 4-year16320%
Out-of-state, 2-year30%
Not enrolled15519%

829 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 81% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$13,048 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 19,767 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$309 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 3,067

Central federal expenditures attributed here$322 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 3,067

District current expense · FY 2024–25$17,110 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 63%Instruction support 10%Student services 10%Administration 5%Buildings & maintenance 10%Other 2%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$190,342,65962.62%63%
Instruction support$31,519,31410.37%10%
Student services$29,922,9039.84%10%
Administration$16,446,8385.41%5%
Buildings & maintenance$29,610,6729.74%10%
Other$6,118,0122.01%2%
Total$303,960,400100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $303,960,400 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$13,048 per pupil
2020$12,040 per pupil
2019$11,775 per pupil
2018$11,157 per pupil
2017$10,669 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.8%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 92078 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 92078 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$120,268
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)49%
ZIP-area population53,605
Median age38.8 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 92078 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

Embed this scorecard

<iframe
  src="https://schoolscope.co/embed/school/san-marcos-high-7632"
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  title="San Marcos High — SchoolScope scorecard">
</iframe>

Free to embed with the credit link. Data updates automatically.

Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026