San Marcos · San Diego County

Schools in San Marcos

San Marcos’s 11 public elementary schools run from the 10th to the 95th percentile among the 5,721 California elementary schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
1Needs Support
2Developing
2Solid
6Strong
Top row: one dot per San Marcos school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 5,721 California public elementary schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Highest in San Marcos

Statewide percentile

Double Peak and Paloma are at the same percentile; treat that as a tie.

Context

The average San Marcos elementary school had 13 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2024–25; the average California elementary school had 18 in 100.

The other 8 elementary schools

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

San Marcos’s 8 public middle schools run from the 2nd to the 88th percentile among the 2,177 California middle schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
1Needs Support
2Developing
3Solid
2Strong
Top row: one dot per San Marcos school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 2,177 California public middle schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Highest in San Marcos

Statewide percentile
Context

The average San Marcos middle school had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California middle school had 18 in 100.

The other 5 middle schools

Also in San Marcos, not ranked with these schools

San Marcos’s 4 public high schools run from the 5th to the 85th percentile among the 1,500 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
1Needs Support
0Developing
2Solid
1Strong
Top row: one dot per San Marcos school, in its band colour. Bottom: each dot is 1 in 100 of the 1,500 California public high schools we score. All placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests.

Highest in San Marcos

Statewide percentile

San Marcos High and Mission Hills High are 1 percentile apart; treat that as a tie.

Context

The average San Marcos high school had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California high school had 23 in 100.

The other 1 high school

Also in San Marcos, not ranked with these schools

  • Twin Oaks HighContinuation high school: compared only with other continuation schools

2 private schools in San Marcos aren’t shown: they don’t take the state tests, so we don’t score them.

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Before kindergarten

A district outline or ZIP code doesn’t decide which school a child attends. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district. See these schools on the map ›

Questions parents ask

Are the public schools in San Marcos good?
San Marcos’s 11 public elementary schools run from the 10th to the 95th percentile among the 5,721 California elementary schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 6 Strong, 2 Solid, 2 Developing and 1 Needs Support. San Marcos’s 8 public middle schools run from the 2nd to the 88th percentile among the 2,177 California middle schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 2 Strong, 3 Solid, 2 Developing and 1 Needs Support. San Marcos’s 4 public high schools run from the 5th to the 85th percentile among the 1,500 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 2 Solid and 1 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score; it isn’t a grade. How we score schools.
Which public schools in San Marcos rank highest?
Elementary: Discovery Elementary, 95th percentile statewide (Strong). Middle: Double Peak, 88th percentile statewide (Strong). High: High Tech High North County, 85th percentile statewide (Strong). Each level is ranked separately, and a few percentiles apart is a tie. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in San Marcos compare with California?
The average San Marcos elementary school had 13 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2024–25; the average California elementary school had 18 in 100. The average San Marcos middle school had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California middle school had 18 in 100. The average San Marcos high school had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2024–25; the average California high school had 23 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.
Does living in San Marcos decide which school my child attends?
No. A city can hold schools from more than one district, and attendance boundaries decide which school serves an address. Confirm the school for your address with the district.
Where do these results come from?
California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2025 and chronic-absence rates for 2024–25, both published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations, not official state ratings. Private schools don’t take the state tests, so we don’t score them. Methodology and limitations.

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.

Download these schools (CSV) · free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution · How we score schools