Carlsbad Unified: Carlsbad Unified schools score 16.3 points above the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 5.0 points.
Carlsbad Unified has 15 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 61.2/100 — 16.3 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Pacific Rim Elementary at 78/100, where 60.1% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,544 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.7%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Solid 66.5/100 | 9 | 45.3% | 11.8% |
| Middle | Solid 51.5/100 | 3 | 27.5% | 13.9% |
| High | Solid 54.7/100 | 3 | 28.0% | 29.1% |
Carlsbad Unified's elementary schools average 66.5/100 — 21.7 points above the state average with a −5.0pp declining trajectory.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Carlsbad Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Carlsbad Unified has 15 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 61.2/100 — 16.3 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Carlsbad Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 66.5.
District-wide elementary growth averages -5.0pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.
Score range of 46.5 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 15.7%, 2.2pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 1.9%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Pacific Rim Elementary leads the district at 78 with 60.1% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Carlsbad Unified
Hidden gems: 1 school in Carlsbad Unified 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
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Carlsbad Unified spends $12,544 per student in current expenditures — $2,271 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Every school in Carlsbad Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (9)
Carlsbad Unified has 9 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 66.5 — 21.7 points above the state average of 44.8. 3 of 9 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -5.0pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Pacific Rim Elementary with a Scope Score of 78 and 60.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific Rim Elementary Carlsbad Unified High Ceiling | 60.1% | Strong 78/100 |
| 2 | Kelly Elementary Carlsbad Unified High Ceiling | 51.0% | Strong 78/100 |
| 3 | Aviara Oaks Elementary Carlsbad Unified High Ceiling | 54.1% | Strong 75/100 |
| 4 | Magnolia Elementary Carlsbad Unified Strong All-Around | 45.3% | Solid 69/100 |
| 5 | Buena Vista Elementary Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum | 38.1% | Solid 68/100 |
| 6 | Poinsettia Elementary Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum | 56.2% | Solid 65/100 |
| 7 | Calavera Hills Elementary Carlsbad Unified Solid Base | 37.8% | Solid 62/100 |
| 8 | Hope Elementary Carlsbad Unified Solid Base | 39.6% | Solid 56/100 |
| 9 | Jefferson Elementary Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum | 25.1% | Developing 47/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Carlsbad Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 51.5 — 8.9 points above the state average of 42.6.
Growth averages -2.1pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Aviara Oaks Middle with a Scope Score of 60 and 38.3% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aviara Oaks Middle Carlsbad Unified Solid Base | 38.3% | Solid 60/100 |
| 2 | Calavera Hills Middle Carlsbad Unified Growth Engine | 22.5% | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | Valley Middle Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum | 21.8% | Developing 42/100 |
High Schools (3)
Carlsbad Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 54.7 — 11.0 points above the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Sage Creek High with a Scope Score of 69 and 37.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sage Creek High Carlsbad Unified Strong All-Around | 37.9% | Solid 69/100 |
| 2 | Carlsbad High Carlsbad Unified Strong All-Around | 34.9% | Solid 63/100 |
| 3 | Carlsbad Village Academy Carlsbad Unified Building Momentum | 11.1% | Developing 32/100 |
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology