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San Diego Unified: San Diego Unified schools score within 0.9 points of the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 3.1 points.

Near Average2024–25 data200 schools · avg 45.7/100

San Diego Unified has 200 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 45.7/100 — within 0.9 points of the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is La Jolla Elementary at 84/100, where 65.2% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,976 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 18 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.8%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
45.7
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
76.5
7.5 – 84.0
Avg Exceeded %
22.7%
State avg: 21.3%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
20.8%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
200
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
38
of 200 ranked
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
45.4/100
14423.4%20.6%
MiddleDeveloping
44.8/100
2621.2%20.0%
HighDeveloping
48.0/100
3020.7%22.8%

San Diego Unified's high schools average 48.0/100 — 4.3 points above the state average.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in San Diego Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
45.4
avg score · 144 schools
La Jolla Elementary
Strong
84/100
Dingeman Elementary
Strong
81/100
Scripps Elementary
Strong
80/100
+141 more elementary schools
→
Middle
44.8
avg score · 26 schools
Marshall Middle
Strong
74/100
Muirlands Middle
Strong
71/100
Magnolia Science Academy San Diego
Solid
66/100
+23 more middle schools
→
High
48.0
avg score · 30 schools
Scripps Ranch High
Strong
76/100
School for Entrepreneurship and Technology
Strong
71/100
La Jolla High
Solid
69/100
+27 more high schools

District Analysis

San Diego Unified has 200 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 45.7/100 — within 0.9 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: San Diego Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.0.

District-wide elementary growth averages -3.1pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 76.5 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 20.8%, 2.9pp above the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 1.9%, near the state average of 1.6%.

La Jolla Elementary leads the district at 84 with 65.2% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in San Diego Unified

25 On the Rise19 Strong All-Around18 Growth Engine13 Solid Base107 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 43 schools in San Diego Unified are classified as On the Rise (25) or Growth Engine (18) — 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

Hispanic
49.7%
White
21.7%
Asian
7.4%
Black
8.1%
Other
13.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
63%
Economic need indicator · district avg
CDE CAASPP 2025

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

San Diego Unified spends $15,976 per student in current expenditures — $1,161 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$15,976
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
97,968
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 36.5%
$11,708 → $15,976
Spending Efficiency
2.86
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 60%Support 36%Other 4%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$55,375–$124,275
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
1,693
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in San Diego Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (144)

San Diego Unified has 144 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.4 — within 0.6 points of the state average of 44.8. 12 of 144 elementary schools score above 70.

Growth averages -3.1pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is La Jolla Elementary with a Scope Score of 84 and 65.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1La Jolla Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
65.2%Strong
84/100
2Dingeman Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
68.8%Strong
81/100
3Scripps Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
62.0%Strong
80/100
4Torrey Pines Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
61.2%Strong
79/100
5Bird Rock Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
57.9%Strong
78/100
6McKinley Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
52.0%Strong
77/100
7Birney Elementary
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
45.7%Strong
74/100
8Dailard Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
47.1%Strong
72/100
9Curie Elementary
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
60.1%Strong
72/100
10Mt. Everest Academy
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
46.5%Strong
71/100
11Green Elementary
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
49.0%Strong
71/100
12Hearst Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
48.1%Strong
71/100
13Jerabek Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
56.8%Solid
70/100
14Kumeyaay Elementary
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
43.1%Solid
69/100
15Hardy Elementary
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
38.8%Solid
68/100
16Ericson Elementary
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
49.7%Solid
68/100
17Miramar Ranch Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
48.2%Solid
68/100
18Holmes Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
57.5%Solid
67/100
19Marvin Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
48.7%Solid
67/100
20Barnard Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
46.2%Solid
66/100
21Benchley/Weinberger Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
45.2%Solid
66/100
22Sandburg Elementary
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
39.4%Solid
66/100
23John Muir
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
32.3%Solid
66/100
24Jonas Salk Elementary
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
48.1%Solid
64/100
25Nye Elementary
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
35.2%Solid
64/100
26Hickman Elementary
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
51.5%Solid
63/100
27Sequoia Elementary
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
34.2%Solid
63/100
28Chesterton Elementary
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
37.9%Solid
63/100
29Grant K-8
San Diego Unified Solid Base
45.6%Solid
61/100
30Sessions Elementary
San Diego Unified Solid Base
33.9%Solid
61/100

Middle Schools (26)

San Diego Unified has 26 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.8 — 2.2 points above the state average of 42.6. 2 of 26 middle schools score above 70.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +1.0pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Marshall Middle with a Scope Score of 74 and 50.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Marshall Middle
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
50.0%Strong
74/100
2Muirlands Middle
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
46.2%Strong
71/100
3Magnolia Science Academy San Diego
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
36.6%Solid
66/100
4Challenger Middle
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
39.0%Solid
65/100
5De Portola Middle
San Diego Unified Solid Base
36.5%Solid
62/100
6Standley Middle
San Diego Unified Solid Base
40.6%Solid
61/100
7Pacific Beach Middle
San Diego Unified Solid Base
43.7%Solid
60/100
8Lewis Middle
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
31.6%Solid
58/100
9Pershing Middle
San Diego Unified Culture First
28.8%Solid
53/100
10Marston Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
27.5%Solid
53/100
11Farb Middle
San Diego Unified Growth Engine
17.8%Developing
48/100
12Wangenheim Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
19.4%Developing
45/100
13High Tech Middle Media Arts
San Diego Unified On the Rise
14.1%Developing
40/100
14Innovation Middle
San Diego Unified On the Rise
14.4%Developing
40/100
15Roosevelt International Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
20.0%Developing
39/100
16Montgomery Middle
San Diego Unified On the Rise
9.2%Developing
37/100
17Knox Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
6.0%Developing
34/100
18Taft Middle
San Diego Unified On the Rise
10.5%Developing
33/100
19High Tech Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
11.3%Developing
33/100
20Creative Performing and Media Arts
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
7.6%Developing
31/100
21Mann Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
7.8%Developing
31/100
22Bell Middle
San Diego Unified On the Rise
6.2%Developing
31/100
23Wilson Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
6.7%Needs Support
29/100
24Clark Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
6.1%Needs Support
28/100
25KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy
San Diego Unified On the Rise
8.7%Needs Support
23/100
26Millennial Tech Middle
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
4.6%Needs Support
19/100

High Schools (30)

San Diego Unified has 30 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.0 — 4.3 points above the state average of 43.7. 2 of 30 high schools score above 70.

The highest-scoring high school is Scripps Ranch High with a Scope Score of 76 and 53.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Scripps Ranch High
San Diego Unified High Ceiling
53.0%Strong
76/100
2School for Entrepreneurship and Technology
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
38.8%Strong
71/100
3La Jolla High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
35.2%Solid
69/100
4University City High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
36.1%Solid
67/100
5Henry High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
32.7%Solid
64/100
6Point Loma High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
29.2%Solid
64/100
7Mission Bay High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
39.0%Solid
61/100
8Mira Mesa High
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
31.5%Solid
61/100
9High Tech High International
San Diego Unified Strong All-Around
26.9%Solid
60/100
10Canyon Hills High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
20.1%Solid
56/100
11High Tech High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
23.3%Solid
54/100
12Kearny School of Biomedical Science and Technology
San Diego Unified Culture First
20.6%Solid
52/100
13Kearny College Connections
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
31.8%Solid
52/100
14Kearny Eng Innov & Design
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
30.4%Solid
50/100
15East Village Middle College High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
20.6%Solid
50/100
16San Diego High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
16.8%Developing
48/100
17Kearny Digital Media & Design
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
18.3%Developing
45/100
18Morse High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
15.4%Developing
45/100
19Madison High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
12.2%Developing
45/100
20Clairemont High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
15.8%Developing
44/100
21San Diego Metro Career and Tech
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
13.5%Developing
43/100
22Hoover High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
13.1%Developing
41/100
23e3 Civic High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
9.7%Developing
34/100
24Crawford High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
11.8%Developing
33/100
25Lincoln High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
8.2%Developing
33/100
26Health Sciences High and Middle College
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
4.7%Developing
32/100
27High Tech High Media Arts
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
5.7%Developing
31/100
28King-Chavez Community High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
2.2%Needs Support
29/100
29Twain High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
1.6%Needs Support
17/100
30Garfield High
San Diego Unified Building Momentum
1.2%Needs Support
11/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 200 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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 San Diego Unified

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

Frequently asked questions

Is San Diego Unified a good school district?
San Diego Unified has 200 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.7/100, which is within 0.9 points of the state average. 22.7% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in San Diego Unified?
The highest-scoring school in San Diego Unified is La Jolla Elementary with a Scope Score of 84/100 and 65.2% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does San Diego Unified spend per student?
San Diego Unified spends $15,976 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in San Diego Unified?
Teacher salaries in San Diego Unified range from $55,375–$124,275 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.

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