Each level is scored on its own scale — elementary, middle, and high are never ranked against each other.
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Stage 1 of 3
The elementary years
75 points separate La Jolla Elementary (82) from Logan Memorial Educational Campus (7) — at this level, which school matters more than which district.
0100
Strong Solid Developing Needs Support district avg state avg
75 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 136 elementary schools — the average hides more than it tells.
1 continuation/alternative school not plotted — it ranks within its own class, not on this statewide axis.
The strength
La Jolla Elementary (82/100) holds the Strong band — 65.2% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 24.0%. 6 schools here rank as Growth Engines — returning cohorts gaining more than most schools statewide.
The catch
75 points separate the top and bottom elementary schools — the district average won't predict the school in front of you.
69 points separate Mt. Everest Academy (82) from Millennial Tech Middle (13) — at this level, which school matters more than which district.
0100
69 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 33 middle schools — the average hides more than it tells.
2 continuation/alternative schools not plotted — they rank within their own class, not on this statewide axis.
The strength
Mt. Everest Academy (82/100) holds the Strong band — 46.5% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 19.6%. 1 school here ranks as a Growth Engine — returning cohorts gaining more than most schools statewide.
The catch
9 of 33 middle schools sit in the Needs Support band — which campus you're zoned for carries real weight here.
74 points separate Scripps Ranch High (84) from Garfield High (10) — at this level, which school matters more than which district.
0100
74 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 30 high schools — the average hides more than it tells.
2 continuation/alternative schools not plotted — they rank within their own class, not on this statewide axis.
The strength
Scripps Ranch High (84/100) holds the Strong band — 53.0% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 20.7%. 7 schools classify as Strong All-Around — no weak dimension we measure.
The catch
8 of 30 high schools sit in the Needs Support band — which campus you're zoned for carries real weight here.
Compare schools at your child’s level before deciding on an address. The strongest attendance-zone candidate is La Jolla Elementary at 82/100 — confirm the exact boundary with the district before the house.
If you already live here
38 of the 199 ranked schools are charters — enrollment paths that don't depend on your address. If your zoned school sits low in the appendix below, those lotteries and applications are the levers worth the paperwork.
If your kid is enrolled now
A band is a position, not a prophecy — 23 campuses here rank as On the Rise (16) or Growth Engine (7), their returning cohorts gaining more than most schools statewide. Ask your school two questions: what happens for a kid who arrives behind, and what the classroom looks like for one who arrives ahead.
Top scorers at each level — not necessarily one zoned sequence. Confirm feeder patterns and enrollment zones with the district, and visit before you decide.
What this page can't see: whether a campus feels safe and glad at 8 a.m. If a path above looks workable, the next step is a visit.
San Diego Unified has 199 public schools in this SchoolScope results directory. Compare schools by their primary reporting level below.
2024–25 CAASPP reporting · SchoolScope analysis. Directory coverage, not a complete inventory of every campus. Each school appears at its primary reporting level; K–8 and K–12 campuses can serve additional grades. Sources and methodology →
Averages blend every school level in a district and carry no score band. Compare a level at a time in the spreads above, then open the schools. Distances run between school-location centers.
Select two to four schools at the same level. Rankings and score bands compare each school with its own enrollment group.
District finance · FY 2024–25
Where the district's dollars go.
San Diego Unified spent $21,967 per student in FY 2024–25 — close to the median California district ($20,491). About 63 cents of every dollar goes to classroom instruction.
Current expense per student
San Diego Unified$21,967
Median California district$20,491
Current expense of education per unit of average daily attendance, from the district's annual SACS filing to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus. Spending is context, not a measure of school quality.
Share by function
Instruction63%
Instruction support12%
Student services12%
Administration5%
Buildings & maintenance7%
Other1%
Shares of the same current-expense total, by SACS function. Names are simplified from the filing's own categories.
The system behind the schools
The people behind the classrooms — district-grain context that never enters a school's score.
People
Teacher salary range$55,375–$124,275
Teaching staff1,693 · FTE
District enrollment97,968 · students
Who attends
Hispanic 49.7% · White 21.7% · Black 8.1% · Asian 7.4% · Other 13.1%
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.
This SchoolScope directory lists 199 public schools in San Diego Unified with 2024–25 reporting records. This is directory coverage, not a complete campus inventory. Each school appears under its primary reporting level; a K–8 or K–12 campus may serve additional grades.
Which schools have the highest scores in San Diego Unified?
Among comprehensive public schools listed here, the highest Scope Score at each primary reporting level is: Elementary: La Jolla Elementary (82/100). Middle: Mt. Everest Academy (82/100). High: Scripps Ranch High (84/100). These are separate level rankings, not a single cross-level league table. A score does not establish fit or enrollment eligibility. See the methodology.
Can I compare elementary, middle, and high schools directly?
Compare schools at the same level and within the same enrollment group. Scope Score formulas and available measures differ by level. The plots show comprehensive public schools separately for each level; individual profiles explain their comparison group.
Does living in San Diego Unified guarantee a particular school?
A district outline does not establish assignment to an individual school. Attendance boundaries, programs, permits, and available space can affect enrollment. Confirm the requirements directly with the district.
What does a SchoolScope pattern mean?
Archetypes summarize patterns in publicly reported academic and school-climate measures. They describe reported results, not a school’s quality or a child’s fit. Open the school profile for reporting years, missing measures, and questions to ask. Read how the patterns are defined.
Where do these results come from?
The underlying public data comes from the California Department of Education, including CAASPP reporting for 2024–25. Scope Scores and archetypes are SchoolScope calculations, not official CDE ratings. View CDE data and SchoolScope’s methodology and limitations.