School district · San Diego County

Vista Unified schools

Vista Unified’s 16 public elementary schools run from the 3rd to the 82nd percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). They sit in all four bands, from Strong to Needs Support.

Elementary · 16 schools

from 3rd to 82nd · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology: 82nd percentile, Strong
  • Empresa Elementary: 80th percentile, Strong
  • Alamosa Park Elementary: 76th percentile, Strong
  • Lake Elementary: 67th percentile, Solid
  • Mission Meadows Elementary: 66th percentile, Solid
  • Breeze Hill Elementary: 63rd percentile, Solid
  • Bella Mente Montessori Academy: 57th percentile, Solid
  • T.H.E Leadership Academy: 52nd percentile, Solid
  • Hannalei Elementary: 26th percentile, Developing
  • Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts: 26th percentile, Developing
  • Monte Vista Elementary: 25th percentile, Developing
  • Guajome Park Academy Charter: 22nd percentile, Needs Support
  • Foothill Oak Elementary: 13th percentile, Needs Support
  • Bobier Elementary: 11th percentile, Needs Support
  • Grapevine Elementary: 7th percentile, Needs Support
  • Maryland Elementary: 3rd percentile, Needs Support
5Needs Support
3Developing
5Solid
3Strong

One dot per school.

Middle and high school pictures

Middle · 6 schools

from 2nd to 62nd · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Vista Innovation and Design Academy: 62nd percentile, Solid
  • Vista Magnet Middle School of Technology, Science, and Math: 55th percentile, Solid
  • Bella Mente Montessori Academy: 51st percentile, Solid
  • Madison Middle: 20th percentile, Needs Support
  • Guajome Park Academy Charter: 18th percentile, Needs Support
  • Roosevelt Middle: 2nd percentile, Needs Support
3Needs Support
0Developing
3Solid
0Strong

High · 5 schools

from 4th to 93rd · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests

  • Mission Vista High: 93rd percentile, Strong
  • Guajome Park Academy Charter: 63rd percentile, Solid
  • Rancho Buena Vista High: 57th percentile, Solid
  • Vista High: 13th percentile, Needs Support
  • Vista Visions Academy: 4th percentile, Needs Support
2Needs Support
0Developing
2Solid
1Strong

One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 2 of the 24 ranked schools teach more than one level, 1 of them all three, so they appear in more than one picture.

  • 24 ranked schools
  • 6 schools not ranked statewide

Schools around Vista Unified

30 listed public schools with mapped locations.

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in Vista Unified score highest?

Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology is highest, at the 82nd percentile.

That’s higher than 82 in 100 of the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Vista Unified

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

Show the other 13 elementary schools
Context

The average elementary school in Vista Unified had 14 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.

Middle schools

Which middle schools in Vista Unified score highest?

Vista Innovation and Design Academy is highest, at the 62nd percentile.

That’s higher than 62 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Vista Unified

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

Show the other 3 middle schools
Context

The average middle school in Vista Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.

High schools

Which high schools in Vista Unified score highest?

Mission Vista High is highest, at the 93rd percentile.

That’s higher than 93 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Highest in Vista Unified

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

Show the other 2 high schools
Context

The average high school in Vista Unified had 25 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.

6 high schools not ranked statewide

Alternative schools, continuation schools and special education centers enroll students differently from a regular school, so each is compared only with its own kind or not ranked. The others have no statewide percentile this year.

The district

Where does Vista Unified’s money go?

Vista Unified spent $20,783 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 64 cents of every Vista Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.

Spending by function

Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.

Share by function, 2024–25

  • Instruction64%
  • Instruction support12%
  • Student services9%
  • Administration5%
  • Buildings & maintenance9%
  • Other1%

Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.

The district’s plan

Every California district publishes a yearly plan, the LCAP: its goals and what it will spend to reach them. Search it for a program, grade or student group you care about.

Sources: Plans (California School Dashboard) ↗

Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends

Student mix

2024–25 · October enrollment count, 21,271 students
1. Hispanic or Latino: 67%2. White: 21%3. Two or more races: 6%4. Black or African American: 2%5. Asian: 2%6. Filipino: 1%7. Pacific Islander: <1%8. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%9. Not reported: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. Hispanic or Latino67%
  2. White21%
  3. Two or more races6%
  4. Black or African American2%
  5. Asian2%
  6. Filipino1%
  7. Pacific Islander<1%
  8. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
  9. Not reported<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.

Free or reduced-price meals

69%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 14,593 of 21,213 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.

The district’s state records

Is the state giving the district extra help?

The state is giving Vista Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.

How English learners moved up on the state’s English test

From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 42% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (929 of 2,235 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

2 schools getting state support, 2025–26

Alta Vista High (Continuation) (Most intensive support, graduation rate) · Rancho Buena Vista High (Targeted support)

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗ · School support (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (5)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in Vista Unified rank highest?

Elementary: Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology, 82nd percentile (Strong). Middle: Vista Innovation and Design Academy, 62nd percentile (Solid). High: Mission Vista High, 93rd percentile (Strong). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

Does living in the Vista Unified district decide which school my child attends?

Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (4)

Are the public schools in Vista Unified good?

Vista Unified’s 16 public elementary schools run from the 3rd to the 82nd percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 3 Strong, 5 Solid, 3 Developing and 5 Needs Support. Vista Unified’s 6 public middle schools run from the 2nd to the 62nd percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 3 Solid and 3 Needs Support. Vista Unified’s 5 public high schools run from the 4th to the 93rd percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 2 Solid and 2 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.

How does chronic absence in Vista Unified compare with California?

The average elementary school in Vista Unified had 14 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average middle school in Vista Unified had 16 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Vista Unified had 25 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.

How much does Vista Unified spend per student?

Vista Unified spent $20,783 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 64 cents of every Vista Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.

Where do these results come from?

California’s state tests (CAASPP): spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools, spring 2025 for high schools, and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Vista Unified, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

View CDE data ↗ (opens in a new tab)How Scope Scores work →

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.