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Public school district · California

Vista Unified.Many schools. Many different stories.

Compare elementary, middle, and high schools across Vista Unified—and look beyond a single district average.

Mission Vista HighRancho Buena Vista HighCasita Center for Science/Math/TechnologyEmpresa ElementaryAlamosa Park ElementaryBella Mente Montessori AcademyVista HighGuajome Learning CenterVista Visions AcademyGuajome Park Academy CharterLake ElementaryVista Magnet Middle School of Technology, Science,T.H.E Leadership AcademyMission Meadows ElementaryBreeze Hill ElementaryMonte Vista ElementaryVista Innovation and Design AcademyNorth County Trade Tech HighHannalei ElementaryGrapevine ElementaryVista Academy of Visual and Performing ArtsBobier ElementaryRoosevelt MiddleFoothill Oak ElementaryMadison MiddleMaryland ElementaryAlta Vista High (Continuation)SIATechMajor General Raymond Murray HighVista UnifiedN ↑
29 schools mapped · Location contextOpen map →
Census district boundary
The K–12 path at a glance
Elementary16 schools
avg 35.9/1006 Solid, 6 Needs Support, +4 more
Middle4 schools
avg 28.2/1002 Needs Support, 1 Solid, +1 more
High9 schools
avg 38.1/1004 Needs Support, 2 Strong, +3 more

Each level is scored on its own scale — elementary, middle, and high are never ranked against each other.

Stage 1 of 3

The elementary years

35 points separate Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology (54) from Maryland Elementary (18) — at this level, which school matters more than which district.

0100
Strong Solid Developing Needs Support district avg state avg

35 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 16 elementary schools — the average hides more than it tells.

The strength

Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology (54/100) holds the Strong band — 39.2% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 19.1%. 2 schools here rank as Growth Engines — returning cohorts gaining more than most schools statewide.

The catch

6 of 16 elementary schools sit in the Needs Support band — which campus you're zoned for carries real weight here.

81st percentile · StrongScope Score 54/100
78th percentile · StrongScope Score 51/100
77th percentile · StrongScope Score 50/100

All 16 elementary schools, ranked, in the appendix →

Stage 2 of 3

The middle years

The middle schools average 28.2/100 — 10.4 points below the state average. Here is what that number does and doesn't say.

0100

4 middle schools span 21 points around an average of 28.2.

The strength

Vista Magnet Middle School of Technology, Science, is the strongest option at 40/100 — 21.4% of its students exceed the state standard.

The catch

2 of 4 middle schools sit in the Needs Support band — which campus you're zoned for carries real weight here.

59th percentile · SolidScope Score 40/100
43rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 34/100
Roosevelt Middle
Building Momentum
12th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 20/100

All 4 middle schools, ranked, in the appendix →

Stage 3 of 3

The high school years

62 points separate Mission Vista High (73) from Major General Raymond Murray High (10) — at this level, which school matters more than which district.

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62 points separate the strongest and weakest of these 9 high schools — the average hides more than it tells.

4 continuation/alternative schools not plotted — they rank within their own class, not on this statewide axis.

The strength

Mission Vista High (73/100) holds the Strong band — 40.2% of its students exceed the state standard, against a level average of 11.8%. 2 schools classify as Strong All-Around — no weak dimension we measure.

The catch

35.2% of students are chronically absent (state: 23.1%) — chronic means missing 10% or more of the school year. Whatever the scores say, ask each school what it is doing about attendance.

Mission Vista High
Strong All-Around
90th percentile · StrongScope Score 73/100
Rancho Buena Vista High
Strong All-Around
75th percentile · SolidScope Score 62/100
Vista High
Building Momentum
33rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 48/100

All 9 high schools, ranked, in the appendix →

What it means for your family

If you're choosing a neighborhood

Compare schools at your child’s level before deciding on an address. The strongest attendance-zone candidate is Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology at 54/100 — confirm the exact boundary with the district before the house.

If you already live here

5 of the 29 ranked schools are charters and 1 runs a magnet program — 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 — 4 campuses here rank as Growth Engine (2) or On the Rise (2), 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.

The strongest-scoring run through the district:

Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology 81st percentile · StrongScope Score 54/100Vista Magnet Middle School of Technology, Science, 59th percentile · SolidScope Score 40/100Mission Vista High 90th percentile · StrongScope Score 73/100

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.

Vista Unified has 29 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 →

One district, three stages

The average changes with the journey.

Elementary schools

Explore elementary →
Lower reported resultsHigher reported results

16 comparable schools · average 35.9/100 · range 18.4–53.8

Middle schools

Explore middle →
Lower reported resultsHigher reported results

4 comparable schools · average 28.2/100 · range 19.2–40.0

High schools

Explore high →
Lower reported resultsHigher reported results

5 comparable schools · average 54.8/100 · range 45.3–72.6

Explore Vista Unified by place.

Districts nearby

DistrictAverage scoreRanked schoolsTop schoolDistance
Vista Unifiedthis district38.4 / 10025Mission Vista High—
San Diego County Office of Education52.1 / 1005Dual Language Immersion North County4.3 mi
Carlsbad Unified61.1 / 10014Pacific Rim Elementary5.3 mi
San Marcos Unified49.6 / 10019Discovery Elementary6.4 mi
Encinitas Union Elementary67.5 / 1005Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary9.3 mi
Fallbrook Union High53.2 / 1002Oasis High (Alternative)9.8 mi

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.

Cities served

City pages include schools from other districts too. Check the district named on each school profile.

Patterns across the district

What kinds of schools are here?

Patterns worth exploring.

Choose a pattern to find matching schools in the lists below. Open a profile to see the underlying measures and questions to ask on a visit.

How patterns are defined →

Archetypes describe reported patterns, not school quality or fit. Available measures differ by school level.

Schools in Vista Unified

Browse by level, then compare the evidence behind each profile.

Map ↗

Elementary schools in Vista Unified · 16 schools

CompareSchoolExceededScore
Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology
Vista Unified Solid Base
39.2%81st percentile · StrongScope Score 54/100
Empresa Elementary
Vista Unified Solid Base
36.8%78th percentile · StrongScope Score 51/100
Alamosa Park Elementary
Vista Unified Growth Engine
26.6%77th percentile · StrongScope Score 50/100
Bella Mente Montessori Academy
Vista Unified Growth Engine
25.8%74th percentile · SolidScope Score 48/100
Guajome Park Academy Charter
Vista Unified Building Momentum
27.3%70th percentile · SolidScope Score 45/100
Lake Elementary
Vista Unified Culture First
25.2%69th percentile · SolidScope Score 45/100

Middle schools in Vista Unified · 4 schools

CompareSchoolExceededScore
Vista Magnet Middle School of Technology, Science,
Vista Unified Building Momentum
21.4%59th percentile · SolidScope Score 40/100
Vista Innovation and Design Academy
Vista Unified Building Momentum
14.4%43rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 34/100
Roosevelt Middle
Vista Unified Building Momentum
8.1%12th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 20/100
Madison Middle
Vista Unified Building Momentum
9.9%10th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 19/100

High schools in Vista Unified · 9 schools

CompareSchoolExceededScore
Mission Vista High
Vista Unified Strong All-Around
40.2%90th percentile · StrongScope Score 73/100
Rancho Buena Vista High
Vista Unified Strong All-Around
23.9%75th percentile · SolidScope Score 62/100
Vista High
Vista Unified Building Momentum
6.6%33rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 48/100
Guajome Learning Center
Vista Unified Building Momentum
18.8%28th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 46/100
Vista Visions Academy
Vista Unified Building Momentum
7.4%25th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 45/100
North County Trade Tech High
Vista Unified alternative school
5.9%79th percentile · StrongWithin its own school classScope Score 32/100
Compare selected schools

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.

Vista Unified spent $20,783 per student in FY 2024–25 — close to the median California district ($20,491). About 64 cents of every dollar goes to classroom instruction.

Current expense per student

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

  • Instruction64%
  • Instruction support12%
  • Student services9%
  • Administration5%
  • Buildings & maintenance9%
  • 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$57,722–$120,983
Teaching staff1,080 · FTE
District enrollment19,722 · students
Who attends
Hispanic 68.2% · White 20.8% · Black 1.9% · Asian 1.5% · Other 7.6%
Free/reduced lunch70% · economic need indicator

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule 2024–25 · CDE enrollment (district averages)

See how the school years fit together.

Explore the next stage, then verify the schools available for your address.

These are browsing links, not a feeder path. Assignments vary by residence, program, permits, and available space.

Looking beyond Vista Unified?

Explore public, private, and early-learning options.

Know what you’re comparing.

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.

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 29 schoolsMethodology · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

Frequently asked questions

How many schools are listed in Vista Unified?
This SchoolScope directory lists 29 public schools in Vista 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 Vista Unified?
Among comprehensive public schools listed here, the highest Scope Score at each primary reporting level is: Elementary: Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology (54/100). Middle: Vista Magnet Middle School of Technology, Science, (40/100). High: Mission Vista High (73/100). 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 Vista 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.