San Diego County

California · Public K-12

San Diego County reports 766 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 3,288,774, with an average school size of 610 students. The level mix is 469 elementary, 105 middle, and 142 high schools.

7-year change in San Diego County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25

Total enrollment

466,146

-37,341 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18

School count

744

-10 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18

% White

28%

was 30%

% Hispanic

49%

was 48%

% Black

was 5%

% Asian

11%

was 10%

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

Schools

766

162 districts

Enrollment

467,437

NCES CCD

Median income

$106,268

Above California avg

Free/reduced lunch

53.8%

Below California avg

Elementary

469

216,922 students

Middle

105

73,784 students

High

142

140,617 students

Combined / other

36,114 students

LARGEST DISTRICT

San Diego Unified

94,828 students · 162 districts in San Diego County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of San Diego County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents

White

48%

Hispanic

35%

Black

Asian

12%

Two or more

21%

Native American

Pacific Islander

School enrollment

White

27%

Hispanic

49%

Black

Asian

11%

Two or more

Native American

Pacific Islander

Bachelor's+

43.2%

adults 25+

Poverty rate

6.9%

ACS 5-year

Unemployment

6.1%

civilian labor

Median age

20.9% under 18

Test scores in San Diego County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 559 schools ranked. California state average: 47.6%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)

Westview High· 92.0%
Canyon Crest Academy· 91.9%
Poinsettia Elementary· 89.7%
Ocean Air· 89.1%
Sage Canyon· 88.5%

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)

See all 559 schools in San Diego County ranked by score →

All schools (766)

Largest A-Z Top rated

Name	City	Level	Grades	Enrollment	Rating
Pacific Coast Academy	Poway	Combined	KG-12	6,760	·
Cabrillo Point Academy	Poway	Combined	KG-12	5,706	·
San Marcos High	San Marcos	High	09-12	3,067	·
Mission Hills High	San Marcos	High	09-12	2,751	·
San Diego Workforce Innovation High	National City	High	09-12	2,722	·
Del Norte High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,557	·
Eastlake High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	2,557	·
Helix High	La Mesa	High	09-12	2,554	·
Torrey Pines High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,536	·
Henry High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,485	·
El Camino High	Oceanside	High	09-12	2,463	·
Otay Ranch Senior High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	2,440	·
Carlsbad High	Carlsbad	High	09-12	2,336	·
Granite Hills High	El Cajon	High	09-12	2,331	·
Sweetwater High	National City	High	09-12	2,290	·
Olympian High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	2,289	·
Rancho Bernardo High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,210	·
Steele Canyon High	Spring Valley	High	09-12	2,198	·
Mira Mesa High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,187	·
Grossmont High	La Mesa	High	09-12	2,172	·
Literacy First Charter	El Cajon	Combined	KG-12	2,160	·
Canyon Crest Academy	San Diego	High	09-12	2,147	·
Westview High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,116	·
Poway High	Poway	High	09-12	2,101	·
Coastal Academy Charter	Oceanside	Combined	KG-12	2,015	·
Hoover High	San Diego	High	09-12	2,011	·
Bonita Vista Senior High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	1,960	·
Rancho Buena Vista High	Vista	High	09-12	1,949	·
Oceanside High	Oceanside	High	09-12	1,948	·
San Ysidro High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,941	·
Scripps Ranch High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,890	·
Chula Vista Senior High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	1,864	·
The O'Farrell Charter	San Diego	Combined	KG-12	1,862	·
Fallbrook High	Fallbrook	High	09-12	1,853	·
San Pasqual High	Escondido	High	09-12	1,846	·
San Dieguito HS Academy	Encinitas	High	09-12	1,843	·
El Capitan High	Lakeside	High	09-12	1,810	·
Mt. Carmel High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,800	·
Orange Glen High	Escondido	High	09-12	1,788	·
La Costa Canyon High	Carlsbad	High	09-12	1,774	·
Hilltop Senior High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	1,771	·
Vista High	Vista	High	09-12	1,746	·
Valhalla High	El Cajon	High	09-12	1,728	·
Point Loma High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,724	·
Rancho del Rey Middle	Chula Vista	Middle	07-08	1,705	·
El Cajon Valley High	El Cajon	High	09-12	1,701	·
Mission Vista High	Oceanside	High	09-12	1,670	·
Escondido High	Escondido	High	09-12	1,656	·
West Hills High	Santee	High	09-12	1,624	·
Santana High	Santee	High	09-12	1,621	·
Eastlake Middle	Chula Vista	Middle	07-08	1,613	·
San Diego High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,602	·
Morse High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,591	·
Classical Academy	Escondido	Elementary	KG-08	1,581	·
Montgomery Senior High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,568	·
Southwest Senior High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,563	·
Monte Vista High	Spring Valley	High	09-12	1,543	·
Mueller Charter (Robert L.)	Chula Vista	Combined	KG-12	1,542	·
Mount Miguel High	Spring Valley	High	09-12	1,539	·
Oak Valley Middle	San Diego	Middle	06-08	1,503	·
Bernardo Heights Middle	San Diego	Middle	06-08	1,487	·
Lincoln High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,487	·
Hillsdale Middle	El Cajon	Middle	06-08	1,481	·
Logan Memorial Educational Campus	San Diego	Combined	KG-12	1,467	·
University City High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,465	·
Albert Einstein Academies	San Diego	Elementary	KG-08	1,448	·
Ramona High	Ramona	High	09-12	1,404	·
Chula Vista Learning Community Charter	Chula Vista	Combined	KG-12	1,397	·
San Elijo Middle	San Marcos	Middle	06-08	1,395	·
Marshall Middle	San Diego	Middle	06-08	1,390	·
Altus Schools Charter School of San Diego	San Diego	High	06-12	1,375	·
Castle Park Senior High	Chula Vista	High	09-12	1,363	·
Guajome Park Academy Charter	Vista	Combined	KG-12	1,355	·
Heritage K-8 Charter	Escondido	Elementary	KG-08	1,345	·
Classical Academy High	Escondido	High	09-12	1,336	·
Hawking S.T.E.A.M. Charter	Chula Vista	Combined	KG-12	1,321	·
Crawford High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,318	·
San Diego SCPA	San Diego	High	06-12	1,297	·
Sage Creek High	Carlsbad	High	09-12	1,289	·
Bostonia Global	El Cajon	Combined	KG-12	1,266	·
Mission Bay High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,240	·
Design 39 Campus	San Diego	Elementary	KG-08	1,216	·
Mar Vista Senior High	Imperial Beach	High	09-12	1,216	·
Woodland Park Middle	San Marcos	Middle	06-08	1,184	·
Canyon Hills High	San Diego	High	09-12	1,183	·
Mesa Verde Middle	San Diego	Middle	06-08	1,178	·
Gompers Preparatory Academy	San Diego	High	06-12	1,175	·
La Jolla High	La Jolla	High	09-12	1,174	·
SIATech	Oceanside	High	10-12	1,174	·
Double Peak	San Marcos	Elementary	KG-08	1,171	·
Twin Peaks Middle	Poway	Middle	06-08	1,164	·
Madison Middle	Oceanside	Middle	06-08	1,158	·
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle	Oceanside	Middle	06-08	1,098	·
Feaster (Mae L.) Charter	Chula Vista	Elementary	KG-08	1,095	·
Nestor Language Academy Charter	San Diego	Elementary	KG-08	1,079	·
Black Mountain Middle	San Diego	Middle	06-08	1,077	·
Valley Center High	Valley Center	High	09-12	1,075	·
La Mesa Arts Academy	La Mesa	Middle	05-08	1,059	·
Ocean View Hills	San Diego	Elementary	KG-05	1,020	·
Language Academy	San Diego	Elementary	KG-08	1,015	·

Cities in San Diego County

San Diego286 schools Chula Vista70 schools El Cajon45 schools Escondido39 schools Oceanside39 schools Vista28 schools Carlsbad23 schools San Marcos22 schools La Mesa16 schools National City16 schools Spring Valley16 schools Lakeside13 schools Poway13 schools Fallbrook12 schools Santee12 schools Encinitas11 schools Ramona11 schools Valley Center9 schools Imperial Beach8 schools Pine Valley8 schools Lemon Grove7 schools Alpine6 schools La Jolla6 schools San Ysidro6 schools Coronado5 schools Julian5 schools Bonita3 schools Bonsall3 schools Borrego Springs3 schools Jamul3 schools Rancho Santa Fe3 schools Solana Beach3 schools Warner Springs3 schools Cardiff-By-The-Sea2 schools Del Mar2 schools Boulevard1 school Campo1 school Descanso1 school Pala1 school Pauma Valley1 school Potrero1 school Rainbow1 school San Clemente1 school Santa Ysabel1 school

About San Diego County

Across the population-heavy California county of San Diego County of about 3,288,774 residents, the public-school footprint covers 766 schools and about 467,437 students.

In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $106,268, about 43% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 7%. That income level is 19% noticeably above the California median.

For a sense of the school types, San Diego County consists of 469 elementary schools (216,922 students), 105 middle schools (73,784), 142 high schools (140,617), and 50 combined or other schools.

San Diego Unified dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 94,828 students on its own.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 466,146 students, shrank 7% from the 503,487 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 754 to 744 across the same 7-year window.

In the discussion threads here, the community for San Diego County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve San Diego County?

There are 766 public K-12 schools in San Diego County, California, with a combined enrollment of about 467,437.

How many high schools are in San Diego County?

San Diego County, California has 142 public high schools, serving approximately 140,617 students.

How many middle schools are in San Diego County?

San Diego County, California has 105 public middle schools, serving approximately 73,784 students.

How many elementary schools are in San Diego County?

San Diego County, California has 469 public elementary schools, serving approximately 216,922 students.

What is the largest school district in San Diego County?

San Diego Unified is the largest school district in San Diego County, serving approximately 94,828 students. The county contains 162 school districts overall.

What is the population of San Diego County?

San Diego County, California has a population of approximately 3,288,774, with a median age of 37. About 20.9% of residents are under 18.

What is the median household income in San Diego County?

Median household income in San Diego County is $106,268, above the California average of $89,387. About 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

How educated are residents of San Diego County?

Approximately 43.2% of adults 25 and older in San Diego County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What share of students in San Diego County qualify for free or reduced lunch?

Roughly 53.8% of students in San Diego County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the California county average of 60.6%.

What is the student-teacher ratio in San Diego County schools?

Across San Diego County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 22.9 to 1.

San Diego County school rankings

Largest schools All rankings →

DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data