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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
4%
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
50
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
5%
Asian
12%
Two or more
21%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
27%
Hispanic
49%
Black
4%
Asian
11%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
43.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.1%
civilian labor
Median age
37
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)
  1. Westview High· 92.0%
  2. Canyon Crest Academy· 91.9%
  3. Poinsettia Elementary· 89.7%
  4. Ocean Air· 89.1%
  5. Sage Canyon· 88.5%

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

All schools (766)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Santa Margarita ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-08544·
Marvin ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05543·
Liberty ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06542·
Vista Del MarSan DiegoMiddle06-08541·
Fletcher Hills ElementaryEl CajonElementaryKG-05540·
Mason ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05538·
Curie ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05536·
Birney ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05535·
Health Sciences High and Middle CollegeSan DiegoHigh09-12535·
Sherman ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05535·
Chollas/Mead ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05534·
Smythe ElementarySan YsidroElementaryKG-06534·
Tiffany (Burton C.) ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06534·
Blossom Valley ElementaryEl CajonElementaryKG-05533·
Rancho San Diego ElementaryEl CajonElementaryKG-05533·
Iftin CharterSan DiegoElementaryKG-08531·
Morning Creek ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05531·
Murray Manor ElementaryLa MesaElementaryKG-05530·
Norman L. Sullivan MiddleBonsallMiddle06-08529·
EastLake ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06527·
Hearst ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05527·
Harborside ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06524·
Nichols ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-05522·
Bethune K-8San DiegoElementaryKG-08520·
Olivenhain Pioneer ElementaryCarlsbadElementaryKG-06520·
Sunset ElementarySan YsidroElementaryKG-06520·
Foster ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05518·
Los Coches Creek MiddleEl CajonMiddle06-08518·
Vista La Mesa AcademyLa MesaElementaryKG-08518·
North Broadway ElementaryEscondidoElementaryKG-05517·
Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and HumanitiesLemon GroveMiddle06-08516·
Southwest MiddleSan DiegoMiddle07-08515·
Fay ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05514·
William H. Frazier ElementaryFallbrookElementaryKG-06514·
Clear ViewChula VistaElementaryKG-06513·
Farr Avenue ElementaryEscondidoElementaryKG-05513·
Valley Vista ElementaryBonitaElementaryKG-06513·
Palmquist ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-05512·
San Diego County CommunitySan DiegoCombinedKG-12510·
Euclid ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05509·
Garden Road ElementaryPowayElementaryKG-05508·
Canyon View ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05505·
Hage ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05505·
Bay Park ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05504·
James Dukes ElementaryRamonaElementaryKG-06502·
Lemon Avenue ElementaryLa MesaElementaryKG-05502·
San Ysidro MiddleSan YsidroMiddle07-08500·
Shoal Creek ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05500·
Tierrasanta ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05500·
La Paloma ElementaryFallbrookElementaryKG-06499·
Rock Springs ElementaryEscondidoElementaryKG-05498·
Rose ElementaryEscondidoElementaryKG-05498·
Central ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05497·
Valley Center PrimaryValley CenterElementaryKG-02496·
Audubon K-8San DiegoElementaryKG-08495·
Holmes ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05495·
Green ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05493·
Rolling Hills ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05490·
Pacific Springs CharterChula VistaCombinedKG-12489·
San Onofre ElementarySan ClementeElementaryKG-08489·
Knox MiddleSan DiegoMiddle06-08488·
Magnolia ElementaryCarlsbadElementaryKG-05488·
Sonia Sotomayor ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06488·
South Oceanside ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-05487·
Rosebank ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06485·
Libby ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-05482·
Solana Ranch ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-06482·
Poinsettia ElementaryCarlsbadElementaryKG-05481·
Hannalei ElementaryVistaElementaryKG-05480·
Kempton Street Literacy AcademySpring ValleyElementaryKG-05480·
Ocean Knoll ElementaryEncinitasElementaryKG-06479·
Felicita ElementaryEscondidoElementaryKG-05478·
Central ElementaryNational CityElementaryKG-06477·
Earl Warren MiddleSolana BeachMiddle07-08476·
ElevateSan DiegoElementaryKG-08476·
Valley Center ElementaryValley CenterElementary03-05476·
Barnard ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05473·
Mission Meadows ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-05473·
Jefferson ElementaryCarlsbadElementaryKG-05471·
Orange Glen ElementaryEscondidoElementaryKG-05470·
Riverview ElementaryLakesideElementary02-05469·
Teofilo MendozaSan DiegoElementaryKG-06468·
Fahari L. Jeffers ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06467·
Maryland ElementaryVistaElementaryKG-05466·
The Learning Choice Academy - East CountyLa MesaCombinedKG-12466·
Barnett ElementaryRamonaElementaryKG-06465·
Torrey Pines ElementaryLa JollaElementaryKG-05465·
Golden Hill K-8San DiegoElementaryKG-08464·
Magnolia Science Academy San DiegoSan DiegoMiddle06-08464·
San Diego Global Vision AcademySan DiegoElementaryKG-08463·
Mar Vista AcademySan DiegoMiddle07-08462·
Christa McAuliffe ElementaryOceansideElementaryKG-05461·
La Mesa Dale ElementaryLa MesaElementaryKG-05460·
Las PalmasNational CityElementaryKG-06458·
Turtleback ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05458·
Balboa ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05457·
Hickman ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05457·
Sage CanyonSan DiegoElementaryKG-06457·
Ralph Waldo Emerson ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05456·
Otay ElementaryChula VistaElementaryKG-06455·

Cities in San Diego County

San Diego286 schoolsChula Vista70 schoolsEl Cajon45 schoolsEscondido39 schoolsOceanside39 schoolsVista28 schoolsCarlsbad23 schoolsSan Marcos22 schoolsLa Mesa16 schoolsNational City16 schoolsSpring Valley16 schoolsLakeside13 schoolsPoway13 schoolsFallbrook12 schoolsSantee12 schoolsEncinitas11 schoolsRamona11 schoolsValley Center9 schoolsImperial Beach8 schoolsPine Valley8 schoolsLemon Grove7 schoolsAlpine6 schoolsLa Jolla6 schoolsSan Ysidro6 schoolsCoronado5 schoolsJulian5 schoolsBonita3 schoolsBonsall3 schoolsBorrego Springs3 schoolsJamul3 schoolsRancho Santa Fe3 schoolsSolana Beach3 schoolsWarner Springs3 schoolsCardiff-By-The-Sea2 schoolsDel Mar2 schoolsBoulevard1 schoolCampo1 schoolDescanso1 schoolPala1 schoolPauma Valley1 schoolPotrero1 schoolRainbow1 schoolSan Clemente1 schoolSanta 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 schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data