The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

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
Godfrey G. Berry ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-06273·
Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences CharterChula VistaElementaryKG-06273·
Crest ElementaryEl CajonElementaryKG-08271·
Rolando Park ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05270·
Palomar HighChula VistaHigh07-12269·
Valley High (Continuation)EscondidoHigh09-12269·
Winter Gardens ElementaryLakesideElementaryKG-01269·
Dewey ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-04267·
Ramona Community MontessoriRamonaElementaryKG-06267·
Juarez ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05264·
Los Altos ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-06263·
Cardiff ElementaryCardiff-By-The-SeaElementaryKG-02259·
Jones ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05257·
JCS - Mountain OaksEncinitasElementaryKG-08255·
Rios ElementaryEl CajonElementaryKG-05255·
EJE Middle AcademyEl CajonMiddle06-08254·
Motivated Youth AcademyEscondidoCombinedKG-12251·
Vista Springs CharterVistaCombinedKG-12251·
Hawthorne ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05248·
School for Entrepreneurship and TechnologySan DiegoHigh09-12247·
Mountain Empire Junior HighPine ValleyMiddle07-08245·
Pauma ElementaryPauma ValleyElementaryKG-08245·
Washington ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05245·
King-Chavez Academy of ExcellenceSan DiegoElementaryKG-08242·
Audeo Charter IIOceansideCombinedKG-12239·
Field ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05238·
Toler ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05235·
Alcott ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05234·
Surfside AcademyOceansideCombinedKG-12234·
Mt. Everest AcademySan DiegoCombinedKG-12232·
River Valley CharterLakesideHigh07-12231·
Creekside Early Learning CenterAlpineElementaryKG-KG227·
Pacific View Leadership ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05227·
Garfield HighSan DiegoHigh09-12226·
King-Chavez Community HighSan DiegoHigh09-12226·
MonarchSan DiegoCombinedKG-12225·
Del Mar Hills ElementaryDel MarElementaryKG-06224·
JCS - ManzanitaLa MesaCombinedKG-12224·
San Diego County CourtSan DiegoCombinedKG-12219·
Abraxas Continuation HighPowayHigh09-12216·
Oak Grove MiddleJamulMiddle06-08215·
Florence ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05213·
MuseumSan DiegoElementaryKG-08213·
Paradise Hills ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05213·
Greater San Diego AcademyJamulCombinedKG-12209·
Lafayette ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05208·
Webster ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05208·
Rowan ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05205·
Julian CharterJulianCombinedKG-12203·
King-Chavez Preparatory AcademySan DiegoMiddle06-08201·
Wegeforth ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05200·
Cubberley ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05199·
Urban Corps of San Diego County CharterSan DiegoHigh09-12198·
Mountain ViewSan DiegoElementaryKG-08195·
Vallecitos ElementaryRainbowElementaryKG-08195·
Old Town Academy K-8 CharterSan DiegoElementaryKG-08194·
Twin Oaks HighSan MarcosHigh09-12192·
Clover Flat ElementaryBoulevardElementaryKG-06190·
Julian ElementaryJulianElementaryKG-05189·
R. Roger Rowe MiddleRancho Santa FeMiddle06-08189·
Descanso ElementaryDescansoElementaryKG-06188·
Ingenuity CharterSan DiegoHigh06-12188·
Carver ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05187·
Ross ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05187·
Cadman ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05184·
JCS - Pine ValleyPine ValleyCombinedKG-12184·
Mountain Valley AcademyRamonaCombinedKG-12182·
Sequoia ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05180·
Howard Gardner Community CharterChula VistaElementaryKG-08178·
Learning Choice AcademySan DiegoCombinedKG-12177·
MAAC Community CharterChula VistaHigh09-12171·
Baypoint Preparatory Academy - San DiegoSan MarcosElementaryKG-08162·
City Heights Preparatory CharterSan DiegoHigh06-12160·
King-Chavez Arts and Athletics AcademySan DiegoElementary04-05159·
Cabrillo ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-04157·
Sparrow AcademyLa MesaElementaryKG-05156·
Borrego Springs ElementaryBorrego SpringsElementaryKG-05153·
Empower Language AcademySan DiegoElementaryKG-06153·
Altus Schools North CountyEscondidoHigh06-12149·
iHigh Virtual AcademySan DiegoElementaryKG-06148·
Major General Raymond Murray HighVistaHigh10-12146·
North County Trade Tech HighVistaHigh09-12145·
Lemon Grove Early Childhood Education CenterLemon GroveElementaryKG-KG142·
Riley/New DawnSan DiegoCombinedKG-12142·
DREAM AcademyLakesideElementaryKG-08138·
East Village Middle College HighSan DiegoHigh09-12138·
JCS - Cedar CoveEncinitasCombinedKG-12131·
IDEA CenterEl CajonHigh09-12127·
Limitless Learning AcademyEscondidoElementaryKG-08119·
San Diego Metro Career and TechSan DiegoHigh09-12119·
Surfside High (Continuation)OceansideHigh09-12119·
Cajon Valley HomeEl CajonElementaryKG-08117·
Julian HighJulianHigh09-12112·
Julian Junior HighJulianMiddle06-08110·
Borrego Springs HighBorrego SpringsHigh09-12108·
Holly Drive Leadership AcademySan DiegoElementaryKG-08108·
McGill School of SuccessSan DiegoElementaryKG-05108·
Vista Adult Transition CenterVistaHigh12-12107·
Warner ElementaryWarner SpringsElementaryKG-06106·
Whitman ElementarySan DiegoElementaryKG-05102·

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