1
Teachers: what resource would make the biggest difference at San Marcos High this year?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
3,067
High
DISTRICT 1,528 · STATE 838
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·SAN MARCOS UNIFIED·NCES 063488005893
San Marcos High
1615 San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078 · (760) 290-2200 · San Diego County
GRADES 09–12HIGH21-SUBURBREGULAR SCHOOL3,067 STUDENTS
C-
allk12 Grade
Scored higher than 19% of California public high schools
- B-Test scores Share of students meeting the state standard in reading, math, and other tested subjects, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- FBeats expectations How far test scores land above or below what the share of low-income students predicts for a school in this state.
- DThree-year trend Change in reading and math proficiency over the last three test years.
Grades compare a school only with schools in the same state, because every state gives its own test. How grades work · Top-graded California public high schools
Student : Teacher
25.3:1
121 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 20.1:1 · STATE 18.2:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
32%
980 students
DISTRICT 41% · STATE 65%
Community
6
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other high schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 9 | 775 | 25% |
| Grade 10 | 719 | 23% |
| Grade 11 | 796 | 26% |
| Grade 12 | 777 | 25% |
Student demographics
64%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 64% · STATE 62% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
CAASPP 2024-25 . % met or exceeded standardEnglish Language Arts
49.0%
CA avg 49.1% . -32.0pp since 2014
Math
30.7%
CA avg 37.7% . -18.3pp since 2014
What this means: On the CAASPP, California's statewide test, about 49 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 31 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all California schools, those numbers are about 49 and 38. Reading and writing scores are down about 32 points since 2014, while math scores are down about 18 points.
Performance levels, 2024-25
| Subject | Standard Exceeded | Standard Met | Standard Nearly Met | Standard Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 22.5% | 26.5% | 23.0% | 28.0% |
| Math | 13.8% | 16.9% | 23.0% | 46.3% |
Share of tested students at each CAASPP level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
CAASPP results by year
| School year | English Language Arts | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 49.0% | 30.7% |
| 2023-24 | 53.2% | 29.7% |
| 2022-23 | 62.3% | 36.3% |
| 2021-22 | 59.2% | 33.0% |
| 2018-19 | 70.1% | 43.5% |
| 2017-18 | 68.5% | 42.2% |
| 2016-17 | 80.5% | 43.4% |
| 2015-16 | 81.0% | 47.0% |
| 2014-15 | 81.0% | 49.0% |
% met or exceeded standard, all students and all tested grades.
Source: CAASPP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
UNDERPERFORMING
Bottom 10% of CA schools after controlling for student poverty
Actual proficiency
40.6%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
60.8%
based on CA schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
-20.2pp
below demographic expectation
What this means: About 41% of students here test proficient in math and reading, below the roughly 61% typical for California schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations compares each school with others at the same poverty level, not by raw scores, so a school lands here when its results trail those comparable schools, which is not the same as having low scores. A higher-scoring school can still fall in this tier if similar schools score higher still.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like San Marcos High
San Marcos High's state test result (40.6% proficient) is higher than 1 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos High this school | 3,067 | 32.0% | 40.6% |
| Temecula Valley High Temecula | 2,739 | 36.4% | 49.9% |
| Frontier High Bakersfield | 2,098 | 35.8% | 52.0% |
| Menlo-Atherton High Atherton | 2,158 | 33.0% | 61.6% |
| Buchanan High Clovis | 2,551 | 35.2% | 69.2% |
| Simi Valley High Simi Valley | 1,910 | 36.5% | 35.3% |
Matched among California high schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where San Marcos High ranks
Among high schools| Measure | This school | In California | In San Diego County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 40.6% | #512 of 1,052 | #40 of 70 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 30.7% | #425 of 1,056 ▼ 45 | #35 of 70 ▼ 1 |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 49.0% | #725 of 1,056 ▼ 137 | #52 of 70 ▼ 6 |
| 3-year test score change ranked biggest drop first | -6.2pp | #93 of 1,044 | #6 of 70 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,067 | #28 of 2,093 | #1 of 135 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 25.3:1 | #1,239 of 1,352 | #83 of 96 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 63.8% | #294 of 1,351 | #30 of 97 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 32.0% | #1,383 of 1,575 | #93 of 112 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -8.1% | #528 of 802 | #39 of 57 |
Ranked against other public high schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
3,067
-515 (-14%) vs 2020
+55% since 1990-91, when it was 1,979
Student : Teacher
25.3:1
was 29.9:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 3,067 | 121.2 | 25.3:1 | 32% (980) |
| 2023-24 | 3,201 | 118.6 | 27.0:1 | 33% (1,044) |
| 2022-23 | 3,380 | 125 | 27.0:1 | 33% (1,126) |
| 2020-21 | 3,582 | 120 | 29.9:1 | 24% (843) |
| 2017-18 | 3,338 | 112.8 | 29.6:1 | 35% (1,152) |
| 2015-16 | 3,048 | 114 | 26.7:1 | 30% (927) |
| 2010-11 | 2,211 | N/A | N/A | 37% (823) |
| 2000-01 | 2,748 | 106 | 25.9:1 | 39% (1,060) |
| 1990-91 | 1,979 | 77 | 25.7:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for San Marcos High.
Since 2017-18: students down 8% (3,338 to 3,067); teachers up 7% (112.8 to 121.2).
About San Marcos High
San Marcos High is a high school in San Marcos, California, according to federal school records. A total of 3,067 students attend the school, which covers grades 9 through 12. The average for high schools in California is about 838 students, so this school is 266% bigger than average.
The 19 schools in San Marcos Unified enroll 18,837 students altogether, San Marcos High among them.
Enrollment at San Marcos High is mixed, with Hispanic students the largest group at 42%. The rest of enrollment is 42% White, 8% Asian, and 7% multiracial. San Marcos High has a diversity index of 64%, compared with 70% for all US public school students.
The ratio of students to teachers is 25.3:1, with 121.2 full-time-equivalent teachers on staff. For comparison, high schools in California average 18.2:1. The percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch is 32%. Among public schools in San Diego County, the average eligibility rate is 54%.
The allk12 Grade for San Marcos High is C-. Compared with California public high schools, the school scored higher than 19% on a mix of test scores, poverty-adjusted results, and recent trend.
San Marcos High posts an average proficiency rate on state tests of 40.6%. Schools with its free or reduced-price lunch share in California are predicted to post 60.8%, so the school is 20.2 points behind and in the state's bottom 10%.
Census Bureau estimates for San Diego County show that median household income is about $106,268, roughly 43% of adults have a four-year degree or more, and about 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. San Marcos High is one of 766 public schools in San Diego County, which together enroll about 467,437 students.
High Tech High North County is the closest public school, about 0.3 miles away in a straight line. San Marcos High is one of several public schools in the area, with at least 8 others within five miles. Among 5 nearby schools that report test results, San Marcos High ranks 4th on proficiency.
San Marcos High falls in the Suburb: Large locale category, used for schools in a suburban area outside a principal city, within an urbanized area with a population of 250,000 or more.
San Marcos High saw enrollment fall 14% between 2020-21 and 2024-25. The ratio was 29.9:1 in 2020-21 and 25.3:1 in 2024-25.
To ask about school safety, transportation, and start times, start a discussion on this page. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.
San Diego County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
3,288,774
Census ACS
Median income
$106,268
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
43%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
7%
Below federal line
Schools in county
766
467,437 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in San Marcos Unified
- Mission Hills HighHigh · 2,751 students
- San Elijo MiddleMiddle · 1,395 students
- Woodland Park MiddleMiddle · 1,184 students
- Double PeakElementary · 1,171 students
- San Marcos MiddleMiddle · 968 students
- Richland ElementaryElementary · 883 students
Other schools in San Marcos
- Mission Hills HighHigh · 2,751 students
- San Elijo MiddleMiddle · 1,395 students
- Woodland Park MiddleMiddle · 1,184 students
- Double PeakElementary · 1,171 students
- San Marcos MiddleMiddle · 968 students
- Richland ElementaryElementary · 883 students
Other San Marcos High schools
One other US public school is named San Marcos High. San Marcos High is the largest of the 2.
- San Marcos High SchoolSAN MARCOS, TX · 2,371 students
Nearby schools
- High Tech High North County0.3 mi · 409
- High Tech Middle North County0.3 mi · 341
- High Tech Elementary North County0.4 mi · 438
- Pivot Charter School - San Diego II0.4 mi · 90
- La Mirada Academy0.9 mi · 868
- Discovery Elementary0.9 mi · 717
Frequently asked questions
About San Marcos HighHow large is San Marcos High?
San Marcos High enrolls approximately 3,067 students in grades 09-12.
Is San Marcos High an elementary, middle, or high school?
San Marcos High is a high school covering grades 09-12.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Marcos High?
The student-to-teacher ratio at San Marcos High is approximately 25.3:1 (121 FTE teachers).
What is the racial breakdown of students at San Marcos High?
At San Marcos High, the student body is approximately 42% White, 42% Hispanic, 1% Black, 8% Asian, 7% Two or more.
Is San Marcos High public or private?
San Marcos High is a public K-12 school, overseen by San Marcos Unified.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.