Public schools in Carlsbad, CA
23 open public schools with an address in Carlsbad, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
23
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,738
23 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
22.4:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Carlsbad public schools
The federal directory lists 23 public schools in Carlsbad, CA: 15 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 23 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,738 students, an average of 684 per school. The largest campus is Carlsbad High (2,336 students), and the largest elementary school is Carrillo Elementary (725).
Carlsbad Unified operates the most schools here (16), and 4 regular districts have at least one Carlsbad campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 22.4:1, similar to the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 25% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Carlsbad
Elementary schools in Carlsbad
15| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviara Oaks Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 612 | 24.5:1 | |
| Buena Vista Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 281 | 23.4:1 | |
| Calavera Hills Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 441 | 22.1:1 | |
| Carrillo Elementary San Marcos Unified | KG–05 | 725 | 25:1 | |
| El Camino Creek Elementary Encinitas Union Elementary | KG–06 | 409 | 25.6:1 | |
| Hope Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 659 | 22:1 | |
| Jefferson Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 471 | 20.2:1 | |
| Kelly Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 449 | 20:1 | |
| La Costa Heights Elementary Encinitas Union Elementary | KG–06 | 552 | 24:1 | |
| La Costa Meadows Elementary San Marcos Unified | KG–05 | 725 | 23.7:1 | |
| Magnolia Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 488 | 24.4:1 | |
| Mission Estancia Elementary Encinitas Union Elementary | KG–06 | 355 | 22.2:1 | |
| Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary Encinitas Union Elementary | KG–06 | 520 | 23.6:1 | |
| Pacific Rim Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 642 | 24.7:1 | |
| Poinsettia Elementary Carlsbad Unified | KG–05 | 481 | 22.4:1 |
Middle schools in Carlsbad
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviara Oaks Middle Carlsbad Unified | 06–08 | 991 | 22.3:1 | |
| Calavera Hills Middle Carlsbad Unified | 06–08 | 655 | 20.9:1 | |
| Valley Middle Carlsbad Unified | 06–08 | 807 | 22.2:1 |
High schools in Carlsbad
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad High Carlsbad Unified | 09–12 | 2,336 | 23.8:1 | |
| Carlsbad Village Academy Carlsbad Unified · Alternative School | 10–12 | 38 | 6.6:1 | |
| La Costa Canyon High San Dieguito Union High | 09–12 | 1,774 | 22.1:1 | |
| Sage Creek High Carlsbad Unified | 09–12 | 1,289 | 24.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Carlsbad
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Seaside Academy Carlsbad Unified · Alternative School | KG–12 | 38 | 17:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White59.3%
- Hispanic23%
- Black1.1%
- Asian5.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial10.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 23 Carlsbad schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,738 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carlsbad
How many public schools are in Carlsbad, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 23 open public schools with a location address in Carlsbad: 15 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 15,738 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carlsbad?
Schools with an address in Carlsbad belong to 4 education agencies, led by Carlsbad Unified (16 schools), Encinitas Union Elementary (4 schools), San Marcos Unified (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carlsbad, with 2,336 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carlsbad?
No school with an address in Carlsbad is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in California.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Carlsbad schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carlsbad public schools is 22.4:1, similar to the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Carlsbad guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities