Public schools in Carmel, CA
5 open public schools with an address in Carmel, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,658
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.8:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Carmel public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Carmel, CA: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,658 students, an average of 332 per school. The largest campus is Carmel High (780 students), and the largest elementary school is Carmel River Elementary (400).
Every listed school belongs to Carmel Unified. 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 13.8:1, lower than 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 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 16% 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 Carmel
Elementary schools in Carmel
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Child Development Center Carmel Unified | KG–KG | 0 | — | |
| Carmel River Elementary Carmel Unified | KG–05 | 400 | 21.1:1 |
Middle schools in Carmel
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Middle Carmel Unified | 06–08 | 468 | 13.1:1 |
High schools in Carmel
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel High Carmel Unified | 09–12 | 780 | 14.4:1 | |
| Carmel Valley High Carmel Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 10 | 3.6:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White61.8%
- Hispanic19.7%
- Black0.3%
- Asian5.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial12.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Carmel schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,658 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carmel
How many public schools are in Carmel, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Carmel: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 1,658 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carmel?
All listed public schools with an address in Carmel belong to Carmel Unified. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Carmel?
Carmel High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carmel, with 780 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carmel?
No school with an address in Carmel 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 Carmel schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carmel public schools is 13.8:1, lower than 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 Carmel 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