Public schools in Carmichael, CA
16 open public schools with an address in Carmichael, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,640
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
23.9:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
2
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Carmichael public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Carmichael, CA: 12 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,640 students, an average of 540 per school. The largest campus is California Montessori Project-San Juan Campuses (1,545 students).
San Juan Unified operates the most schools here (14), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 23.9:1, higher 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.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 56% 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 Carmichael
Elementary schools in Carmichael
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Schweitzer Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–05 | 331 | 23.6:1 | |
| California Montessori Project-San Juan Campuses California Montessori Project-San Juan Campuses District · Charter | KG–08 | 1,545 | 26:1 | |
| Cameron Ranch Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–05 | 406 | 23.9:1 | |
| Carmichael Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–05 | 374 | 22:1 | |
| Charles Peck Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–05 | 303 | 23.3:1 | |
| Coyle Avenue Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–05 | 331 | 23.6:1 | |
| Del Dayo Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–06 | 496 | 26.1:1 | |
| Marvin Marshall Preschool and Children's Center San Juan Unified · Special Education School | KG–KG | 0 | — | |
| Mary Deterding Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–06 | 670 | 26.8:1 | |
| Mission Avenue Open Elementary San Juan Unified | KG–06 | 415 | 27.7:1 | |
| Starr King K-8 San Juan Unified | KG–08 | 885 | 21.3:1 | |
| Thomas Kelly Elementary San Juan Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 321 | 24.7:1 |
Middle schools in Carmichael
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Barrett Middle San Juan Unified | 06–08 | 802 | 24.2:1 | |
| Winston Churchill Middle San Juan Unified · Magnet | 06–08 | 987 | 21.7:1 |
High schools in Carmichael
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Options for Youth-San Juan Options for Youth-San Juan District · Charter | 07–12 | 720 | 24.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Carmichael
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Richardson Center San Juan Unified · Special Education School | KG–12 | 54 | 9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White46.6%
- Hispanic21.5%
- Black5.4%
- Asian14.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.6%
- Multiracial10.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Carmichael schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,640 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carmichael
How many public schools are in Carmichael, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Carmichael: 12 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 8,640 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carmichael?
Schools with an address in Carmichael belong to 3 education agencies, led by San Juan Unified (14 schools), California Montessori Project-San Juan Campuses District (1 school), Options for Youth-San Juan District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Carmichael?
Options for Youth-San Juan reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carmichael, with 720 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carmichael?
Yes. 2 of the 16 public schools in Carmichael are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including California Montessori Project-San Juan Campuses, Options for Youth-San Juan. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Carmichael schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carmichael public schools is 23.9:1, higher 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 Carmichael 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