Public schools in Carson, CA
24 open public schools with an address in Carson, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
24
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
12,126
24 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
19.8:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Carson public schools
The federal directory lists 24 public schools in Carson, CA: 14 elementary, 3 middle, 6 high, 1 combined or other. The 24 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 12,126 students, an average of 505 per school. The largest campus is Stephen M. White Middle (1,423 students), and the largest elementary school is Carson Street Elementary (623).
Los Angeles Unified operates the most schools here (21), and 3 regular districts have at least one Carson campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 19.8:1, 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.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 5 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 79% 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 Carson
Elementary schools in Carson
14| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambler Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 445 | 19.8:1 | |
| Annalee Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–06 | 194 | 19.4:1 | |
| Bonita Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 399 | 21:1 | |
| Broadacres Avenue Elementary Visual & Performing Arts Magnet Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 275 | 18.3:1 | |
| Caroldale Learning Community Los Angeles Unified | KG–08 | 620 | 18:1 | |
| Carson Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 623 | 22.3:1 | |
| Catskill Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 419 | 20:1 | |
| Del Amo Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 285 | 19:1 | |
| Dolores Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 370 | 21.8:1 | |
| Dominguez Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 450 | 22.5:1 | |
| Leapwood Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 222 | 18.5:1 | |
| Ralph Bunche Elementary Compton Unified | KG–08 | 217 | 24.2:1 | |
| Towne Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 288 | 20.6:1 | |
| Two Hundred Thirty-Second Place Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 413 | 21.7:1 |
Middle schools in Carson
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Carnegie Middle Los Angeles Unified | 06–08 | 843 | 17.4:1 | |
| Glenn Hammond Curtiss Middle Los Angeles Unified | 06–08 | 341 | 16.1:1 | |
| Stephen M. White Middle Los Angeles Unified | 06–08 | 1,423 | 19.7:1 |
High schools in Carson
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academies of Education and Empowerment at Carson High Los Angeles Unified | 09–12 | 474 | 18.5:1 | |
| Academy of Medical Arts at Carson High Los Angeles Unified | 09–12 | 438 | 16.9:1 | |
| California Academy of Mathematics and Science Long Beach Unified | 09–12 | 673 | 24.8:1 | |
| Carson Senior High Los Angeles Unified | 09–12 | 1,407 | 18.5:1 | |
| Eagle Tree Continuation Los Angeles Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 18 | 9.2:1 | |
| Magnolia Science Academy 3 Magnolia Science Academy 3 District · Charter | 06–12 | 411 | 22.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Carson
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Academy of the Arts & Entertainment Los Angeles Unified · Alternative School | KG–12 | 878 | 20.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White2.3%
- Hispanic55.4%
- Black20.5%
- Asian15%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander1.9%
- Multiracial4.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 24 Carson schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (12,126 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Carson
How many public schools are in Carson, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 24 open public schools with a location address in Carson: 14 elementary, 3 middle, 6 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 12,126 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Carson?
Schools with an address in Carson belong to 4 education agencies, led by Los Angeles Unified (21 schools), Compton Unified (1 school), Long Beach Unified (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 Carson?
Carson Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Carson, with 1,407 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Carson?
Yes. 1 of the 24 public schools in Carson are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Magnolia Science Academy 3. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Carson schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Carson public schools is 19.8:1, 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 Carson 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