Public schools in La Jolla, CA
6 open public schools with an address in La Jolla, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,155
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
24:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of La Jolla public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in La Jolla, CA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,155 students, an average of 693 per school. The largest campus is La Jolla High (1,174 students), and the largest elementary school is La Jolla Elementary (566).
San Diego Unified operates the most schools here (5), 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 24:1, 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 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 36% 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 La Jolla
Elementary schools in La Jolla
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Rock Elementary San Diego Unified | KG–05 | 383 | 23.6:1 | |
| La Jolla Elementary San Diego Unified | KG–05 | 566 | 23.6:1 | |
| Torrey Pines Elementary San Diego Unified | KG–05 | 465 | 24.5:1 |
Middle schools in La Jolla
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muirlands Middle San Diego Unified | 06–08 | 742 | 25.7:1 |
High schools in La Jolla
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Jolla High San Diego Unified | 09–12 | 1,174 | 24.4:1 | |
| Preuss School UCSD Preuss School UCSD District · Charter | 06–12 | 825 | 19.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White46.5%
- Hispanic27%
- Black5.1%
- Asian11.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial9.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 La Jolla schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,155 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in La Jolla
How many public schools are in La Jolla, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in La Jolla: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 4,155 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve La Jolla?
Schools with an address in La Jolla belong to 2 education agencies, led by San Diego Unified (5 schools), Preuss School UCSD 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 La Jolla?
La Jolla High reported the largest high-school enrollment in La Jolla, with 1,174 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in La Jolla?
Yes. 1 of the 6 public schools in La Jolla are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Preuss School UCSD. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in La Jolla schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across La Jolla public schools is 24:1, 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 La Jolla 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