Public schools in San Carlos, CA
10 open public schools with an address in San Carlos, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,252
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
22.2:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of San Carlos public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in San Carlos, CA: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 1 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,252 students, an average of 361 per school. The largest campus is Tierra Linda Middle (451 students), and the largest elementary school is Brittan Acres Elementary (411).
San Carlos Elementary operates the most schools here (9), 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 22.2:1, 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.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 9% 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 San Carlos
Elementary schools in San Carlos
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arroyo San Carlos Elementary | 04–05 | 290 | 22.2:1 | |
| Arundel Elementary San Carlos Elementary | KG–03 | 388 | 22.8:1 | |
| Brittan Acres Elementary San Carlos Elementary | KG–03 | 411 | 22.2:1 | |
| Heather Elementary San Carlos Elementary | KG–03 | 320 | 18.2:1 | |
| Mariposa San Carlos Elementary | 04–05 | 322 | 23.8:1 | |
| San Carlos Charter Learning Center San Carlos Charter Learning Center District · Charter | KG–08 | 377 | 18.6:1 | |
| White Oaks Elementary San Carlos Elementary | KG–03 | 250 | 22.7:1 |
Middle schools in San Carlos
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Middle San Carlos Elementary | 06–08 | 443 | 22.4:1 | |
| Tierra Linda Middle San Carlos Elementary | 06–08 | 451 | 20.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in San Carlos
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Carlos Student Services Preschool San Carlos Elementary · Special Education School | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White42.4%
- Hispanic14.6%
- Black0.5%
- Asian24.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial17.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 San Carlos schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,252 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in San Carlos
How many public schools are in San Carlos, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in San Carlos: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,252 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve San Carlos?
Schools with an address in San Carlos belong to 2 education agencies, led by San Carlos Elementary (9 schools), San Carlos Charter Learning Center District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
Are there charter schools in San Carlos?
Yes. 1 of the 10 public schools in San Carlos are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including San Carlos Charter Learning Center. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in San Carlos schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across San Carlos public schools is 22.2:1, 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 San Carlos 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