San Diego County has 42 school districts and nearly 500,000 students across its ~780 schools. We’re giving you the 411 on enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and more for the area’s major public school districts. And don’t worry, there won’t be any homework.
Before we dive in, here are four fast facts about school districts
in America’s Finest City:
- As of 2018, the local high school graduation rate was 87.1%
- San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is the second largest school district in California
- Niche ranks SDUSD the No. 7 most diverse school district in California, and Grossmont Union High School District No. 18
- Sweetwater Union High School District is the second largest school district in San Diego County, while Poway Unified is the third.
Let’s go to school.
Photo via @sandiegounified
San Diego Unified School District
- Number of schools: 226 educational facilities including 117 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 22 high schools, 13 atypical/alternative schools, 49 charter schools, and five additional program sites.
- Number of students: ~94,000
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- No. 108 best school district in California
- 89.9% graduation rate
Cajon Valley Union School District
- Number of schools: 28
- Number of students: 14,799
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- No. 43 most diverse school district in California
Carlsbad Unified School District
- Number of schools: 15
- Number of students: 11,000+
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- No. 4 best school district in San Diego area
- 94% graduation rate
Chula Vista Elementary School District
- Number of schools: 50
- Number of students: 29,600+
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- No. 17 most diverse school district in San Diego area
- Number of schools: 9
- Number of students: ~3,895
- Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
- The teacher longevity rate in this K-6 district is 15.6 years; the district is home to four Blue Ribbon schools, including Carmel Del Mar
Encinitas Union School District
- Number of schools: 9
- Number of students: 4,500
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- No. 24 school district with the best teachers in California
A map of the school districts in San Diego County.
Map via County of San Diego
Escondido Union School District
- Number of schools: 23
- Number of students: 14,197
- Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
- No. 30 most diverse school district in San Diego area
Escondido Union High School District
- Number of schools: 7
- Number of students: 7,166
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- No. 186 best school district in California
- 87% graduation rate
Grossmont Union High School District
- Number of schools: 18
- Number of students: 17,108
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- No. 102 best school district in California
- 82% graduation rate
Lakeside Union School District
- Number of schools: 8
- Number of students: 4,515
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- No. 10 most diverse school district in San Diego area
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
- Number of schools: 21
- Number of students: 10,835
- Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
- No. 8 most diverse school district in San Diego area
Poway Unified School District serves 35,000+ students in San Diego County.
Photo via Poway Unified School District
- Number of schools: 8
- Number of students: 3,400
- Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
- No. 21 most diverse school district in San Diego area
- Number of schools: 11, including a preschool program
- Number of students: ~4,500
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- Ranked the No. 439 best place to teach in California
Oceanside Unified School District
- Number of schools: 22
- Number of students: 16,261
- Student-teacher ratio: 24:1
- No. 653 most diverse school district in America, No. 61 in California
- 86% graduation rate
- Number of schools: 41
- Number of students: 35,000+
- Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
- No. 130 best school district in America, No. 21 in California
- 94% graduation rate
San Dieguito Union High School District
- Number of schools: 10
- Number of students: 12,704
- Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
- No. 5 best school district in California
- 96% graduation rate
San Marcos Unified School District
- Number of schools: 19
- Number of students: 19,622
- Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
- No. 50 best school district in California
- 94% graduation rate
Santee School District serves students across 10 schools.
Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
- Number of schools: 10
- Number of students: 6,309
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- No. 12 school district with the best teachers in the San Diego area
- Number of schools: 7
- Number of students: 4,264
- Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
- 88.4% of teachers have 3+ years of experience
- Number of schools: 7
- Number of students: 2,820
- Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
- No. 1 best place to teach in California
Sweetwater Union High School District is the second largest school district in San Diego County.
Photo via Sweetwater Union High School District