English Language Arts · District
San Diego Unified
95,175 students enrolled in 2024–25: 78,830 fluent in English, 14,645 English learners, and 1,700 not yet assessed.
Look at a few charts and you'll see the same thing: very little change. Each chart shows what the school system "wants", the results it is built to produce, plus the effects of circumstances from outside the school, like COVID and family income.
As long as the school system stays the same, there's no reason to expect results to rise above the upper limit, the top edge of the shaded band.
Once a school uses the Lead Out Method, that is what we expect to see: results climbing above the upper limit. It's the sign that the system now "wants" something different. What you want.
Each dot is one year. It shows how far the typical student's score was from the state's "meets standard" mark. Zero means right on it. Above zero is above standard; below zero is below.
Every school's results bounce around a little from year to year. A different group of students, a flu season, a new teacher: small things push the number up or down. That bounce is normal, and it doesn't mean anything has really changed.
The shaded band marks how far the bounce normally goes. We work it out from the school's own history: how much its result typically moves from one year to the next.
The small numbers under each year are how many students took the test. In a small school a few students make a big difference, so its dots bounce further and its band is wider.
- A dot inside the band is ordinary bounce. The school is doing what it has always done.
- A dot outside the band is a real signal. Something changed, for better or worse, and it's worth asking what.
A flat band with the dots inside it means the system is stable. It will keep producing about the same results year after year, however hard everyone works. Teachers aren't the reason the dots stay put. The way the school is organized is. Changing that is what moves the dots.
The little house in each year shows the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, a rough measure of family income. It sits on the same scale as the results: 0% at the top of the chart, 100% at the bottom. The fewer families with low incomes, the higher the house. Income moves results too, and it comes from outside the school.
Step 1 · Each year's result
For each grade tested, take the average (mean) scale score from the California Department of Education's results file, and subtract the lowest score that counts as "Standard Met" for that grade. That is the grade's distance from standard. Weight each grade by its share of the students tested, then add the grades up. Grades where the state hides the average because ten or fewer students tested are left out entirely.
2015 from sb_ca2015_1_csv_v3.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 73,393 | 2424.6 | − 2432 | −7.4 | × 8725 / 52795 | −1.2 |
| 4 | 73,394 | 2464.1 | − 2473 | −8.9 | × 8629 / 52795 | −1.5 |
| 5 | 73,397 | 2506.7 | − 2502 | 4.7 | × 8370 / 52795 | 0.7 |
| 6 | 73,398 | 2528.8 | − 2531 | −2.2 | × 7257 / 52795 | −0.3 |
| 7 | 73,401 | 2540.5 | − 2552 | −11.5 | × 6908 / 52795 | −1.5 |
| 8 | 73,402 | 2563.0 | − 2567 | −4 | × 7021 / 52795 | −0.5 |
| 11 | 73,405 | 2598.5 | − 2583 | 15.5 | × 5885 / 52795 | 1.7 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | −3 | |||||
2016 from sb_ca2016_1_csv_v3.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 68,074 | 2437.8 | − 2432 | 5.8 | × 8468 / 52229 | 0.9 |
| 4 | 68,076 | 2477.9 | − 2473 | 4.9 | × 8392 / 52229 | 0.8 |
| 5 | 68,079 | 2515.9 | − 2502 | 13.9 | × 8370 / 52229 | 2.2 |
| 6 | 68,080 | 2533.8 | − 2531 | 2.8 | × 7093 / 52229 | 0.4 |
| 7 | 68,083 | 2557.4 | − 2552 | 5.4 | × 7149 / 52229 | 0.7 |
| 8 | 68,084 | 2568.9 | − 2567 | 1.9 | × 6792 / 52229 | 0.2 |
| 11 | 68,087 | 2613.7 | − 2583 | 30.7 | × 5965 / 52229 | 3.5 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 9 | |||||
2017 from sb_ca2017_1_csv_v2.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 69,891 | 2433.6 | − 2432 | 1.6 | × 8254 / 51984 | 0.3 |
| 4 | 69,894 | 2475.8 | − 2473 | 2.8 | × 8199 / 51984 | 0.4 |
| 5 | 69,896 | 2510.6 | − 2502 | 8.6 | × 8148 / 51984 | 1.3 |
| 6 | 69,897 | 2532.6 | − 2531 | 1.6 | × 7058 / 51984 | 0.2 |
| 7 | 69,899 | 2556.4 | − 2552 | 4.4 | × 6958 / 51984 | 0.6 |
| 8 | 69,901 | 2569.1 | − 2567 | 2.1 | × 6996 / 51984 | 0.3 |
| 11 | 69,904 | 2620.2 | − 2583 | 37.2 | × 6371 / 51984 | 4.6 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 8 | |||||
2018 from sb_ca2018_1_csv_v3.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,049 | 2440.3 | − 2432 | 8.3 | × 7658 / 50553 | 1.3 |
| 4 | 70,051 | 2482.0 | − 2473 | 9 | × 7997 / 50553 | 1.4 |
| 5 | 70,053 | 2516.8 | − 2502 | 14.8 | × 8000 / 50553 | 2.3 |
| 6 | 70,055 | 2531.9 | − 2531 | 0.9 | × 6979 / 50553 | 0.1 |
| 7 | 70,057 | 2553.6 | − 2552 | 1.6 | × 6889 / 50553 | 0.2 |
| 8 | 70,059 | 2569.6 | − 2567 | 2.6 | × 6780 / 50553 | 0.3 |
| 11 | 70,061 | 2609.9 | − 2583 | 26.9 | × 6250 / 50553 | 3.3 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 9 | |||||
2019 from sb_ca2019_1_csv_v4.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,562 | 2442.7 | − 2432 | 10.7 | × 7762 / 49520 | 1.7 |
| 4 | 70,563 | 2482.9 | − 2473 | 9.9 | × 7512 / 49520 | 1.5 |
| 5 | 70,564 | 2522.8 | − 2502 | 20.8 | × 7804 / 49520 | 3.3 |
| 6 | 70,565 | 2537.2 | − 2531 | 6.2 | × 6741 / 49520 | 0.8 |
| 7 | 70,566 | 2561.6 | − 2552 | 9.6 | × 6824 / 49520 | 1.3 |
| 8 | 70,567 | 2569.2 | − 2567 | 2.2 | × 6685 / 49520 | 0.3 |
| 11 | 70,568 | 2603.9 | − 2583 | 20.9 | × 6192 / 49520 | 2.6 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 12 | |||||
2021 from sb_ca2021_1_csv_v2.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 69,097 | 2693.6 | − 2583 | 110.6 | × 84 / 84 | 110.6 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 111 | |||||
2022 from sb_ca2022_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,654 | 2432.6 | − 2432 | 0.6 | × 7319 / 45478 | 0.1 |
| 4 | 70,655 | 2477.3 | − 2473 | 4.3 | × 7089 / 45478 | 0.7 |
| 5 | 70,656 | 2513.9 | − 2502 | 11.9 | × 7125 / 45478 | 1.9 |
| 6 | 70,657 | 2523.4 | − 2531 | −7.6 | × 5934 / 45478 | −1 |
| 7 | 70,658 | 2550.4 | − 2552 | −1.6 | × 5864 / 45478 | −0.2 |
| 8 | 70,659 | 2564.5 | − 2567 | −2.5 | × 6200 / 45478 | −0.3 |
| 11 | 70,660 | 2598.9 | − 2583 | 15.9 | × 5947 / 45478 | 2.1 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 3 | |||||
2023 from sb_ca2023_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,660 | 2435.5 | − 2432 | 3.5 | × 7107 / 44889 | 0.6 |
| 4 | 70,661 | 2471.8 | − 2473 | −1.2 | × 7210 / 44889 | −0.2 |
| 5 | 70,662 | 2513.8 | − 2502 | 11.8 | × 6981 / 44889 | 1.8 |
| 6 | 70,663 | 2528.2 | − 2531 | −2.8 | × 5949 / 44889 | −0.4 |
| 7 | 70,664 | 2552.3 | − 2552 | 0.3 | × 5843 / 44889 | 0 |
| 8 | 70,665 | 2564.4 | − 2567 | −2.6 | × 5749 / 44889 | −0.3 |
| 11 | 70,666 | 2608.2 | − 2583 | 25.2 | × 6050 / 44889 | 3.4 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 5 | |||||
2024 from sb_ca2024_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,642 | 2434.0 | − 2432 | 2 | × 6977 / 44659 | 0.3 |
| 4 | 70,643 | 2476.2 | − 2473 | 3.2 | × 6967 / 44659 | 0.5 |
| 5 | 70,644 | 2511.8 | − 2502 | 9.8 | × 7078 / 44659 | 1.6 |
| 6 | 70,645 | 2534.2 | − 2531 | 3.2 | × 5998 / 44659 | 0.4 |
| 7 | 70,646 | 2553.2 | − 2552 | 1.2 | × 5915 / 44659 | 0.2 |
| 8 | 70,647 | 2561.6 | − 2567 | −5.4 | × 5749 / 44659 | −0.7 |
| 11 | 70,648 | 2604.0 | − 2583 | 21 | × 5975 / 44659 | 2.8 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 5 | |||||
2025 from sb_ca2025_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,356 | 2435.4 | − 2432 | 3.4 | × 7194 / 45490 | 0.5 |
| 4 | 70,357 | 2478.3 | − 2473 | 5.3 | × 7004 / 45490 | 0.8 |
| 5 | 70,358 | 2517.7 | − 2502 | 15.7 | × 6892 / 45490 | 2.4 |
| 6 | 70,359 | 2538.2 | − 2531 | 7.2 | × 6127 / 45490 | 1 |
| 7 | 70,360 | 2560.7 | − 2552 | 8.7 | × 6089 / 45490 | 1.2 |
| 8 | 70,361 | 2571.3 | − 2567 | 4.3 | × 5928 / 45490 | 0.6 |
| 11 | 70,362 | 2611.4 | − 2583 | 28.4 | × 6256 / 45490 | 3.9 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 10 | |||||
2026 from sb_ca2026_1_csv_v1.zip
| Grade | Line in file | Average score | Standard Met | Distance | Students | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 70,389 | 2429.1 | − 2432 | −2.9 | × 6986 / 44775 | −0.5 |
| 4 | 70,390 | 2469.5 | − 2473 | −3.5 | × 7031 / 44775 | −0.5 |
| 5 | 70,391 | 2512.1 | − 2502 | 10.1 | × 6868 / 44775 | 1.5 |
| 6 | 70,392 | 2532.8 | − 2531 | 1.8 | × 6006 / 44775 | 0.2 |
| 7 | 70,393 | 2558.1 | − 2552 | 6.1 | × 6051 / 44775 | 0.8 |
| 8 | 70,394 | 2568.2 | − 2567 | 1.2 | × 5939 / 44775 | 0.2 |
| 11 | 70,395 | 2604.8 | − 2583 | 21.8 | × 5894 / 44775 | 2.9 |
| Sum, rounded to a whole point | 5 | |||||
Step 2 · The average and the normal range
- Average: add the yearly results and divide by how many there are. −3, 9, 8, 9, 12, 111, 3, 5, 5, 10, 5 → 15.8
- Typical year-to-year change: how far the result moved from each year to the next, ignoring up or down. 2015→2016: 12 · 2016→2017: 1 · 2017→2018: 1 · 2018→2019: 3 · 2019→2021: 99 · 2021→2022: 108 · 2022→2023: 2 · 2023→2024: 0 · 2024→2025: 5 · 2025→2026: 5 → average 23.6
- Normal range: multiply the typical change by 2.66, then add it to the average and subtract it. 23.6 × 2.66 = 62.8. Upper limit 78.6, lower limit −47.
Why 2.66? It is the standard factor from quality control, the work of Walter Shewhart and W. Edwards Deming. It turns "how much the result typically changes in a year" into "how far it can wander by chance alone".
Years with no result (no state tests were given in spring 2020) are skipped: the year-to-year change runs from the last year with a result to the next one.
Step 3 · Free or reduced-price meals
The share of enrolled students eligible for free or reduced-price meals — for a district, the total across its schools. From 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26.
Schools in San Diego Unified
110 Elementary schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Adams Elementary (290) −15
- Alcott Elementary (234) −13
- Angier Elementary (398) 0
- Baker Elementary (361) −66
- Balboa Elementary (457) −61
- Barnard Elementary (473) +43
- Bay Park Elementary (504) +25
- Benchley/Weinberger Elementary (560) +52
- Bird Rock Elementary (383) +62
- Birney Elementary (535) +56
- Boone Elementary (342) −59
- Burbank Elementary (317) −75
- Cabrillo Elementary (157) −30
- Cadman Elementary (184) +10
- Carson Elementary (336) −69
- Carver Elementary (187) −85
- Central Elementary (497) −88
- Chavez Elementary (361) −73
- Cherokee Point Elementary (298) −50
- Chesterton Elementary (365) +6
- Chollas/Mead Elementary (534) −71
- Clairemont Canyons Academy (318) −46
- Crown Point Elementary (313) +16
- Cubberley Elementary (199) −16
- Curie Elementary (536) +67
- Dailard Elementary (567) +38
- Dana (646) +36
- Dewey Elementary (267) −26
- Dingeman Elementary (689) +81
- Doyle Elementary (603) +31
- Edison Elementary (375) −8
- Encanto Elementary (386) −58
- Ericson Elementary (650) +52
- Euclid Elementary (509) −51
- Fay Elementary (514) −94
- Field Elementary (238) −14
- Fletcher Elementary (163) −67
- Florence Elementary (213) −23
- Foster Elementary (518) −30
- Franklin Elementary (380) −25
- Freese Elementary (280) −27
- Gage Elementary (698) +9
- Garfield Elementary (308) +23
- Green Elementary (493) +68
- Hage Elementary (505) −27
- Hamilton Elementary (406) −66
- Hancock Elementary (644) −1
- Hardy Elementary (353) +26
- Hawthorne Elementary (248) +12
- Hearst Elementary (527) +46
- Hickman Elementary (457) +60
- Holmes Elementary (495) +66
- Horton Elementary (386) −68
- Ibarra Elementary (390) −69
- Jefferson Elementary (400) +29
- Jerabek Elementary (718) +71
- Johnson Elementary (283) −36
- Jonas Salk Elementary (732) +54
- Jones Elementary (257) +10
- Joyner Elementary (410) −73
- Juarez Elementary (264) −29
- Kimbrough Elementary (316) −52
- Kumeyaay Elementary (398) +36
- Lafayette Elementary (208) −65
- La Jolla Elementary (566) +85
- Linda Vista Elementary (362) −71
- Loma Portal Elementary (392) +10
- Marshall Elementary (367) −55
- Marvin Elementary (543) +57
- Mason Elementary (538) −22
- McKinley Elementary (588) +67
- Miller Elementary (611) −13
- Miramar Ranch Elementary (637) +45
- Nipaquay Elementary (378) −13
- Normal Heights Elementary (275) −4
- Nye Elementary (385) +41
- Oak Park Elementary (545) −16
- Ocean Beach Elementary (432) +15
- Pacific Beach Elementary (312) +30
- Pacific View Leadership Elementary (227) −39
- Paradise Hills Elementary (213) −29
- Pendleton Elementary (352) −58
- Penn Elementary (366) −14
- Perry Elementary (341) −22
- Porter Elementary (590) −78
- Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary (456) −55
- Rodriguez Elementary (280) −66
- Rolando Park Elementary (270) −2
- Rosa Parks Elementary (705) −56
- Ross Elementary (187) −38
- Rowan Elementary (205) +7
- Sandburg Elementary (570) +18
- Scripps Elementary (733) +88
- Sequoia Elementary (180) +1
- Sessions Elementary (424) +32
- Sherman Elementary (535) −51
- Silver Gate Elementary (399) +52
- Spreckels Elementary (680) +35
- Sunset View Elementary (408) +51
- Tierrasanta Elementary (500) +46
- Toler Elementary (235) +1
- Torrey Pines Elementary (465) +81
- Valencia Park Elementary (393) −29
- Vista Grande Elementary (364) +27
- Walker Elementary (398) −15
- Washington Elementary (245) −85
- Webster Elementary (208) −19
- Wegeforth Elementary (200) −25
- Whitman Elementary (102) 0
- Zamorano Elementary (823) +9
11 K–8 schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Audubon K-8 (495) −61
- Bethune K-8 (520) +16
- Fulton K-8 (310) −56
- Golden Hill K-8 (464) −24
- Grant K-8 (743) +42
- John Muir Language Academy (336) +30
- Language Academy (1,015) +24
- Logan K-8 no 2026 results
- Longfellow UTK-8 (726) +37
- Mountain View (195) −56
- Perkins K-8 (381) −84
24 Middle schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Bell Middle (700) −65
- Challenger Middle (960) +53
- Clark Middle (696) −80
- Correia Middle (602) +14
- Creative Performing and Media Arts (614) −43
- De Portola Middle (680) +41
- Farb Middle (443) −7
- Innovation Middle (350) −25
- Knox Middle (488) −62
- Lewis Middle (1,013) +21
- Mann Middle (680) −67
- Marshall Middle (1,390) +71
- Marston Middle (702) +18
- Memorial Scholars & Athletes no 2026 results
- Millennial Tech Middle (378) −63
- Montgomery Middle (337) −53
- Muirlands Middle (742) +72
- Pacific Beach Middle (715) +66
- Pershing Middle (980) +24
- Roosevelt International Middle (760) +1
- Standley Middle (813) +42
- Taft Middle (410) −19
- Wangenheim Middle (703) −2
- Wilson Middle (712) −57
1 Middle and high school
- San Diego SCPA (1,297)
22 High schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Canyon Hills High (1,183) −10
- Clairemont High (823) −2
- Crawford High (1,318) −25
- Henry High (2,485) +47
- Hoover High (2,011) −26
- Kearny College Connections (339) +73
- Kearny Digital Media & Design (349) +83
- Kearny Eng Innov & Design (297) +62
- Kearny School of Biomedical Science and Technology (313) +68
- La Jolla High (1,174) +59
- Lincoln High (1,487) −70
- Madison High (780) −60
- Mira Mesa High (2,187) +79
- Mission Bay High (1,240) +69
- Morse High (1,591) +6
- Point Loma High (1,724) +15
- San Diego Business/Leadership no 2026 results
- San Diego High (1,602) +21
- San Diego International Studies no 2026 results
- San Diego Mvp Arts no 2026 results
- Scripps Ranch High (1,890) +115
- University City High (1,465) +68
1 K–12 school
8 Alternative and special schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- ALBA (20) no 2026 results
- East Village Middle College High (138) +100
- Garfield High (226) −129
- iHigh Virtual Academy (148) +16
- Mt. Everest Academy (232) +109
- Riley/Marcy/New Dawn (142) −114
- San Diego Metro Career and Tech (119) +53
- Twain High (293) −111
1 Other school
Charter schools in San Diego Unified
8 Elementary schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Albert Einstein Academy Charter Elementary no 2026 results
- Empower Language Academy (153) −42
- Evangeline Roberts Institute Of Learning no 2026 results
- High Tech Elementary (444) −23
- High Tech Elementary Explorer (386) −8
- King-Chavez Arts and Athletics Academy (159) no 2026 results
- King-Chavez Athletics Academy no 2026 results
- McGill School of Success (108) −68
19 K–8 schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Albert Einstein Academies (1,448) −25
- America's Finest Charter no 2026 results
- Darnall Charter (442) −59
- Elevate (476) +78
- Epiphany Prep Charter no 2026 results
- Harriet Tubman Village Charter (446) −66
- Holly Drive Leadership Academy (108) −15
- Iftin Charter no 2026 results
- Innovations Academy (436) +15
- Kavod Charter (395) +26
- Keiller Leadership Academy (635) −20
- King-Chavez Academy of Excellence (242) −48
- King-Chavez Community Academy (344) −85
- Museum (213) −2
- Old Town Academy K-8 Charter (194) +26
- San Diego Cooperative Charter (454) −8
- San Diego Cooperative Charter School 2 no 2026 results
- San Diego Global Vision Academy (463) +60
- Urban Discovery Academy Charter no 2026 results
7 Middle schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Health Sciences Middle no 2026 results
- High Tech Middle (324) −21
- High Tech Middle Media Arts (331) −21
- King-Chavez Preparatory Academy (201) no 2026 results
- KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy (314) −46
- Magnolia Science Academy San Diego (464) +55
- San Diego Global Vision Academy Middle no 2026 results
7 Middle and high schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Altus Schools Charter School of San Diego (1,375) −33
- City Heights Preparatory Charter (160) −50
- Gompers Preparatory Academy (1,175) −10
- Ingenuity Charter (188) −82
- Laurel Preparatory Academy no 2026 results
- Preuss School UCSD (825) +38
- Suncoast STEAM Academy no 2026 results
8 High schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Arroyo Paseo Charter High no 2026 results
- e3 Civic High (360) −65
- Health Sciences High and Middle College (535) −37
- High Tech High (412) +10
- High Tech High International (359) +53
- High Tech High Media Arts (355) +25
- King-Chavez Community High (226) −68
- School for Entrepreneurship and Technology (247) +70
5 K–12 schools
Sorted by 2026 results: points above or below Standard Met for the typical student.
Sorted by students enrolled in 2024–25, largest first.
- Altus Schools Audeo (450) −4
- America's Finest Charter (396) −85
- Learning Choice Academy (177) −22
- The O'Farrell Charter (1,862) +3
- Urban Discovery Academy Charter (330) −86