For the 2026 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 18,431 students in Oceanside, CA (there are 14 private schools, serving 1,440 private students). 93% of all K-12 students in Oceanside, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Oceanside, CA are Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School, Bonsall West Elementary School and Ivey Ranch Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Oceanside, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the California public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Oceanside have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Oceanside, CA (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
110 Marine Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 731-4050
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 731-4050
Gr: K-8 | 820 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #22.
Bonsall West Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5050 El Mirlo Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 721-8001
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 721-8001
Gr: K-6 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #33.
Ivey Ranch Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4275 Via Rancho Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 966-4800
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 966-4800
Gr: K-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #44.
North Terrace Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
141 Santa Rosa Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7500
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7500
Gr: K-8 | 771 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #55.
Santa Margarita Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1 Carnes Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7900
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7900
Gr: K-8 | 544 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #66.
Scholarship Prep - Oceanside
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4070 Mission Ave.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(442) 262-3249
Oceanside, CA 92057
(442) 262-3249
Gr: K-8 | 626 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #77.
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1290 Ivey Ranch Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-8800
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-8800
Gr: 6-8 | 1,098 student Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #88.
Palmquist Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1999 California St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8500
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8500
Gr: K-5 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #99.
Stuart Mesa Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
100 Yamanaka Way
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7700
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7700
Gr: K-8 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1010.
South Oceanside Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1806 South Horne St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 435-2100
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 435-2100
Gr: K-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1111.
El Camino High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
400 Rancho Del Oro Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-8000
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-8000
Gr: 9-12 | 2,463 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1212.
Christa Mcauliffe Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3701 Kelton Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760) 901-8400
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760) 901-8400
Gr: K-5 | 461 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1313.
Oceanside High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1 Pirates Cove
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8200
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,948 student Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #1414.
Surfside Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1125 South Ditmar St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8600
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8600
Gr: K-12 | 234 students Student-teacher ratio: 39:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1515.
Nichols Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4250 Old Grove Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 435-7400
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 435-7400
Gr: K-5 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1616.
Cesar Chavez Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
202 Oleander Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 966-4900
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 966-4900
Gr: 6-8 | 557 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1717.
Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2000 California St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8900
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8900
Gr: 6-8 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1818.
Libby Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
423 West Redondo Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-7000
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-7000
Gr: K-5 | 482 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1919.
Mission Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2100 Mission Ave.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 966-8700
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 966-8700
Gr: K-5 | 419 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2020.
Del Rio Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5200 North River Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-7300
Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 901-7300
Gr: K-5 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2121.
Louise Foussat Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3800 Pala Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 721-2200
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 721-2200
Gr: K-5 | 755 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2222.
Pablo Tac School Of The Arts
(Math: 19% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3535 Hacienda Dr.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 721-2300
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 721-2300
Gr: K-5 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2323.
Laurel Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1410 Laurel St.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 966-4200
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 966-4200
Gr: K-5 | 352 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2424.
Pacific View Charter
Charter School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3670 Ocean Ranch Blvd.
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760) 757-0161
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760) 757-0161
Gr: K-12 | 562 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #2525.
Jefferson Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
823 Acacia St.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 966-4700
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 966-4700
Gr: 6-8 | 441 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2626.
Siatech
Charter School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2611 Temple Heights Dr. Ste. A
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760) 945-1227
Oceanside, CA 92056
(760) 945-1227
Gr: 10-12 | 1,174 student Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2727.
Surfside High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1125 South Ditmar St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8600
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 901-8600
Gr: 9-12 | 119 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: n/an/a
Oceanside Unified School District Adult Transition Program
Special Education School
707 Carey Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7170
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 901-7170
Gr: 12 | 55 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Oceanside, CA?
The top-ranked public schools in Oceanside, CA include Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School, Bonsall West Elementary School and Ivey Ranch Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Oceanside?
28 public schools are located in Oceanside.
What percentage of students in Oceanside go to public school?
93% of all K-12 students in Oceanside are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Oceanside?
Oceanside public schools minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Oceanside are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Oceanside include: South Oceanside Elementary School vs. Palmquist Elementary School, Santa Margarita Elementary School vs. North Terrace Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School vs. Lincoln Middle School
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.