Where are the best schools in San Diego? Trying to figure out where you should move in San Diego for best school Districts?

The real question is should I base my home search on school rankings?  The rankings for San Diego school districts are below, but if you're planning a move, especially from out of state, I strongly encourage you to read on before you skip to the rankings.

Rankings vs Ratings, there are many different rankings based on opinion or personal experience, but ratings are based on actual test scores.  Keep in mind ratings aren't everything either,  they are an average of the accumulation of test scores from a particular school's students and how they rank nationwide, but here's why as a parent, you MUST dig deeper to get the full picture.

Sure...ratings are a good topline gauge of the level of education happening in a particular school.  But what about schools that pull from different socioeconomic areas, did you know that is the number one indicator of test scores?  So if a school has a lower score, it does not necessarily mean that it doesn't provide a great education. 

The problem tends to lie when there are no advanced classes offered, no educational clubs to expand and learn more, or no opportunities for students to 'grade up', say go to sixth-grade math even though they are in fifth-grade to get challenged and grow.  This is because in California we have a proposition called "No Child Left Behind", which in lamen terms means the teacher's responsibility to not move at a pace too fast for the students struggling to keep up with the material being presented.   

Can you imagine if your child was in a class where s/he is yearning for more, they understand what has been taught and now are bored?   Believe me, this is the exact situation I was in with my son in third grade.   I spoke with the teacher who was not only not receptive but offended that I would say my son wasn't being stimulated.  To put this into perspective, his school was rated 10 out of 10.  

The moral of the story is that there are many amazing schools in San Diego, and you should base where you want to live based on the schools your children will be attending.  However, you shouldn't blindly send your children off to school every day assuming it's their teacher's job to ensure they get a good education.  I know with work demands and life demands, it can be crazy to come to terms with the fact that it's up to you as a parent to ensure your child is engaged, learning, and thriving in their school. 

Moving schools or choosing a private school, can be a great move and can make a difference if your child isn't getting what they need, but first, ask yourself have you done your part?  Have you spoken to the teacher/counselor?  Are there opportunities for them to 'class up' in subjects where they need to be more challenged?  Is there after or before-school tutoring offered? (usually by the teachers themselves, which can make a huge difference for your child, especially if they are too shy or embarrassed to ask questions in front of their peers). 

Here is a list of best school districts by parental reviews, not by standardized testing rankings, which I believe are a better indicator of the quality of a district.  But don't take anyone else's word for it. Schedule a tour,  and meet the Principle, Vice Principle, counselors, teachers, maintenance, and everyone you can to get a sense of the overall vibe and priorities of the school.  

1. San Dieguito School District (Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, RSF, Fairbanks Ranch, Carmel Valley)

2. Poway School District

3. Coronado School District 

4.  Carlsbad School District

5.  San Marcos School District

6.  Grossmont Union School District

7.  San Diego Unified School District (PL, OB, PB, La Jolla, Kearny Mesa, Mission Valley, Mira Mesa, Clairemont)

8.  Sweetwater Union High School District

9.  Vista Unified School District

10.  Bonsall Unified School District

To learn more about a particular area of San Diego, check out my pages on Market Reports page which gives you a market breakdown by neighborhood or my neighborhood blogs.

Please remember from one parent to another (and not a perfect one :)... even the best schools in the Nation can't guarantee a good education, it's up to you and your student to ensure they are learning and growing academically and emotionally every day. 

Ranking by https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-school-districts/m/san-diego-metro-area/