Del Mar Union Elementary

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

San Diego, California - 9 schools

An equity score of 51/100 ranks Del Mar Union Elementary #721 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,416 per pupil, Del Mar Union Elementary ranks #354 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,748
Total Enrollment
9
Schools
$18,416
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Del Mar Union Elementary operates 9 public schools serving 3,748 students, placing it among the smaller districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in San Diego County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,416 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 84.4% local, 13.1% state, and 2.5% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 51/100, ranked #721 of 1517 in California against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 424.7:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 12.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 41.8% White, 35.4% Asian, 11.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Sycamore Ridge, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.

Its largest campus is Carmel Del Mar Elementary, enrolling 562 students (16% of the district's total enrollment).

Del Mar Union Elementary school enrollment varies 2.5× across entities

Del Mar Union Elementary school enrollment ranges from 224 students (lowest) to 562 students (highest), a spread of 338 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Del Mar Union Elementary student-counselor ratio is 425:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Del Mar Union Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 12.2% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

2.5%
Federal
13.1%
State
84.4%
Local

Funding Equity

51
Equity Score
721 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 9 schools in Del Mar Union Elementary.

White 41.8%
Hispanic or Latino 11.1%
African American 0.8%
Asian 35.4%
Multiracial 10.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 64.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Del Mar Union Elementary's schools, above the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Sycamore Ridge 69.3
  2. 2 Ashley Falls Elementary 65.4
  3. 3 Del Mar Hills Elementary 65.4
  4. 4 Carmel Del Mar Elementary 65.2
  5. 5 Sage Canyon 65.2

Programs & Resources

424.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
12.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Del Mar Union Elementary

School Enrollment
Carmel Del Mar Elementary
562
Sage Canyon
457
Ocean Air
450
Torrey Hills
389
Sycamore Ridge
386
Pacific Sky
368
Ashley Falls Elementary
367
Del Mar Heights Elementary
293
Del Mar Hills Elementary
224

How Del Mar Union Elementary Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Martinez Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Little Lake City Elementary Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Valley Center-Pauma Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Fillmore Unified Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Konocti Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Del Mar Union Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs Del Mar Union Elementary →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
Compare vs Del Mar Union Elementary →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs Del Mar Union Elementary →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
Compare vs Del Mar Union Elementary →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs Del Mar Union Elementary →

Compare Del Mar Union Elementary

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Del Mar Union Elementary?

Del Mar Union Elementary has 9 schools, including 9 elementary. Total enrollment is 3,748 students.

How much does Del Mar Union Elementary spend per student?

Del Mar Union Elementary spends $18,416 per student. The district has an equity score of 51/100, ranking #721 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Del Mar Union Elementary?

Del Mar Union Elementary students are 41.8% White, 35.4% Asian, 11.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American, averaged across 9 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Del Mar Union Elementary?

Del Mar Union Elementary has an equity score of 51/100, ranking #721 out of 1517 districts in California.