- Enrollment
- 3,067
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Marcos, CA
Discovery Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063488007353
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #2 of 11
- elementary schools in San Marcos · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.6:1
- large classes for California
- 19.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Elementary has class sizes larger than 83% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in San Marcos, CA.
School address
District: San Marcos Unified · California
NCES ID 063488007353 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
Discovery Elementary held near 687 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+19 students YoY 063488007353 · San Marcos, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
717 enr · 25.6:1 · 19.2% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: San Marcos High (3,067 students)
Discovery Elementary held near 687 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 31.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Discovery Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- San Marcos Hig
San Marcos High
3,067 students
- Mission Hills
Mission Hills High
2,751 students
- San Elijo Midd
San Elijo Middle
1,395 students
- Woodland Park 1,184
Woodland Park Middle
1,184 students
- Double Peak 1,171
Double Peak
1,171 students
- This school 717
Discovery Elementary
717 students
What this shows Discovery Elementary reports 717 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Elementary compares
Discovery Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.6:1 | ▲ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.2% | ▼ 65% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 717 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.6:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
717
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
25.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 83% in California - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
19.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,622
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 44.8%
Hispanic or Latino 24.4%
Asian 19.7%
Two or More 10.2%
African American 1.0%
Largest group: White at 44.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Discovery Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for San Marcos Unified reports $14,622 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mission Hills High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Elijo Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Woodland Park Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Double Peak | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,751
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,395
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,184
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,171
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in San Marcos
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Double Peak
Standard public school
1,171 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Richland Elementary
Standard public school
883 students 27.6:1 students per teacher
La Mirada Academy
Standard public school
868 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
San Elijo Elementary
Standard public school
834 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Paloma Elementary
Standard public school
758 students 27.1:1 students per teacher
Knob Hill Elementary
Standard public school
725 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~717 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Elementary
How many students attend Discovery Elementary?
Discovery Elementary has 717 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Marcos, CA. CCD year-over-year: 668 (2022-23) → 687 (2023-24), nearly flat (+19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Elementary is 25.6:1, which is 19% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 63% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Elementary?
19.2% of students at Discovery Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Elementary is White at 44.8% of enrollment, in San Marcos, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Elementary?
Discovery Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Discovery Elementary rank among elementary schools in San Marcos?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Elementary ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in San Marcos, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in San Marcos on the city page.
What other schools are in San Marcos Unified?
Besides Discovery Elementary, San Marcos Unified also operates San Marcos High (3,067 students), Mission Hills High (2,751 students), and San Elijo Middle (1,395 students). See the San Marcos Unified district page for the complete list.