- Enrollment
- 2,751
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · San Marcos, CA
San Marcos High
Federal NCES profile for San Marcos High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 063488005893
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
San Marcos High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #4 of 5
- high schools in San Marcos · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.5:1
- large classes for California
- 32.7%
- free-lunch eligible
San Marcos High has class sizes larger than 76% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, San Marcos High ranks #4 of 5 high schools in San Marcos, CA.
School address
District: San Marcos Unified · California
NCES ID 063488005893 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-179 students YoY
San Marcos High shrank from 3,380 students in 2022-23 to 3,201 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 125.0 → 118.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-179 students YoY 063488005893 · San Marcos, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
3,067 enr · 24.5:1 · 32.7% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Mission Hills High (2,751 students)
San Marcos High shrank from 3,380 students in 2022-23 to 3,201 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 125.0 → 118.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
San Marcos High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- San Marcos Mid 968
San Marcos Middle
968 students
What this shows San Marcos High reports 3,067 students on the CCD universe file.
How San Marcos High compares
San Marcos High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 24.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.7% | ▼ 41% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,067 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.5:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
3,067
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
24.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in California - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
23.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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
Counselors9.0 FTE
Per 341 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 192 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 42.0%
White 41.8%
Asian 7.5%
Two or More 7.0%
African American 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.8, San Marcos High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 24
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 San Marcos High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Hills High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| San Elijo Middle | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodland Park Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Double Peak | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Marcos Middle | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to San Marcos High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 968
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar high schools in San Marcos
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Mission Hills High
Standard public school
2,751 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
High Tech High North County
Standard public school
409 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Twin Oaks High
Alternative education program
192 students 9.6:1 students per teacher
Foothills High
Alternative education program
101 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~3,067 students)
Frequently asked questions about San Marcos High
How many students attend San Marcos High?
San Marcos High has 3,067 students enrolled. It is a high school in San Marcos, CA. CCD year-over-year: 3,380 (2022-23) → 3,201 (2023-24), down 179.
What is the student-teacher ratio at San Marcos High?
The student-teacher ratio at San Marcos High is 24.5:1, which is 14% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 56% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at San Marcos High?
32.7% of students at San Marcos High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of San Marcos High?
The largest demographic group at San Marcos High is Hispanic or Latino at 42.0% of enrollment, in San Marcos, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for San Marcos High?
San Marcos High has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does San Marcos High rank among high schools in San Marcos?
By Resource Investment Index, San Marcos High ranks #4 of 5 high 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 high schools in San Marcos on the city page.
What other schools are in San Marcos Unified?
Besides San Marcos High, San Marcos Unified also operates Mission Hills High (2,751 students), San Elijo Middle (1,395 students), and Woodland Park Middle (1,184 students). See the San Marcos Unified district page for the complete list.