Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Oceanside Unified

California · Public School District
24
Schools
15,839
Students
$17,167
Per-Pupil Spend
+20% nat'l
71.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+19pp vs nat'l
88.1%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Oceanside Unified is a public school district in California serving 15,839 students across 24 schools. It includes 15 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high schools. Its graduation rate of 88.1% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $17,167 is above average for a US public school district. 71% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 41/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (24)
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Cesar Chavez Middle06–08670
Jefferson Middle06–08466
Lincoln Middle06–08699
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle06–081,182
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
El Camino High09–122,637
Oceanside High09–121,907
Oceanside Unified School District Adult Transition Program12–1257
Surfside High (Continuation)09–12209
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Surfside AcademyKG–12315
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$17,167+20% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
49%
37%
State
48.8%
Local (property tax)
37.4%
Federal
13.8%

Funding is shared between state (49%) and local sources (37%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
24
Schools
15,839
Students
71%
Free Lunch
$17K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate88.1%
Opportunity Score41/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $17,167 per pupil — 20% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 24 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
71% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Oceanside Unified?
Oceanside Unified has 24 public schools, serving a total of 15,839 students.
What is the graduation rate for Oceanside Unified?
The graduation rate is 88.1%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Oceanside Unified spend per student?
Oceanside Unified spends $17,167 per pupil — 20% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Oceanside Unified?
71% of students in Oceanside Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Oceanside Unified?
No, Oceanside Unified does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Oceanside Unified serve?
Oceanside Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Oceanside Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in Oceanside Unified is 41/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.