Cardiff Elementary, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Cardiff Elementary

Cardiff Elementary is a small district spanning kindergarten through sixth grade in the Encinitas area of San Diego County, serving families in a high-cost coastal community.

The district operates two schools: a kindergarten-through-second-grade site and a third-through-sixth-grade site. Enrollment is modest, with a student body that is predominantly white, followed by a substantial share identifying as two or more races and a smaller Hispanic population. The district does not report free-and-reduced-price-lunch rates or English learner percentages in publicly available data.

On state testing, Cardiff's students show solid performance in English language arts, particularly in the upper grades. Sixth-graders demonstrate the strongest results, while performance remains in the majority-proficient range across grades three through six. Math shows more variation by grade: third and sixth graders reach proficiency in similar proportions, fourth grade is somewhat lower, and fifth grade marks a notable dip. In the tested grade for science, fifth-grade proficiency sits around the midpoint. Across all tested subjects and grades, the district's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among San Diego County's districts.

Chronic absenteeism runs below the county median, suggesting strong daily attendance. The district spends per pupil in the upper range compared to other county districts, reflecting its position as a basic aid district funded primarily through local property taxes rather than relying heavily on state funding.

Cardiff voters approved a major bond measure to rebuild the Cardiff School campus, the kindergarten-through-second-grade site. Students moved into substantially modernized classrooms in early 2021, with new facilities including updated learning spaces, improved playground areas, better ADA access, and enhanced drainage systems. A 2022 settlement resolved final construction phases. Families should know that this renovation created long-term property-tax obligations for the district's residents, as the bond plus additional district borrowing will require repayment over years.

A decision to watch: the district did not implement state-mandated Transitional Kindergarten for four-year-olds, citing the lack of dedicated state funding for basic aid districts. District leadership argued that offering TK without state reimbursement would divert money from existing programs like the arts, STEM, and efforts to maintain small class sizes. This affects families with preschool-age children considering the district. While the state expected full TK implementation by 2025-26, Cardiff has not offered the program on these financial grounds.

The district's academic standing and modernized physical plant appeal to families in this affluent, property-tax-dependent community. The combination of strong ELA results, above-average proficiency compared to the county, and freshly rebuilt facilities makes it an established neighborhood choice for elementary families in the area.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

649

Grades

KG–06

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 16%

Black 0%

White 64%

Asian 2%

Two+ 17%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

59%

—

Gr 3

—

70%

Gr 4

64%

81%

Gr 5

44%

83%

Gr 6

—

86%

Math

Gr ALL

34%

—

Gr 3

—

79%

Gr 4

55%

68%

Gr 5

13%

64%

Gr 6

—

82%

Science

Gr 5

25%

62%

Gr HS

25%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Ada W. Harris Elementary

Cardiff Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

4 grades reported

76%

Grade 3

67%

Grade 4

54%

Grade 5

78%

Grade 6

English Language Arts

4 grades reported

70%

Grade 3

80%

Grade 4

75%

Grade 5

84%

Grade 6

Science

1 grade reported

55%

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$2.08M

Year-over-year change+3.8%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1.9M to $2.3M

vs. state typical2.68x

vs. national typical5.65x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
92007	Encinitas	$2.1M	+4.6%	77.8%
92024	Encinitas	$1.9M	+0.8%	20.8%
92075	Solana Beach	$2.3M	+3.0%	1.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$4,331/mo

Year-over-year change+12.5%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$4,166 to $5,196/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
92007	Encinitas	$4,359	+14.8%	77.8%
92024	Encinitas	$4,166	+4.5%	20.8%
92075	Solana Beach	$5,196	+4.3%	1.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$10,506/mo

Home price / national median income24.9x

Annual rent / national median income62.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$6,174/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.