La Costa Meadows Elementary School in Carlsbad's La Costa area has operated as a San Marcos Unified School District K–5 campus on El Fuerte Street since 1980, currently enrolling roughly 725 Dolphins. A 2019 campus reconstruction added 38 classrooms, an expanded library, and new play structures, modernizing the facility to match the Carlsbad City Library system's digital literacy resources available to SMUSD families across the 92009 zip code. State test data place 75 percent of students at proficient or above in math and 72 percent in English language arts, consistently ranking the school in the top 10 to 15 percent of California elementary campuses. A Gifted and Talented track and Kindness Certified School designation complement the academic program, and after-school clubs include choir, running, and community garden projects. Outdoor recreation ties the campus to La Costa Canyon Park on La Costa Avenue, where students participate in field-day events and cross-country training along the hillside trail system near the Omni La Costa Resort. The 23-to-1 student-teacher ratio distributes across 31 general education and specialist instructional positions, with per-student expenditure reaching approximately $16,972 annually.