Photo: Niranjan Arminius · CC BY-SA 4.0Mission Canyon’s public schools outscore 68% of California districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Mission Canyon, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 91% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Mission Canyon’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 170 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mission Canyon’s, its schools beat 27%, lower than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 48% and math 36% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $18,639 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Nine elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Mission Canyon’s grade
B+: better than 68% of California school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Mission Canyon, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Mission Canyon · depends on your address
Dos Pueblos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 2,149 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Goleta
San Marcos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,926 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
10th grade in Mission Canyon · depends on your address
Dos Pueblos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 2,149 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Goleta
San Marcos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,926 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
11th grade in Mission Canyon · depends on your address
Dos Pueblos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 2,149 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Goleta
San Marcos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,926 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
12th grade in Mission Canyon · depends on your address
Dos Pueblos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 2,149 students · 23:1 students per teacher · in Goleta
San Marcos Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,926 students · 21:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in Santa Barbara
Mission Canyon’s public schools are run by Santa Barbara Unified School District, which also serves Santa Barbara. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Mission Canyon vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Mission Canyon’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Canyon | B+ | Santa Barbara Unified |
| Santa Barbara | B+ | Santa Barbara Unified |
Every school in Mission Canyon
16 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Mission Canyon’s schools
Are Mission Canyon’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Mission Canyon children attend outscore 68% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 27%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Mission Canyon in?
Santa Barbara Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 12,247 students in 20 schools (2024–25).
Where do Mission Canyon kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Dos Pueblos Senior High, San Marcos Senior High and Santa Barbara Senior High.
What is Mission Canyon’s graduation rate?
92% of the class of 2023 in Santa Barbara Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Mission Canyon spend per student?
$18,639 in Santa Barbara Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Mission Canyon families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mission Canyon → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.