Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0Santa Barbara’s public schools outscore 68% of California districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Santa Barbara, 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.
Santa Barbara’s schools, in brief
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 three middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Peabody Charter, Adelante Charter, Providence School (private), Bishop Garcia Diego High School (private), The Riviera Ridge School (private), Santa Barbara Middle School (private), Fusion Academy (private), Notre Dame School (private), The Knox School of Santa Barbara (private), Sunrise Montessori School (private) and Eureka School of Santa Barbara (private) are in town. Alta Vista Alternative High and Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. Every school ↓
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 Santa Barbara’s grade
B+: better than 68% of California school districts, #267 of 847 California towns. 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 Santa Barbara, with each school’s own grade.
7th grade in Santa Barbara · depends on your address
La Colina Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 832 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Santa Barbara Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 512 students · 16:1 students per teacher
La Cumbre Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 426 students · 18:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Santa Barbara · depends on your address
La Colina Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 832 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Santa Barbara Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 512 students · 16:1 students per teacher
La Cumbre Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 426 students · 18:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Senior High
Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Santa Barbara’s public schools are run by Santa Barbara Unified School District. Parts of Santa Barbara (14%, 6% and 6% of its land) are served by Santa Barbara Unified, Goleta Union Elementary and Hope Elementary instead. 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
Santa Barbara vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Santa Barbara’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara | B+ | Santa Barbara Unified |
| Goleta | A | Goleta Union Elementary K–6 · Santa Barbara Unified |
Every school in Santa Barbara
29 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).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Alta Vista and Santa Barbara Unified Early Childhood).
Questions about Santa Barbara’s schools
Are Santa Barbara’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Santa Barbara children attend outscore 68% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #267 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Santa Barbara in?
Santa Barbara Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 12,247 students in 20 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Santa Barbara are served by Santa Barbara Unified, Goleta Union Elementary and Hope Elementary.
Where do Santa Barbara kids go to high school?
Santa Barbara Senior High, with 1,924 students.
What is Santa Barbara’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 Santa Barbara spend per student?
$18,639 in Santa Barbara Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Santa Barbara?
Yes: Providence School (religious, grades PK–12, 379 students), Bishop Garcia Diego High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 284 students), The Riviera Ridge School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 245 students), Santa Barbara Middle School (nonsectarian, grades 6–9, 185 students), Fusion Academy (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 95 students), Notre Dame School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 87 students), The Knox School of Santa Barbara (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 56 students), Sunrise Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 38 students) and Eureka School of Santa Barbara (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 5 students). Santa Barbara also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Santa Barbara families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Santa Barbara → 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.