Photo: Mrrxx · CC BY-SA 2.5Santa Clarita’s public schools outscore 86% of California districts
Math proficiency in Santa Clarita’s districts is 48%, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the four public school districts serving Santa Clarita, 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 97% 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 Clarita’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 64% and math 48% across its districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
William S. Hart Union High spends $16,293 per student and Saugus Union Elementary $14,926, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
29 elementary schools, then five middle and six high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Mission View Public, Santa Clarita Christian School (private), Legacy Christian Academy (private), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (private), Montessori of Valencia. (private), The Learning Experience (private), Montessori on Copper Hill (private), Guidepost Montessori at Plum Canyon (private), Alpha-Kidz International (private), Great Beginnings for Little Kids (private), Rise & Shine Preschool & Kindergarten (private), Calkids Learning Academy (private) and Elevate Christian Academy (private) are in town. Opportunities for Learning - William S. Hart and Learning Post Academy, 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 Clarita’s grade
A: better than 86% of California school districts, #118 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 Clarita, with each school’s own grade.
Parts of Santa Clarita (4% of its land) are served by Castaic Union instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Four districts serve Santa Clarita
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Santa Clarita vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Santa Clarita’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clarita | A | Saugus Union Elementary K–6 · Sulphur Springs Union Elementary K–6 · Newhall Elementary K–6 |
Every school in Santa Clarita
56 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: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Hart ROP, Bouquet Canyon Early Learning Academy and Sulphur Springs Special Education Consortia).
Questions about Santa Clarita’s schools
Are Santa Clarita’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Santa Clarita children attend outscore 86% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #118 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 89%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Santa Clarita in?
William S. Hart Union High School District, which runs grades 7–12 and enrolls 20,465 students in 16 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Santa Clarita are served by Castaic Union.
Where do Santa Clarita kids go to high school?
One of 6 high schools, depending on your address: Saugus High, Valencia High, Golden Valley High, Canyon High, William S. Hart High and Academy of the Canyons.
What is Santa Clarita’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in William S. Hart Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Santa Clarita spend per student?
$16,293 in William S. Hart Union High School District, $14,926 in Saugus Union Elementary School District, $16,040 in Sulphur Springs Union Elementary School District and $14,781 in Newhall Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Santa Clarita?
Yes: Santa Clarita Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 552 students), Legacy Christian Academy (religious, grades K–11, 472 students), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (Catholic, grades K–8, 323 students), Montessori of Valencia. (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 185 students), The Learning Experience (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 133 students), Montessori on Copper Hill (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 126 students), Guidepost Montessori at Plum Canyon (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 124 students), Alpha-Kidz International (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 68 students), Great Beginnings for Little Kids (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 60 students), Rise & Shine Preschool & Kindergarten (religious, grades PK–K, 47 students), Calkids Learning Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 46 students) and Elevate Christian Academy (religious, grades 1–11, 12 students). Santa Clarita also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Santa Clarita families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Santa Clarita → 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.