Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome · Photo: Richard Wang took this photo and has released it under the GDFL. · CC BY-SA 3.0Santa Monica’s public schools outscore 89% of California districts
58% of students in Santa Monica’s public schools are proficient in math, above the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Santa Monica, 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 94% 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 Monica’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 519 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Santa Monica’s, its schools beat 97%, higher than their 89% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 75% and math 58% 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
The district spends $22,837 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Six elementary schools, then two middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
New Roads School (private), St. Monica Catholic Elementary School (private), Carlthorp School (private), Pacifica Christian High School (private), Ps1 Pluralistic School (private), Lighthouse Church School (private), St. Annes School (private), Sycamore Community School (private), Lighthouse Christian Academy (private) and Waldorf Early Childhood Center (private) are in town. 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 Monica’s grade
A: better than 89% of California school districts, #77 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 Monica, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Santa Monica · depends on your address
Lincoln Middle
Grades 6–8 · 914 students · 21:1 students per teacher
John Adams Middle
Grades 6–8 · 806 students · 18:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Santa Monica · depends on your address
Lincoln Middle
Grades 6–8 · 914 students · 21:1 students per teacher
John Adams Middle
Grades 6–8 · 806 students · 18:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Santa Monica · depends on your address
Lincoln Middle
Grades 6–8 · 914 students · 21:1 students per teacher
John Adams Middle
Grades 6–8 · 806 students · 18:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Santa Monica
Santa Monica High
Grades 9–12 · 2,588 students · 20:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Santa Monica
Santa Monica High
Grades 9–12 · 2,588 students · 20:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Santa Monica
Santa Monica High
Grades 9–12 · 2,588 students · 20:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Santa Monica
Santa Monica High
Grades 9–12 · 2,588 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Santa Monica’s public schools are run by Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, which also serves Malibu. 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.
Well above the state in reading
Santa Monica vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Santa Monica’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | A | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| Los Angeles | B− | Los Angeles Unified |
Every school in Santa Monica
21 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 (John Muir Elementary and Santa Monica-Malibu Preschool).
Questions about Santa Monica’s schools
Are Santa Monica’s schools good?
By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Santa Monica children attend outscore 89% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #77 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 97%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Santa Monica in?
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 8,616 students in 15 schools (2024–25).
Where do Santa Monica kids go to high school?
Santa Monica High, with 2,588 students.
What is Santa Monica’s graduation rate?
95% of the class of 2023 in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Santa Monica spend per student?
$22,837 in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Santa Monica?
Yes: New Roads School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 562 students), St. Monica Catholic Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 287 students), Carlthorp School (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 280 students), Pacifica Christian High School (religious, grades 9–12, 255 students), Ps1 Pluralistic School (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 200 students), Lighthouse Church School (religious, grades K–12, 142 students), St. Annes School (Catholic, grades K–8, 136 students), Sycamore Community School (nonsectarian, grades K–7, 92 students), Lighthouse Christian Academy (religious, grades 9–12, 37 students) and Waldorf Early Childhood Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 28 students).
Parents talk
What Santa Monica families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Santa Monica → 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.