7.1 avg / 10

Best Schools in Goleta, California

13 schools · 11 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 8

Private: 5

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 7.1/10

Estimated Scores: 20%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 7.1/10
Median household income: $85,711
Median home value: $1,021,700
Bachelor's degree or higher: 49%
Avg commute: 18 min
Owner-occupied homes: 38%

How Goleta compares

California rank

#95 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.8

above California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$86k

86% of California median

Schools in this city

10

About Schools in Goleta, California

Goleta, California is home to 13 schools, including 8 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 11 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

With an average rating of 7.1 out of 10, schools in Goleta perform strongly on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Goleta is Isla Vista Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Goleta is served by 2 school districts: Santa Barbara Unified, Goleta Union Elementary. These districts collectively serve 15,899 students.

Goleta's community shows 49% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $85,711. The poverty rate in the area is 25.9%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (13) Elementary (11) Middle (1) High (1)

Filter by Type: All Types (13) Public (8) Private (5)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (13) Academics (13) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 93117 (13)

Elementary Schools

11 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Isla Vista Elementary 433 students · Kindergarten–6th	433	Kindergarten–6th	9.1
2	La Patera Elementary 386 students · Kindergarten–6th	386	Kindergarten–6th	8.7
3	Ellwood Elementary 327 students · Kindergarten–6th	327	Kindergarten–6th	7.5
4	Kellogg Elementary 395 students · Kindergarten–6th	395	Kindergarten–6th	6.6
5	Brandon Elementary 443 students · Kindergarten–6th	443	Kindergarten–6th	5.0
6	Santa Barbara Charter 290 students · Kindergarten–8th	290	Kindergarten–8th	4.4
Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	MONTESSORI CENTER SCHOOL Private 119 students · Pre-K–6th	119	Pre-K–6th	Not Rated
2	COASTLINE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 142 students · Kindergarten–8th	142	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
3	South Coast Montessori Private 22 students · Kindergarten–6th	22	Kindergarten–6th	Not Rated
4	Waldorf School of Santa Barbara, The Private 117 students · Kindergarten–8th	117	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
5	SOUTH COAST MONTESSORI Private 3 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	3	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Goleta Valley Junior High 736 students · 7th–8th	736	7th–8th	7.5

High Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Dos Pueblos Senior High 2,075 students · 9th–12th	2,075	9th–12th	8.5

Schools in Goleta

Goleta, California · 13 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$85,711

Median Home Value

$1,021,700

Median Rent

$1,980/mo

Population

52,225

College Educated

49%

Homeownership

38%

Avg Commute

18 min

Poverty Rate

25.9%

Community Profile

Goleta has a median household income of $85,711. It is a well-educated community where 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,021,700, with a median rent of $1,980/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: California
Total Schools: 13
Elementary: 11
Middle: 1
High: 1
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 7.1/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Goleta schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Goleta 📊 Niche Goleta Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

Santa Barbara Unified

21 schools · 12,491 students

Goleta Union Elementary

9 schools · 3,408 students

Nearby Cities

Lompoc (1 school)

5 mi

Santa Barbara (52 schools)

8 mi

Summerland (1 school)

15 mi

Santa Maria (3 schools)

17 mi

Santa Ynez (4 schools)

18 mi

Solvang (5 schools)

19 mi

Los Olivos (6 schools)

22 mi

Carpinteria (8 schools)

Los Alamos (1 school)

31 mi

New Cuyama (1 school)

37 mi

San Juan Capistrano (1 school)

37 mi

Other Major Cities in California

Top metros statewide by school count.

Los Angeles 928 schools San Diego 412 schools San Jose 335 schools San Francisco 297 schools Sacramento 273 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Goleta, California

How many schools are in Goleta, California?

Goleta has 13 schools, including 8 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Goleta, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Goleta is 7.1 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Goleta, California?

The top-ranked school in Goleta on MySchoolScout is Isla Vista Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best elementary school in Goleta, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Goleta on MySchoolScout is Isla Vista Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best middle school in Goleta, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Goleta on MySchoolScout is Goleta Valley Junior High with a composite score of 7.5/10.

What is the best high school in Goleta, California?

The top-ranked high school in Goleta on MySchoolScout is Dos Pueblos Senior High with a composite score of 8.5/10.

How many school districts serve Goleta, California?

Goleta is served by 2 school districts: Santa Barbara Unified, Goleta Union Elementary.

What is the education level in Goleta, California?

According to Census data, 49% of adults in Goleta have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Goleta, California?

The median household income in Goleta is approximately $85,711 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Goleta, California?

Yes, Goleta has 5 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Montessori Center School with a score of 7.2/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Goleta, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Goleta is 15.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Goleta, California?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.