Santa Barbara Unified School District
School District · Santa Barbara, California
Avg Rating
7.1
out of 10
Schools
20
10 elem, 5 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,491
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
Avg Rating
7.1
out of 10
Schools
20
10 elem, 5 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,491
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.3:1
How this district compares
California rank
#119 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.7
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,094
+$447 vs California median
District size
12,491 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Santa Barbara Unified ranks #119 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Santa Barbara Unified's schools with real test data average 7.1/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Harding University Partnership (9.1/10), La Cumbre Junior High (8.8/10), and La Colina Junior High (8.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.1/10 despite 78% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Santa Barbara Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santa Barbara Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Barbara Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 20). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harding University Partnership | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | La Cumbre Junior High | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | La Colina Junior High | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Santa Barbara Charter | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Washington Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Goleta Valley Junior High | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | San Marcos Senior High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Roosevelt Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Adams Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Cleveland Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
See all 20 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Santa Barbara Unified
Santa Barbara Unified is a Santa Barbara, California school district serving 20 schools.The district educates 12,491 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.3:1. District-level spending was $18,094 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.1/10, Santa Barbara Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Harding University Partnership, which has a composite score of 9.1/10.
In standardized testing, Santa Barbara Unified students show an average math proficiency of 39.4% and ELA proficiency of 47.0%.
The district includes 10 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Santa Barbara Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Santa Barbara Unified with test data.
Schools in Santa Barbara Unified
20 schoolsElementary Schools10
Middle Schools5
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Santa Barbara
- Total Enrollment
- 12,491
- Teachers (FTE)
- 646
- District spending per student
- $18,094NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 11.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Santa Barbara Unified?
Santa Barbara Unified has 20 schools in total — 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Santa Barbara Unified?
The average composite rating for Santa Barbara Unified is 7.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Santa Barbara Unified?
Santa Barbara Unified's district-level spending was $18,094 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Barbara Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Santa Barbara Unified is 19.3:1.
What is the top-rated school in Santa Barbara Unified?
Harding University Partnership is the highest-rated school in Santa Barbara Unified with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What are the test scores in Santa Barbara Unified?
Across schools in Santa Barbara Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 39.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Santa Barbara Unified compare to other districts in California?
Santa Barbara Unified has an average school rating of 7.1/10 across 20 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.1/10
- Math Proficiency
- 39.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 47.0%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Santa Barbara Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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