Santa Maria-Bonita School District
School District · Santa Maria, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
21
17 elem, 4 mid
Enrollment
17,165
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
21
17 elem, 4 mid
Enrollment
17,165
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
How this district compares
California rank
#536 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,207
$1,440 vs California median
District size
17,165 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Santa Maria-Bonita ranks #536 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Santa Maria-Bonita's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 21 schools. Its top-rated schools are Bill Libbon Elementary (7.1/10), Arellanes Junior High (6.8/10), and Bonita Elementary (6.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.1/10 despite 87% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.5 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 Maria-Bonita schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santa Maria-Bonita schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Maria-Bonita
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (21 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill Libbon Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Arellanes Junior High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Bonita Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Liberty Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Sanchez (david J.) Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Kunst (tommie) Junior High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | EL Camino Junior High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Bruce (robert) Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Oakley (calvin C.) Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Arellanes (don Juan Bautista) Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
See all 21 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Santa Maria-Bonita
Santa Maria-Bonita is a Santa Maria, California school district serving 21 schools.The district educates 17,165 students with a student-teacher ratio of 20.9:1. District-level spending was $16,207 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Santa Maria-Bonita demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Bill Libbon Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.1/10.
In standardized testing, Santa Maria-Bonita students show an average math proficiency of 24.9% and ELA proficiency of 28.0%.
The district includes 17 elementary schools, 4 middle schools.
District Map
Schools in Santa Maria-Bonita, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Santa Maria-Bonita with test data.
Schools in Santa Maria-Bonita
21 schoolsElementary Schools17
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Santa Maria
- Total Enrollment
- 17,165
- Teachers (FTE)
- 822
- District spending per student
- $16,207NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 27.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Santa Maria-Bonita?
Santa Maria-Bonita has 21 schools in total — 17 elementary, 4 middle. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Santa Maria-Bonita?
The average composite rating for Santa Maria-Bonita is 5.7/10. 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 Maria-Bonita?
Santa Maria-Bonita's district-level spending was $16,207 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 Maria-Bonita?
The average student-teacher ratio in Santa Maria-Bonita is 20.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Santa Maria-Bonita?
Bill Libbon Elementary is the highest-rated school in Santa Maria-Bonita with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What are the test scores in Santa Maria-Bonita?
Across schools in Santa Maria-Bonita with test data, the average math proficiency is 24.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 28.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Santa Maria-Bonita compare to other districts in California?
Santa Maria-Bonita has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 21 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
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 24.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 28.0%
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 Maria-Bonita 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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