Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
School District · Santa Maria, California
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
4
4 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,168
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Avg Rating
6.5
out of 10
Schools
4
4 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,168
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Evaluating Santa Maria Joint Union High?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Santa Maria Joint Union High as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Pioneer Valley High
Santa Maria · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Santa Maria High
Santa Maria · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Ernest Righetti High
Santa Maria · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#290 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.2
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,168
$479 vs California median
District size
8,985 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Santa Maria Joint Union High ranks #290 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Santa Maria Joint Union High's schools with real test data average 6.5/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Pioneer Valley High (7.0/10), Santa Maria High (6.8/10), and Ernest Righetti High (6.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 4). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pioneer Valley High | 7.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Santa Maria High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Ernest Righetti High | 6.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Delta High | 5.9 / 10 |
See all 4 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Santa Maria Joint Union High
Santa Maria Joint Union High is a Santa Maria, California school district serving 4 schools. The district educates 8,985 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.4:1. The district invests $17,168 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.5/10, Santa Maria Joint Union High demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Pioneer Valley High, which has a composite score of 7.0/10.
In standardized testing, Santa Maria Joint Union High students show an average math proficiency of 27.5% and ELA proficiency of 40.3%.
The district includes 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High with test data.
Schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High
4 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- California
- City
- Santa Maria
- Total Enrollment
- 8,985
- Teachers (FTE)
- 420
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
Santa Maria Joint Union High has 4 schools in total — 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Santa Maria Joint Union High?
The average composite rating for Santa Maria Joint Union High is 6.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
Santa Maria Joint Union High spends $17,168 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
The average student-teacher ratio in Santa Maria Joint Union High is 21.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
Pioneer Valley High is the highest-rated school in Santa Maria Joint Union High with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What are the test scores in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
Across schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High with test data, the average math proficiency is 27.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 40.3%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Santa Maria Joint Union High compare to other districts in California?
Santa Maria Joint Union High has an average school rating of 6.5/10 across 4 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
- 6.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 27.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 40.3%
Resources
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 Joint Union High 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)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton 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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