Santa Monica-malibu Unified School District
School District · Santa Monica, California
Avg Rating
8.2
out of 10
Schools
15
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,994
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Avg Rating
8.2
out of 10
Schools
15
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,994
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Evaluating Santa Monica-malibu Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Santa Monica-malibu Unified 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.
Santa Monica High
Santa Monica · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Grant Elementary
Santa Monica · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)
Santa Monica · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#41 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.9
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$24,994
+$7,347 vs California median
District size
8,641 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Santa Monica-malibu Unified ranks #41 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Santa Monica-malibu Unified's schools with real test data average 8.2/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Santa Monica High (9.4/10), Grant Elementary (9.2/10), and Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) (9.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.4/10 despite 31% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 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 Monica-malibu Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santa Monica-malibu Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Monica-malibu Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (15 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Monica High | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Grant Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) | 9.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Lincoln Middle | 9.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Franklin Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Edison Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Mckinley Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | John Adams Middle | 8.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Malibu High | 8.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Webster Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
See all 15 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Santa Monica-malibu Unified
Santa Monica-malibu Unified is a Santa Monica, California school district serving 15 schools. The district educates 8,641 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.1:1. The district invests $24,994 per student annually.
With an average rating of 8.2/10, Santa Monica-malibu Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Santa Monica High, which has a composite score of 9.4/10.
In standardized testing, Santa Monica-malibu Unified students show an average math proficiency of 64.1% and ELA proficiency of 71.1%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Santa Monica-malibu Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Santa Monica-malibu Unified with test data.
Schools in Santa Monica-malibu Unified
15 schools Elementary Schools 9
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 3
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Santa Monica
- Total Enrollment
- 8,641
- Teachers (FTE)
- 452
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Santa Monica-malibu Unified?
Santa Monica-malibu Unified has 15 schools in total — 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Santa Monica-malibu Unified?
The average composite rating for Santa Monica-malibu Unified is 8.2/10. 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 Monica-malibu Unified?
Santa Monica-malibu Unified spends $24,994 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Monica-malibu Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Santa Monica-malibu Unified is 19.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Santa Monica-malibu Unified?
Santa Monica High is the highest-rated school in Santa Monica-malibu Unified with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What are the test scores in Santa Monica-malibu Unified?
Across schools in Santa Monica-malibu Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 64.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 71.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Santa Monica-malibu Unified compare to other districts in California?
Santa Monica-malibu Unified has an average school rating of 8.2/10 across 15 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
- 8.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 64.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 71.1%
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 Monica-malibu 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)
- 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.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.