Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
School District · Santa Monica, California
Avg Rating
7.0
out of 10
Schools
15
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
8,641
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Avg Rating
7.0
out of 10
Schools
15
9 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Enrollment
8,641
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
How this district compares
California rank
#129 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.7
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 #129 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified's schools with real test data average 7.0/10 across 15 schools. Its top-rated schools are Edison Elementary (9.7/10), John Adams Middle (8.4/10), and Malibu Elementary (8.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.7/10 despite 40% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 | Edison Elementary | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | John Adams Middle | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Malibu Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Santa Monica High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Franklin Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Lincoln Middle | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Malibu Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Malibu High | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Mckinley Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Roosevelt Elementary | 6.7 / 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. District-level spending was $24,994 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.0/10, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Edison Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.7/10.
In standardized testing, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified students show an average math proficiency of 63.5% and ELA proficiency of 70.5%.
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 schoolsElementary Schools9
Middle Schools3
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Santa Monica
- Total Enrollment
- 8,641
- Teachers (FTE)
- 452
- District spending per student
- $24,994NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory 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 7.0/10. 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 Monica-Malibu Unified?
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified's district-level spending was $24,994 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 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?
Edison Elementary is the highest-rated school in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified with a composite score of 9.7/10.
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 63.5% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 70.5%. 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 7.0/10 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
- 7.0/10
- Math Proficiency
- 63.5%
- ELA Proficiency
- 70.5%
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)
- 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.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.