Average
#4809 of 9,539 schools in CA
Alta Vista Alternative High
High School · Santa Barbara Unified · Santa Barbara, CA
A Santa Barbara Unified high school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.
215 East Ortega St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Math 25% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 33% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 67.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Alta Vista Alternative High score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2017, to 29% in 2024, across a 14-year record (2011–2024).
Show all 7 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 24% (multi-year average, 2011-2024) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2011-2024)
Based on 16 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
60.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Alta Vista Alternative High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 98Walker's Paradise
- Transit 52Good Transit
- Bike 99Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety: High2,470/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Santa Barbara), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$79,868
Median home value
$1,122,200
Median rent
$2,109/mo
College educated
41.1%
Homeownership
21.8%
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93101; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Cuesta Continuation HighEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | 9–12 | 0.0 mi | 103 | Compare → |
| Anacapa SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | 7–12 | 0.1 mi | 48 | Compare → |
| Fusion Academy Santa BarbaraPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 6–12 | 0.3 mi | 19 | Compare → |
| Providence SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.8private | K–12 | 0.4 mi | 245 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Santa Barbara Unified
- Schools in district
- 21
- Rank in district
- #13 of 19
- District spending per student
- $18,094NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Alta Vista Alternative High is listed in Santa Barbara Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Alta Vista Alternative High
Alta Vista Alternative High is a public high school in Santa Barbara, CA, part of Santa Barbara Unified, serving approximately 134 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #4,809 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Alta Vista Alternative High
What grades does Alta Vista Alternative High serve?
Alta Vista Alternative High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Alta Vista Alternative High?
Alta Vista Alternative High has an enrollment of approximately 134 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alta Vista Alternative High?
The student-teacher ratio at Alta Vista Alternative High is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Alta Vista Alternative High rank in CA?
Alta Vista Alternative High ranks #4,809 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Alta Vista Alternative High's MySchoolScout rating?
Alta Vista Alternative High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Alta Vista Alternative High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Alta Vista Alternative High has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024).
Is Alta Vista Alternative High a charter school?
No, Alta Vista Alternative High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Alta Vista Alternative High a Title I school?
No, Alta Vista Alternative High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Alta Vista Alternative High?
60.4% of students at Alta Vista Alternative High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 134
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Barbara County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 88.1%
- Phone
- (805) 966-0883
- 4-Year Graduation
- 67.0%
- Area population (ZIP 93101)
- 30,496
- Area average commute
- 16.5 min
- Area median age
- 32.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 93101; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2011-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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