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#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 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data7
Annual Change-0.5 pts/yr
Data Period2011–2024
TrendStable
Academics4.8Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency33.3% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-22.6 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)40% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-11.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile30th
College Readiness6.7Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate67%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.5Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.9:1
District spending per student$18,094
Chronic Absenteeism88.1%

Students at Alta Vista Alternative High score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency25%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency33%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2017, to 29% in 2024, across a 14-year record (2011–2024).

Show all 7 years
2011
Math
30%
ELA
50%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
55%
2016
Math
15%
ELA
45%
2017
Math
25%
ELA
55%
2018
Math
25%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
25%
ELA
65%
2024
Math
25%
ELA
33%

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 score

Free/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 rate

The 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

Powered byWalk Score

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

Advanced STEM Courses2of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
La Cuesta Continuation HighEnrollment path unverified5.89–120.0 mi103Compare →
Anacapa SchoolPrivate · tuition7.0private7–120.1 mi48Compare →
Fusion Academy Santa BarbaraPrivate · tuitionNot rated6–120.3 mi19Compare →
Providence SchoolPrivate · tuition6.8privateK–120.4 mi245Compare →

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%
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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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