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Excellent

#250 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 3% in state

Monroe Elementary

Elementary School · Santa Barbara Unified

431 Flora Vista Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Enrollment

321

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Santa Barbara

#5 of 29

public schools

California elementary schools

#200 of 5,817

In district

#1 of 19

Santa Barbara Unified

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Monroe Elementary

Monroe Elementary is a public elementary school in Santa Barbara, CA, part of the Santa Barbara Unified. The school serves approximately 321 students in grades Kindergarten – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.9/10, placing it in the 97.4th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 31% proficiency in math, 8 points below the state average and 40% in reading/language arts, 6 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $126,875, where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a small city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.8Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+2.22 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics7.2Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency33.3%
Reading/ELA Proficiency44.2%
Math vs. State Avg-12.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+1.4 pts
Overall Proficiency39%
Expected (poverty-adj.)35%
vs. Expected+4.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile58th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.3Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,366

Monroe Elementary — Students at Monroe Elementary score 39% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

70.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 30.5%
School
State
38.4%
ELA Proficiency 39.7%
School
State
45.4%

Based on 14 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
22%
ELA
34%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2024
Math
33.3%
ELA
43.7%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.8/10.

How Monroe Elementary Compares

See how Monroe Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.9/10
97th percentile in CA
Academic
7.2/10
7.2/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
71%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers

Location

431 Flora Vista Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Monroe Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Harding University Partnership (rated 8.2/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Peabody Charter (rated 8.2/10, 2.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Roosevelt Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 2.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Santa Barbara, see our Santa Barbara schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara Santa Maria 0.5 mi 6.8
Washington Elementary Santa Barbara 0.7 mi 5.7
Harding University Partnership Santa Barbara 1.0 mi 8.2
Santa Barbara Community Academy Santa Barbara 1.3 mi 5.9
La Cumbre Junior High Santa Barbara 1.3 mi 5.8
Adams Elementary Santa Barbara 1.9 mi 7.4
McKinley Elementary Santa Barbara 1.6 mi 7.0
NOTRE DAME SCHOOL Santa Barbara 2.0 mi 4.6
ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY Santa Barbara 2.0 mi
THE KNOX SCHOOL OF SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara 2.1 mi 6.6
LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL Santa Barbara 2.1 mi 5.9
Eureka School of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 2.5 mi
Peabody Charter Santa Barbara 2.5 mi 8.2
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 2.2 mi
Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara 2.3 mi
Roosevelt Elementary Santa Barbara 2.5 mi 8.0
ANACAPA SCHOOL Santa Barbara 2.3 mi 7.0
Peace in a Pod Elementary Santa Barbara 2.3 mi
La Cuesta Continuation High Santa Barbara 2.3 mi 6.4
Alta Vista Alternative High Santa Barbara 2.3 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93109 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$126,875

Median Home Value

$1,836,300

Median Rent

$2,870/mo

Population

11,069

College Educated

58.4%

Homeownership

54.7%

Avg Commute

16.8 min

Poverty Rate

15.3%

Median Age

41.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Monroe Elementary has a median household income of $126,875. It is a well-educated community where 58% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,836,300, with a median rent of $2,870/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.3%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Aragon Avenue Elementary Los Angeles, CA 8.9
Buena Vista Arts-Integrated Montclair, CA 8.9
Christopher Dena Elementary Los Angeles, CA 8.9
Cortada Elementary El Monte, CA 8.9
Dahlia Heights Elementary Los Angeles, CA 8.9
Del Amo Elementary Carson, CA 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Monroe Elementary

What grades does Monroe Elementary serve?

Monroe Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Monroe Elementary?

Monroe Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 321 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Monroe Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Monroe Elementary is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Monroe Elementary rank in CA?

Monroe Elementary is ranked #250 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Monroe Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Monroe Elementary has a composite rating of 8.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Monroe Elementary?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Monroe Elementary has 30.5% math proficiency and 39.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Monroe Elementary a charter school?

No, Monroe Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Monroe Elementary a Title I school?

No, Monroe Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Monroe Elementary?

70.7% of students at Monroe Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
39 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
25 Some Transit
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,470/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Barbara). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does Monroe Elementary stack up?

Cold Spring Elementary
9.7
Montecito Union
9.5
Mountain View Elementary
9.4
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
321
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Free/Reduced Lunch
70.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Santa Barbara County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Santa Barbara Unified
District Enrollment
12,491
Schools in District
21
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,094
District Rank
#1 of 19

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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