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Average

#591 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 33% of private schools

Providence School

School

630 E CANON PERDIDO ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 29 schools in Santa Barbara. Learn more

Enrollment

245

Student-Teacher

7.1:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Santa Barbara

#5 of 10

public schools

California schools

#135 of 366

Academic performance

7.1 / 10

Strong

About Providence School

Providence School serves 245 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Santa Barbara, offering an intimate educational environment with an exceptional 7:1 student-teacher ratio and 34 full-time equivalent teachers. This regular public school has earned recognition for its strong performance, ranking #405 out of 1,790 California schools and placing in the 77th percentile statewide, with an impressive 9.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating. The school's small size allows for personalized attention and close student-teacher relationships that can foster academic growth and individual support.

With such low student-teacher ratios, students likely benefit from more individualized instruction and mentoring opportunities throughout their K-12 journey. Providence School is located on East Canon Perdido Street in an affluent area of Santa Barbara, where the median household income reaches $104,238 and 44% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood's low poverty rate of 10.5% and median home values of $1,332,400 reflect a well-established community that values education.

Students attend school in the heart of Santa Barbara's small city atmosphere, surrounded by a supportive community environment that emphasizes academic achievement and educational opportunity.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, Providence School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Providence School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$32,403
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$37,651
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.16x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
65%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$11.9M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 245 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Providence School compares to 31 public schools serving similar grades in Santa Barbara, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
This School
vs
16.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
245
This School
vs
432
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.8
This School
vs
7.5
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 69.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 16.3% vs 0%
Black 2.4% vs 0%
Asian 1.2% vs 0%
Providence School Santa Barbara Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Providence School (this school) 6.8
Santa Barbara Senior High 4.1
Santa Barbara Junior High 5.3
La Cuesta Continuation High 6.4
Alta Vista Alternative High 5.7
Alta Vista
Adelante Charter 8.7
Franklin Elementary 8.3
Roosevelt Elementary 8.0
Cleveland Elementary 8.4
McKinley Elementary 7.0
Harding University Partnership 8.2
Santa Barbara Community Academy 5.9
La Cumbre Junior High 5.8
Cold Spring Elementary 9.7
Peabody Charter 8.2
Adams Elementary 7.4
Washington Elementary 5.7
Monroe Elementary 8.9
Monte Vista Elementary 8.4
Montecito Union 9.5

Showing 20 of 31 schools. View all schools in Santa Barbara

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.5 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,141.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 5.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 48%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 245
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 69.8%
Hispanic 16.3%
Two or More 9.8%
Black 2.4%
Asian 1.2%
Pacific Islander 0.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

630 E CANON PERDIDO ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Providence School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Adelante Charter (rated 8.7/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Cleveland Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Franklin Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Santa Barbara, see our Santa Barbara schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
Santa Barbara Senior High Santa Barbara 0.2 mi 4.1
Santa Barbara Junior High Santa Barbara 0.3 mi 5.3
Peace in a Pod Elementary Santa Barbara 0.4 mi
ANACAPA SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.4 mi 7.0
La Cuesta Continuation High Santa Barbara 0.4 mi 6.4
Alta Vista Alternative High Santa Barbara 0.4 mi 5.7
Alta Vista Santa Barbara 0.4 mi
SANTA BARBARA MIDDLE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.6 mi 7.1
Santa Barbara Middle School Santa Barbara 0.6 mi
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 0.7 mi
THE KNOX SCHOOL OF SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 6.6
Adelante Charter Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 8.7
NOTRE DAME SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 4.6
ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY Santa Barbara 0.8 mi
Franklin Elementary Santa Barbara 0.9 mi 8.3
SUNRISE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.9 mi
Roosevelt Elementary Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 8.0
McKinley Elementary Santa Barbara 1.4 mi 7.0
Cleveland Elementary Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 8.4
THE RIVIERA RIDGE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 1.4 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93103 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$118,118

Median Home Value

$1,555,600

Median Rent

$2,407/mo

Population

19,803

College Educated

46%

Homeownership

46%

Avg Commute

17.2 min

Poverty Rate

10.5%

Median Age

39.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Providence School has a median household income of $118,118. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,555,600, with a median rent of $2,407/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.5%. 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
Ambassador Phillip V. Sanchez II Public Charter Fresno, CA 6.8
BRIGHT HORIZON ACADEMY San Diego, CA 6.8
El Dorado Co Office of Ed Special Ed Programs Placerville, CA 6.8
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Huntington Beach, CA 6.8
Northern Summit Academy Shasta Anderson, CA 6.8
OAK GROVE SCHOOL Ojai, CA 6.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Providence School

What grades does Providence School serve?

Providence School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Providence School?

Providence School has an enrollment of approximately 245 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Providence School?

The student-teacher ratio at Providence School is 7.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Providence School rank in CA?

Providence School is ranked #591 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Providence School's MySchoolScout rating?

Providence School has a composite rating of 6.8 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.

Is Providence School a private school?

Yes, Providence School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Providence School a religious school?

Providence School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (2,470/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
245
Gender Split
44% M / 56% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
6.6 hours
Days Per Year
173 days
Setting
Small City
County
SANTA BARBARA
Data Year
2022–2023

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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