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Average

#4430 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 46% in state

San Marcos Senior High

High School · Santa Barbara Unified · Santa Barbara, CA

A Santa Barbara Unified high school serving grades 9th – 12th.

4750 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93110

  • Math 32% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 50% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data10
Annual Change-1.28 pts/yr
Data Period2011–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32.1% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+4.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.5 pts
Overall Proficiency41% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-0.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
College Readiness5.4Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.9:1
District spending per student$18,094
Chronic Absenteeism25.5%

Students at San Marcos Senior High score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency32%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency50%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 8 points since 2017, to 41% in 2024, across a 14-year record (2011–2024).

Show all 10 years
2011
Math
56%
ELA
60%
2012
Math
60%
ELA
61%
2013
Math
66%
ELA
64%
2014
Math
38%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
49%
2016
Math
32%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
38%
ELA
61%
2018
Math
43%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
43%
ELA
65%
2024
Math
32%
ELA
50%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 43% (multi-year average, 2011-2024) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2011-2024)

Based on 22 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

57.5%

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 San Marcos Senior 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 65Somewhat Walkable
  • Bike 92Biker’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

$118,819

Median home value

$1,101,100

Median rent

$2,358/mo

College educated

48.3%

Homeownership

59.8%

Poverty rate

8.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93110; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
8% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics26sports offered
14 boys'·12 girls'·63 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 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
Trivium Charter School VoyageCharter · enrollment unverified8.6K–120.4 mi289Compare →
Saint Therese Classical AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot rated6–120.8 mi33Compare →
Santa Barbara County CommunityEnrollment path unverifiedNot rated5–121.4 mi14Compare →
Santa Barbara County Juvenile CourtEnrollment path unverified6.75–121.4 mi30Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Santa Barbara Unified

Schools in district
21
Rank in district
#11 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

San Marcos Senior High is listed in Santa Barbara Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About San Marcos Senior High

San Marcos Senior High is a public high school in Santa Barbara, CA, part of Santa Barbara Unified, serving approximately 1,943 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #4,430 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about San Marcos Senior High

What grades does San Marcos Senior High serve?

San Marcos Senior High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend San Marcos Senior High?

San Marcos Senior High has an enrollment of approximately 1,943 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at San Marcos Senior High?

The student-teacher ratio at San Marcos Senior High is 20.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does San Marcos Senior High rank in CA?

San Marcos Senior High ranks #4,430 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is San Marcos Senior High's MySchoolScout rating?

San Marcos Senior High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 San Marcos Senior High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, San Marcos Senior High has 43% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024).

Is San Marcos Senior High a charter school?

No, San Marcos Senior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is San Marcos Senior High a Title I school?

No, San Marcos Senior High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for San Marcos Senior High?

57.5% of students at San Marcos Senior 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
1,943
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
93
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Santa Barbara County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.5%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 93110)
16,385
Area average commute
15.4 min
Area median age
46.3
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 93110; 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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