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Very Good

#3424 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 36% in state

Santa Barbara County Special Education

School · Santa Barbara County Office of Education

PO Box 6307, Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Enrollment

54

Student-Teacher

6.8:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Santa Barbara

#20 of 29

public schools

California schools

#66 of 475

In district

#2 of 2

Santa Barbara County Office of Education

School environment

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Santa Barbara County Special Education

Santa Barbara County Special Education is a public school located in the mid-size suburb of Santa Barbara, California. The school serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade with an enrollment of 54 students and a student-teacher ratio of 6.8:1, providing individualized attention to each learner. With eight full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to special education needs, the school focuses on supporting diverse learning requirements.

While the academic performance is rated at 4.4 out of 10 by MySchoolScout, with a state ranking of 33rd percentile and an academic score of 1.5 out of 10, the school emphasizes student development and growth in areas beyond traditional test scores. The ELA/Reading proficiency rate stands at 8%, and the Math proficiency is also at 8%. These figures indicate that while there is room for improvement in standardized testing, the school is committed to providing a supportive educational environment tailored to its students' needs.

Santa Barbara County Special Education is situated in a suburban setting within Santa Barbara, offering a community atmosphere that encourages support and collaboration among families and educators.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 54 students, Santa Barbara County Special Education is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

While current test scores at Santa Barbara County Special Education are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.8:1, Santa Barbara County Special Education 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.8Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+2.5 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendImproving
Academics2.3Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency10%
Reading/ELA Proficiency10%
Overall Proficiency10%
Expected (poverty-adj.)28%
vs. Expected-18.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile7th
College Readiness6.5Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment10.0Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio6.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$541,453

Santa Barbara County Special Education — Students at Santa Barbara County Special Education score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

81.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 7.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 7.5%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 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
5%
ELA
5%
2021*
Math
10%
ELA
10%

* 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 Santa Barbara County Special Education Compares

See how Santa Barbara County Special Education performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
64th percentile in CA
Academic
2.3/10
2.3/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
10.0/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
82%
Teaching Staff
7:1 student-teacher ratio
8 teachers

Location

PO Box 6307, Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Santa Barbara County Special Education may also want to explore other schools in the area. Trivium Charter School Voyage (rated 7.6/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Lompoc), which scores slightly higher. Another option is PROVIDENCE SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 2.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL (rated 5.9/10, 2.1 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Santa Barbara, see our Santa Barbara schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court Santa Barbara 0.0 mi 7.8
Santa Barbara County Community Santa Barbara 0.0 mi
La Colina Junior High Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 7.9
Bishop Garcia Diego High School Santa Barbara 0.9 mi
BISHOP GARCIA DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.9 mi 7.1
Vieja Valley Elementary Santa Barbara 1.1 mi 9.0
Hope Elementary Santa Barbara 1.0 mi 8.6
Trivium Charter School Voyage Lompoc 1.2 mi 7.6
San Marcos Senior High Santa Barbara 1.4 mi 4.8
Monte Vista Elementary Santa Barbara 1.4 mi 8.4
Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara 2.0 mi
El Camino Elementary Santa Barbara 1.8 mi 5.9
Foothill Elementary Santa Barbara 1.8 mi 7.9
LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL Santa Barbara 2.1 mi 5.9
Hollister Elementary Santa Barbara 2.0 mi 8.6
Saint Therese Classical Academy Santa Barbara 2.1 mi
Eureka School of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 2.1 mi
PROVIDENCE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 2.2 mi 6.6
Adams Elementary Santa Barbara 2.4 mi 7.4
Peabody Charter Santa Barbara 2.5 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93110 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$118,819

Median Home Value

$1,101,100

Median Rent

$2,358/mo

Population

16,385

College Educated

48.3%

Homeownership

59.8%

Avg Commute

15.4 min

Poverty Rate

8.5%

Median Age

46.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Santa Barbara County Special Education has a median household income of $118,819. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,101,100, with a median rent of $2,358/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 15 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
FAITH BAPTIST ACADEMY Wildomar, CA 7.0
IVY ROAD SCHOOL Los Angeles, CA 7.0
SIERRA VIEW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Clovis, CA 7.0
Sunshine Special Education Riverside, CA 7.0
WILTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Wilton, CA 7.0
Anderson San Bernardino, CA 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Santa Barbara County Special Education

What grades does Santa Barbara County Special Education serve?

Santa Barbara County Special Education serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Santa Barbara County Special Education?

Santa Barbara County Special Education has an enrollment of approximately 54 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Barbara County Special Education?

The student-teacher ratio at Santa Barbara County Special Education is 6.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Santa Barbara County Special Education rank in CA?

Santa Barbara County Special Education is ranked #3424 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Santa Barbara County Special Education's MySchoolScout rating?

Santa Barbara County Special Education has a composite rating of 7.0 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 Santa Barbara County Special Education?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Santa Barbara County Special Education has 7.5% math proficiency and 7.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Santa Barbara County Special Education a charter school?

No, Santa Barbara County Special Education is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Santa Barbara County Special Education a Title I school?

No, Santa Barbara County Special Education is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Barbara County Special Education?

81.5% of students at Santa Barbara County Special Education 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
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
19 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,470/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
54
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
8
Free/Reduced Lunch
81.5%
Type
special_ed
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Santa Barbara County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Santa Barbara County Office of Education
District Enrollment
98
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$591,453
District Rank
#2 of 2

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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