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Very Good

#424 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 24% of private schools

Santa Barbara Middle School

Elementary School

1321 ALAMEDA PADRE SERRA, 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

182

Student-Teacher

8.4:1

Score

7.1

Grades

6th – 9th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Santa Barbara

#3 of 10

public schools

California elementary schools

#240 of 1,102

Academic performance

7.1 / 10

Strong

About Santa Barbara Middle School

Santa Barbara Middle School serves 182 students in grades 6 through 9 in Santa Barbara, California, with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1 among its 22 full-time equivalent teachers. This regular public school has earned a strong MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #254 out of 1,790 schools statewide, placing it in the 86th percentile of California schools. The school's small size allows for personalized attention and close relationships between students and faculty.

With fewer than 200 students spread across four grade levels, the intimate environment fosters a tight-knit community where individual students can receive focused support and guidance during these crucial middle school years. Located at 1321 Alameda Padre Serra, the school serves families in an affluent area where the median household income reaches $104,238 and nearly half of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding ZIP code 93103 has a median home value of $1,332,400, reflecting the desirable coastal California location, while maintaining a relatively low poverty rate of 10.5% among its 19,653 residents.

Santa Barbara Middle School operates in the heart of this picturesque small city, offering students an education in one of California's most beautiful coastal communities.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 182 students, Santa Barbara Middle School 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1, Santa Barbara Middle 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, Santa Barbara Middle 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
$37,205
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$39,476
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.06x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
88%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$17.0M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 182 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

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

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
This School
vs
16.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
182
This School
vs
432
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
7.5
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 74.2% vs 0%
Hispanic 12.1% vs 0%
Black 1.1% vs 0%
Asian 0.5% vs 0%
Santa Barbara Middle School Santa Barbara Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Santa Barbara Middle School (this school) 7.1
Santa Barbara Senior High 4.1
Santa Barbara Junior High 5.3
Roosevelt Elementary 8.0
La Cuesta Continuation High 6.4
Alta Vista Alternative High 5.7
Alta Vista
Franklin Elementary 8.3
Adelante Charter 8.7
Cleveland Elementary 8.4
Peabody Charter 8.2
Cold Spring Elementary 9.7
McKinley Elementary 7.0
Harding University Partnership 8.2
La Cumbre Junior High 5.8
Santa Barbara Community Academy 5.9
Adams Elementary 7.4
Monroe Elementary 8.9
Washington Elementary 5.7
Monte Vista Elementary 8.4
Hope Elementary 8.6

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- 7.8 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,274.4
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 4.7 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 42%
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 182
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 74.2%
Hispanic 12.1%
Two or More 12.1%
Black 1.1%
Asian 0.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1321 ALAMEDA PADRE SERRA, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Santa Barbara Middle School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Adelante Charter (rated 8.7/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Cleveland Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Franklin Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 1.2 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 Middle School Santa Barbara 0.0 mi
Santa Barbara Senior High Santa Barbara 0.5 mi 4.1
PROVIDENCE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.6 mi 6.8
Santa Barbara Junior High Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 5.3
Peace in a Pod Elementary Santa Barbara 0.9 mi
ANACAPA SCHOOL Santa Barbara 1.0 mi 7.0
THE KNOX SCHOOL OF SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 6.6
The Riviera Ridge School Santa Barbara 0.9 mi
THE RIVIERA RIDGE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.9 mi 7.5
La Cuesta Continuation High Santa Barbara 1.0 mi 6.4
Alta Vista Alternative High Santa Barbara 1.0 mi 5.7
Alta Vista Santa Barbara 1.0 mi
Roosevelt Elementary Santa Barbara 0.9 mi 8.0
NOTRE DAME SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.9 mi 4.6
ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY Santa Barbara 0.9 mi
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 1.3 mi
SUNRISE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Santa Barbara 1.2 mi
Adelante Charter Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 8.7
Franklin Elementary Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 8.3
Cleveland Elementary Santa Barbara 1.4 mi 8.4

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 Santa Barbara Middle 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
AL-HUDA ISLAMIC SCHOOL Hawthorne, CA 7.1
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hayward, CA 7.1
ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pasadena, CA 7.1
Alma Fuerte Public Pasadena, CA 7.1
Arroyo Elementary Simi Valley, CA 7.1
BETHANY LUTHERAN SCHOOL Long Beach, CA 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Santa Barbara Middle School

What grades does Santa Barbara Middle School serve?

Santa Barbara Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 9th.

How many students attend Santa Barbara Middle School?

Santa Barbara Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 182 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Barbara Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Santa Barbara Middle School is 8.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Santa Barbara Middle School rank in CA?

Santa Barbara Middle School is ranked #424 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Santa Barbara Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Santa Barbara Middle School has a composite rating of 7.1 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 Santa Barbara Middle School a private school?

Yes, Santa Barbara Middle School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Santa Barbara Middle School a religious school?

No, Santa Barbara Middle School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
27 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 PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
6th – 9th
Enrollment
182
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
177 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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