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Average

#4007 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 42% in state

Santa Maria High

High School · Santa Maria Joint Union High

901 South Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Enrollment

3,110

Student-Teacher

21.4:1

Score

6.8

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#4,007 of 9,539

In Santa Maria

#12 of 30

public schools

In district

#2 of 4

Santa Maria Joint Union High

Academic growth

8.3 / 10

Excellent

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Santa Maria High

6.8/10

High School in Santa Maria · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Miller (isaac) Elementary

5.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Adam (william Laird) Elementary

6.0/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Santa Maria High

Santa Maria High is a public high school in Santa Maria, CA, part of Santa Maria Joint Union High. Santa Maria High serves approximately 3,110 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Santa Maria High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #4,007 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Santa Maria High show 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Santa Maria High

Sources: School's website Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Santa Maria High School (SMHS) is a public comprehensive high school located in Santa Maria, California 2 . Established in 1892, it is recognized as the second-oldest high school in California still operating on its original site 1 . The school is part of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, which was founded on June 6, 1893 2 . SMHS is situated in the Santa Maria Valley, an agricultural region on California’s Central Coast 1 . The school offers tutoring services for students, including support for English Language Development (ELD) learners 1 . Recent activities include academic awards ceremonies, theater productions, and community events such as the Day of Hope coin collection, which raised over $1,000 1 . The school also participates in spirit weeks and honors veterans and Hispanic Heritage Month 1 .
Sources (2)
  1. www.santamariahighschool.org
  2. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Santa Maria High is a large school: 3,110 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

Santa Maria High runs 21.4:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-0.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics5.8Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13.7% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency43.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-14.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-12.5 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)29% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+0.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile41th
College Readiness5.9Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate91%
AP Participation15.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,168
Chronic Absenteeism20%

Santa Maria High — Students at Santa Maria High score 29% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

81.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 31.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
31.8% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 37.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
51.5% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 26 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
47%
ELA
28%
2010
Math
45%
ELA
33%
2011
Math
49%
ELA
29%
2012
Math
50%
ELA
29%
2013
Math
48%
ELA
33%
2014
Math
19%
ELA
30%
2015
Math
26%
ELA
46%
2016
Math
21%
ELA
43%
2017
Math
24%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
24%
ELA
44%
2019
Math
24%
ELA
44%
2024
Math
13.7%
ELA
43.4%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Santa Maria High Compares

See how Santa Maria High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.8/10
58th percentile in CA
Academic
5.8/10
Average
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.6
Sports
30
19 boys' · 11 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
81%
Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
145 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.0%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
15.4% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics30sports offered
19 boys'·11 girls'·44 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

901 South Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Santa Maria High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Jimenez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Bill Libbon Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Sanchez (David J.) Elementary (rated 6.8/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Santa Maria, see our Santa Maria schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Miller (Isaac) Elementary Santa Maria 0.4 mi 5.9
Adam (William Laird) Elementary Santa Maria 0.5 mi 6.0
Sanchez (David J.) Elementary Santa Maria 0.6 mi 6.8
Battles (Washington) Elementary Santa Maria 0.9 mi 5.1
AGAPE SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Santa Maria 1.0 mi
Fairlawn Elementary Santa Maria 1.0 mi 6.3
Trivium Charter Lompoc 1.0 mi 5.8
El Camino Junior High Santa Maria 1.2 mi 6.6
Bill Libbon Elementary Santa Maria 1.2 mi 7.7
Alvin Elementary Santa Maria 1.3 mi 5.7
Bruce (Robert) Elementary Santa Maria 1.3 mi 5.2
Eagles Christian Academy Santa Maria 1.3 mi
Jimenez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary Santa Maria 1.4 mi 7.9
Fesler (Isaac) Junior High Santa Maria 1.4 mi 4.9
Liberty Elementary Santa Maria 1.4 mi 5.1
Rice (William) Elementary Santa Maria 1.8 mi 4.6
Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary Santa Maria 1.9 mi 5.0
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary Santa Maria 2.0 mi 6.8
Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary Santa Maria 2.4 mi 4.4
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary Santa Maria 2.5 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93454 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$84,178

Median Home Value

$477,600

Median Rent

$1,750/mo

Population

41,710

College Educated

17.8%

Homeownership

53.1%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

13.9%

Median Age

31.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bell Gardens High Bell Gardens, CA 6.8
Burroughs High Burbank, CA 6.8
Chaparral High Temecula, CA 6.8
Colony High Ontario, CA 6.8
Franklin High Elk Grove, CA 6.8
Golden Valley High Bakersfield, CA 6.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Santa Maria High

What grades does Santa Maria High serve?

Santa Maria High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Santa Maria High?

Santa Maria High has an enrollment of approximately 3,110 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria High?

The student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria High is 21.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Santa Maria High rank in CA?

Santa Maria High ranks #4,007 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Santa Maria High's MySchoolScout rating?

Santa Maria High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Santa Maria High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Santa Maria High has 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Santa Maria High a charter school?

No, Santa Maria High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Santa Maria High a Title I school?

No, Santa Maria High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Maria High?

81.4% of students at Santa Maria 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
84 Very Walkable
Bike Score
62 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
3,110
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
145
Free/Reduced Lunch
81.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Santa Barbara County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.0%
4-Year Graduation
91.0%

District

Santa Maria Joint Union High
District Enrollment
8,985
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,168
District Rank
#2 of 4

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