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Excellent

#67 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 1% in state

Santa Monica High

High School · Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Enrollment

2,573

Student-Teacher

19.1:1

Score

9.4

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#67 of 9,539

In Santa Monica

#1 of 12

public schools

In district

#1 of 15

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

Equity

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Santa Monica High

9.4/10

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

Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)

9.2/10

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

Smartstart Developmental Learning Center

Nearby

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

About Santa Monica High

Santa Monica High is a public high school in Santa Monica, CA, part of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified. Santa Monica High serves approximately 2,573 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Santa Monica High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #67 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Santa Monica High show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Santa Monica High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Santa Monica High School, officially abbreviated as Samohi or SMHS, is a public high school located in Santa Monica, California 1 . The institution was founded in 1891 1 . During its early years, the school changed locations several times before establishing its current campus at 601 Pico Boulevard 1 . It operates as part of the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares2.0 pts above district
  • This school 9.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.4
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Santa Monica High is a large school: 2,573 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.2Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-0.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency83.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+28.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+27.9 pts
Overall Proficiency70% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+13.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
College Readiness9.7Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate97%
AP Participation70.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,994
Chronic Absenteeism25.8%

Santa Monica High — Students at Santa Monica High score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 59.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
31.8% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 75.1% (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
68%
ELA
70%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
70%
ELA
71%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
49%
ELA
60%
2016
Math
53%
ELA
83%
2017
Math
51%
ELA
78%
2018
Math
56%
ELA
81%
2019
Math
56%
ELA
81%
2024
Math
56.9%
ELA
83.8%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.2/10.

How Santa Monica High Compares

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

Overall Score
9.4/10
99th percentile in CA
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
9.4/10
Excellent
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.6
Sports
22
11 boys' · 11 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
31%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
135 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.8%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
70.9% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·48 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

601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Santa Monica High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. ST MONICA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 1.1 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is PACIFICA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 1.2 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Olympic High (Continuation) (rated 4.3/10, 0.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Santa Monica, see our Santa Monica schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) Santa Monica 0.5 mi 9.2
SmartStart Developmental Learning Center Santa Monica 0.5 mi
SmartStart Academy Santa Monica 0.5 mi
Olympic High (Continuation) Santa Monica 0.6 mi 4.3
PS1 PLURALISTIC SCHOOL Santa Monica 0.7 mi 6.7
PS1 Pluralistic School Santa Monica 0.7 mi
DRAGON ROCC ACADEMY Santa Monica 0.7 mi
Westside Waldorf School Santa Monica 0.8 mi
WALDORF EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Santa Monica 0.9 mi
Sycamore Community School Santa Monica 0.8 mi
Will Rogers Elementary Santa Monica 0.8 mi 8.3
John Adams Middle Santa Monica 0.9 mi 8.7
ST MONICA CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Santa Monica 1.1 mi 7.3
ST MONICA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Santa Monica 1.1 mi 7.5
CROSSROADS SCHOOL FOR ARTS & SCIENCES Santa Monica 1.1 mi 6.3
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences Santa Monica 1.1 mi
PACIFICA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Santa Monica 1.2 mi 7.1
St. Anne Elementary Santa Monica 1.1 mi
ST ANNES SCHOOL Santa Monica 1.2 mi 7.0
Lincoln Middle Santa Monica 1.2 mi 9.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 90405 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$114,489

Median Home Value

$1,940,700

Median Rent

$2,311/mo

Population

26,809

College Educated

69.8%

Homeownership

31.1%

Avg Commute

27.4 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

42.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Lynbrook High San Jose, CA 9.4
Cupertino High Cupertino, CA 9.3
Mountain View High Mountain View, CA 9.3
Carlmont High Belmont, CA 9.2
Henry M. Gunn High Palo Alto, CA 9.2
Berkeley High Berkeley, CA 9.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Santa Monica High

What grades does Santa Monica High serve?

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

How many students attend Santa Monica High?

Santa Monica High has an enrollment of approximately 2,573 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Santa Monica High is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Santa Monica High rank in CA?

Santa Monica High ranks #67 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Santa Monica High's MySchoolScout rating?

Santa Monica High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 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 Monica High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Santa Monica High has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Santa Monica High a charter school?

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

Is Santa Monica High a Title I school?

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

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

30.8% of students at Santa Monica 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
94 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
76 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
91 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,573
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
135
Free/Reduced Lunch
30.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Los Angeles County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.8%
4-Year Graduation
97.0%

District

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified
District Enrollment
8,641
Schools in District
17
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,994
District Rank
#1 of 15

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