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Average

#705 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 39% of private schools

The Knox School of Santa Barbara

Elementary School

1525 SANTA BARBARA ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 29 schools in Santa Barbara. Learn more

Enrollment

40

Student-Teacher

4.2:1

Score

6.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Santa Barbara

#7 of 10

public schools

California elementary schools

#395 of 1,102

Academic performance

7.1 / 10

Strong

About The Knox School of Santa Barbara

The Knox School of Santa Barbara stands out as a high-performing elementary school serving students from kindergarten through 8th grade in Santa Barbara, California. With just 40 students enrolled, this intimate learning environment offers an exceptional 4.2:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for highly personalized attention from its 10 full-time equivalent teachers. The school has earned impressive recognition with a 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #489 out of 1790 California schools, placing it in the 73rd percentile statewide.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence within its small, close-knit community setting. Located at 1525 Santa Barbara Street, the school serves families in the 93101 zip code area, where the median household income is $76,130 and 41% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood's median home value of $1,036,800 reflects Santa Barbara's desirable coastal location, though 16.9% of area residents face economic challenges.

The Knox School's remarkably small size creates opportunities for individualized learning and strong relationships between students, teachers, and families. This public elementary school operates within Santa Barbara's vibrant small city atmosphere, offering students an educational experience that combines academic rigor with the warmth and personal attention that only a truly intimate school community can provide.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 40 students, The Knox School of Santa Barbara 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 4.2:1, The Knox School of Santa Barbara 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, The Knox School of Santa Barbara 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.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How The Knox School of Santa Barbara compares to 27 public schools serving similar grades in Santa Barbara, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
4.2:1
This School
vs
16.5:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
40
This School
vs
339
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.6
This School
vs
7.8
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 85% vs 0%
Asian 7.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 5% vs 0%
The Knox School of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
The Knox School of Santa Barbara (this school) 6.6
Roosevelt Elementary 8.0
Alta Vista
Santa Barbara Junior High 5.3
Harding University Partnership 8.2
Santa Barbara Community Academy 5.9
La Cumbre Junior High 5.8
McKinley Elementary 7.0
Peabody Charter 8.2
Adams Elementary 7.4
Adelante Charter 8.7
Franklin Elementary 8.3
Cleveland Elementary 8.4
Monroe Elementary 8.9
Washington Elementary 5.7
Monte Vista Elementary 8.4
Cold Spring Elementary 9.7
Hope Elementary 8.6
La Colina Junior High 7.9
Vieja Valley Elementary 9.0
Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court 7.8

Showing 20 of 27 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+ 9.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 4.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,288.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C+ 3.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 27%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.7 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 40
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 85.0%
Asian 7.5%
Hispanic 5.0%
Pacific Islander 2.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1525 SANTA BARBARA ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The Knox School of Santa Barbara may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Harding University Partnership (rated 8.2/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Roosevelt Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, THE RIVIERA RIDGE SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Santa Barbara, see our Santa Barbara schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
NOTRE DAME SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.1 mi 4.6
ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY Santa Barbara 0.1 mi
Roosevelt Elementary Santa Barbara 0.6 mi 8.0
Peace in a Pod Elementary Santa Barbara 0.7 mi
ANACAPA SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.7 mi 7.0
Santa Barbara Senior High Santa Barbara 0.7 mi 4.1
La Cuesta Continuation High Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 6.4
Alta Vista Alternative High Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 5.7
Alta Vista Santa Barbara 0.8 mi
THE RIVIERA RIDGE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.9 mi 7.5
The Riviera Ridge School Santa Barbara 0.9 mi
PROVIDENCE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 6.8
SANTA BARBARA MIDDLE SCHOOL Santa Barbara 0.8 mi 7.1
Santa Barbara Middle School Santa Barbara 0.8 mi
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara Santa Barbara 1.0 mi
Santa Barbara Junior High Santa Barbara 1.1 mi 5.3
Harding University Partnership Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 8.2
McKinley Elementary Santa Barbara 1.5 mi 7.0
Santa Barbara Community Academy Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 5.9
La Cumbre Junior High Santa Barbara 1.2 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93101 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$79,868

Median Home Value

$1,122,200

Median Rent

$2,109/mo

Population

30,496

College Educated

41.1%

Homeownership

21.8%

Avg Commute

16.5 min

Poverty Rate

17.1%

Median Age

32.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding The Knox School of Santa Barbara has a median household income of $79,868. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,122,200, with a median rent of $2,109/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.1%. 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
FRIENDS WESTERN SCHOOL Pasadena, CA 6.6
KHAN LAB SCHOOL Mountain View, CA 6.6
TEMPLE BETH EL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Riverside, CA 6.6
KINDERCOURT ACADEMY San Carlos, CA 6.5
Mission Valley Lompoc, CA 6.5
SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ontario, CA 6.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The Knox School of Santa Barbara

What grades does The Knox School of Santa Barbara serve?

The Knox School of Santa Barbara serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend The Knox School of Santa Barbara?

The Knox School of Santa Barbara has an enrollment of approximately 40 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Knox School of Santa Barbara?

The student-teacher ratio at The Knox School of Santa Barbara is 4.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does The Knox School of Santa Barbara rank in CA?

The Knox School of Santa Barbara is ranked #705 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is The Knox School of Santa Barbara's MySchoolScout rating?

The Knox School of Santa Barbara has a composite rating of 6.6 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 The Knox School of Santa Barbara a private school?

Yes, The Knox School of Santa Barbara 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 The Knox School of Santa Barbara a religious school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (2,470/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
40
Gender Split
63% M / 37% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
4.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
10
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
179 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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