Top 10 Best Santa Barbara Public Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 33 public schools serving 13,703 students in Santa Barbara, CA (there are 16 private schools, serving 2,602 private students). 84% of all K-12 students in Santa Barbara, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in Santa Barbara, CA are Cold Spring Elementary School, Montecito Union and Foothill Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Santa Barbara, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 67% (versus the California public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 66% (versus the 49% statewide average). Schools in Santa Barbara have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Santa Barbara, CA (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cold Spring Elementary School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
2243 Sycamore Canyon Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-2678
Grades: K-6
| 192 students
Rank: #22.
Montecito Union
(Math: 87% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
385 San Ysidro Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-3249
Grades: K-6
| 375 students
Rank: #33.
Foothill Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 78% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
711 Ribera Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 681-1268
Grades: K-6
| 374 students
Rank: #44.
Monte Vista Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
730 N. Hope Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 687-5333
Grades: K-6
| 260 students
Rank: #55.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
290 Lighthouse Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 965-6653
Grades: K-6
| 537 students
Rank: #66.
Vieja Valley Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
434 Nogal Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-1239
Grades: K-6
| 304 students
Rank: #77.
La Colina Junior High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 66% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4025 Foothill Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4506
Grades: 7-8
| 898 students
Rank: #88.
Santa Barbara Junior High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
721 E. Cota St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Grades: 7-8
| 630 students
Rank: #99.
Hope Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3970-a La Colina Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 563-2974
Grades: K-6
| 272 students
Rank: #10 - 1410. - 14.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
123 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-8873
Grades: K-6
| 273 students
Rank: #10 - 1410. - 14.
Monroe Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
431 Flora Vista Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 966-7023
Grades: K-6
| 328 students
Rank: #10 - 1410. - 14.
Mountain View Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5465 Queen Anne Ln.
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 681-1284
Grades: K-6
| 372 students
Rank: #10 - 1410. - 14.
Santa Barbara County Community
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93160
(805) 967-5307
Grades: 5-12
| 4 students
Rank: #10 - 1410. - 14.
Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-5307
Grades: 5-12
| 22 students
Rank: #1515.
Peabody Charter
Charter School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 62% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3018 Calle Noguera
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 563-1172
Grades: K-6
| 742 students
Rank: #1616.
Hollister Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 59% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4950 Anita Ln.
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 681-1271
Grades: K-6
| 342 students
Rank: #1717.
San Marcos Senior High School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 65% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4750 Hollister Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4581
Grades: 9-12
| 1,998 students
Rank: #1818.
Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 58% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1111 E. Mason St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-4283
Grades: K-6
| 443 students
Rank: #1919.
Adams Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 53% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2701 Las Positas Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 563-2515
Grades: K-6
| 522 students
Rank: #2020.
Santa Barbara Senior High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 61% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
700 E. Anapamu St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 966-9101
Grades: 9-12
| 2,178 students
Rank: #2121.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 47% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1990 Laguna St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 563-2062
Grades: K-6
| 433 students
Rank: #2222.
El Camino Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
5020 San Simeon Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 692-5574
Grades: K-6
| 275 students
Rank: #2323.
Alta Vista Alternative High School
Alternative School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 60-69% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
215 E. Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: 9-12
| 126 students
Rank: #2424.
La Cumbre Junior High School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 50% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2255 Modoc Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-0761
Grades: 7-8
| 491 students
Rank: #2525.
Santa Barbara Community Academy
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
850 Portesuello Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-2081
Grades: K-6
| 220 students
Rank: #2626.
Harding University Partnership
(Math: 35% | Reading: 38% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1625 Robbins St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-8994
Grades: K-6
| 322 students
Rank: #2727.
Adelante Charter
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1102 E. Yanonali St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 966-7392
Grades: K-6
| 300 students
Rank: #2828.
Santa Barbara County Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 964-4711
Grades: K-12
| 60 students
Rank: #2929.
Mckinley Elementary School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 25-29% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
350 Loma Alta Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 966-9926
Grades: K-6
| 244 students
Rank: #3030.
La Cuesta Continuation High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
710 Santa Barbara St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: 9-12
| 115 students
Rank: n/an/a
Alta Vista
Alternative School
215 E. Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: K-8
| 51 students
Rank: n/an/a
Santa Barbara County Rop-south
Vocational School
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93160
(805) 967-4711
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
1030 E. Yanonali St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-8685
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara, California Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
Community Day (Closed 2011)
Alternative School
4025 Foothill Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 966-0883
Grades: 7-8
| n/a students
721 Cota St Rm. 153
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 896-2634
Grades: K-6
| n/a students
721 Cota St Rm. 153
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Grades: 7-12
| n/a students
4025 Foothill Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 683-3127
Grades: K-6
| 70 students
4750 Hollister Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4581
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
700 E. Anapamu St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 966-9101
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Po Box 6307
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 964-4711
Grades: K-12
| 274 students
430 East Gutierrez St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-7490
Grades: 9-12
| 1 students
430 East Gutierrez St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-7490
Grades: 9-12
| 13 students
3412 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(661) 272-1225
Grades: K-12
| 11 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Santa Barbara, CA?
The top ranked public schools in Santa Barbara, CA include Cold Spring Elementary School, Montecito Union and Foothill Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Santa Barbara, CA?
33 public schools are located in Santa Barbara, CA.
What percentage of students in Santa Barbara, CA go to public school?
84% of all K-12 students in Santa Barbara, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Santa Barbara, CA?
Santa Barbara, CA public schools minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public schools average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

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