Top Rankings
Santa Barbara Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 10 public elementary schools serving 3,598 students in Santa Barbara Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Santa Barbara Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
21 Schools
7,693 Schools
# Students
12,484 Students
3,821,898 Students
# Teachers
644 Teachers
173,967 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Barbara Unified School District, which is ranked #630 of all 1,908 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has increased from 91% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#599 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
12%
% Hispanic
60%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
30%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,994 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,978. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,002 is higher than the state median of $18,399. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$237 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$237 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,994
$19,978
Spending / Student
$19,002
$18,399
Best Santa Barbara Unified School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Santa Barbara Charter
Charter School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6100 Stow Canyon Rd.
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-6522
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-6522
Gr: K-8 | 290 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #22.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
290 Lighthouse Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 965-6653
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 965-6653
Gr: K-6 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #33.
Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1111 East Mason St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-4283
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-4283
Gr: K-6 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #44.
Monroe Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
431 Flora Vista Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 966-7023
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 966-7023
Gr: K-6 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #55.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1990 Laguna St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 563-2062
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 563-2062
Gr: K-6 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #66.
Adams Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2701 Las Positas Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 563-2515
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 563-2515
Gr: K-6 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #77.
Harding University Partnership
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1625 Robbins St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-8994
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-8994
Gr: K-6 | 378 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #88.
Santa Barbara Community Academy
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
850 Portesuello Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-2081
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-2081
Gr: K-6 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #99.
Cleveland Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
123 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-8873
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-8873
Gr: K-6 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1010.
Mckinley Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
350 Loma Alta Dr.
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 966-9926
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
(805) 966-9926
Gr: K-6 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Recent Articles
2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
A 2025 update on U.S. classroom sizes, policy battles, student outcomes, and whether class sizes continue to expand.
Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Explore how personalized learning is reshaping education in 2025—insights, policy, impact, and real-world models for students, parents, and educators.
How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
Explore how bullying harms student achievement, attendance, and well-being — and strategies schools use in 2025 to mitigate its effects.
