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 2026-27 school year, there are 10 public elementary schools serving 3,549 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 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public elementary school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
21 Schools
7,664 Schools
# Students
12,247 Students
3,815,621 Students
# Teachers
648 Teachers
173,890 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Barbara Unified School District, which is ranked #628 of all 1,903 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%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
92%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)25.5%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.64
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
59%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
1%
5%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
% White
31%
20%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
7%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $24,352 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,634 is higher than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$298 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$277 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$24,352
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$22,634
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
Best Santa Barbara Unified School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)
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 | 269 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
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 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
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 | 424 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
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 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
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 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 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 | 469 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
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 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
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 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
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 | 254 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
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 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
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