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 6 public middle schools serving 2,772 students in Santa Barbara Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Santa Barbara Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
21 Schools
3,459 Schools
# Students
12,247 Students
1,857,843 Students
# Teachers
648 Teachers
88,071 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%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)25.5%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
11%
% Hispanic
59%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
31%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,361 in this school district is less than the state median of $20,106. The school district revenue/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,369 is higher than the state median of $18,517. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$237 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$237 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,361
$20,106
Spending / Student
$19,369
$18,517
Best Santa Barbara Unified School District Public Middle 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.
La Colina Junior High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4025 Foothill Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4506
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4506
Gr: 7-8 | 832 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #33.
Goleta Valley Junior High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6100 Stow Canyon Rd.
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-3486
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-3486
Gr: 7-8 | 731 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #44.
Alta Vista
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
215 East Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Gr: 7-8 | 2 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1
Rank: #55.
La Cumbre Junior High School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2255 Modoc Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-0761
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-0761
Gr: 7-8 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #66.
Santa Barbara Junior High School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
721 East Cota St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Gr: 7-8 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
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