Top Rankings
Santa Barbara Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2024 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 3,090 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 39% (versus the California public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle school average of 77% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
21 Schools
3,481 Schools
# Students
12,849 Students
1,876,774 Students
# Teachers
647 Teachers
87,766 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
District Rank
Santa Barbara Unified School District, which is ranked #665 of all 1,939 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#663 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
![This chart displays the overall district rank of Santa Barbara Unified School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall district rank of Santa Barbara Unified School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_district_rank/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-2i141o.png)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
33%
![This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Santa Barbara Unified School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Santa Barbara Unified School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_math_percent/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-bnbQDRt.png)
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
47%
![This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Santa Barbara Unified School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Santa Barbara Unified School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_rla_percent/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-lpMmjn.png)
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
![This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Santa Barbara Unified School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Santa Barbara Unified School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_sci_percent/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-bu80Fw8.png)
Graduation Rate
95%
87%
![This chart displays public school graduation rate of Santa Barbara Unified School District and public school graduation rate of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays public school graduation rate of Santa Barbara Unified School District and public school graduation rate of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_graduation_rate/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-5TcnPm.png)
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.64
# American Indian Students
34 Students
10,541 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
384 Students
199,377 Students
% Asian Students
3%
11%
# Hispanic Students
7,730 Students
1,021,161 Students
% Hispanic Students
60%
54%
# Black Students
90 Students
104,501 Students
% Black Students
1%
6%
# White Students
4,012 Students
425,946 Students
% White Students
31%
23%
# Hawaiian Students
9 Students
7,948 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
575 Students
103,260 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
18
# Students in K Grade:
550
83,471
# Students in 1st Grade:
432
74,768
# Students in 2nd Grade:
521
77,145
# Students in 3rd Grade:
499
77,354
# Students in 4th Grade:
527
80,438
# Students in 5th Grade:
543
86,149
# Students in 6th Grade:
546
291,394
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,348
434,809
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,446
455,696
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,514
55,188
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,613
52,150
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,599
51,717
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,711
56,477
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,454 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,801. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,462 is higher than the state median of $18,236. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$237 MM
$116,387 MM
![This chart displays total revenue of Santa Barbara Unified School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data. This chart displays total revenue of Santa Barbara Unified School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_total_revenue/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-II2p2K.png)
Spending
$237 MM
$107,188 MM
![This chart displays total spending of Santa Barbara Unified School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data. This chart displays total spending of Santa Barbara Unified School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_spending/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-oUjzPe.png)
Revenue / Student
$18,454
$19,801
![This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Santa Barbara Unified School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data. This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Santa Barbara Unified School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_revenue_ratio/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-bgWm8lk.png)
Spending / Student
$18,462
$18,236
![This chart displays average spending per public school student in Santa Barbara Unified School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data. This chart displays average spending per public school student in Santa Barbara Unified School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in California by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/district_spending_ratio/77601000/77601414/santa-barbara-unified-school-district-chart-ncDoOn.png)
Best Santa Barbara Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2024)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Santa Barbara Charter
Charter School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6100 Stow Canyon Rd.
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-6522
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-6522
Grades: K-8
| 276 students
Rank: #22.
La Colina Junior High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4025 Foothill Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4506
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4506
Grades: 7-8
| 898 students
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
Grades: 7-8
| 744 students
Rank: #44.
La Cumbre Junior High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2255 Modoc Rd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-0761
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 687-0761
Grades: 7-8
| 491 students
Rank: #55.
Santa Barbara Junior High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
721 E. Cota St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Grades: 7-8
| 630 students
Rank: #66.
Alta Vista
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
215 E. Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: K-8
| 51 students
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