Top Rankings
Santa Maria Joint Union High 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 4 public high schools serving 8,930 students in Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in California.
Public High Schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High School District have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Santa Maria Joint Union High School District have a Graduation Rate of 93%, which is more than the California average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Pioneer Valley High School, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 94% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
4 Schools
2,790 Schools
# Students
8,930 Students
2,122,151 Students
# Teachers
413 Teachers
101,015 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
22:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, which is ranked #1421 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 93% has increased from 91% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1391 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2012–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
15%
34%
Showing 2012–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
47%
Showing 2011–2022. View full 13-year historical data
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
13%
29%
Graduation Rate
93%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)23.7%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.19
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% American Indian
n/a
1%
Showing 2000–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Asian
2%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hispanic
90%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Black
1%
5%
Showing 2012–2022. View full 35-year historical data
% White
6%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 15-year historical data
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $24,397 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 16% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,641 is higher than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$218 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending
$202 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Revenue / Student
$24,397
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending / Student
$22,641
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Best Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Ernest Righetti High School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
941 East Foster Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-2051
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-2051
Gr: 9-12 | 2,416 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #22.
Pioneer Valley High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
675 Panther Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 922-1305
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 922-1305
Gr: 9-12 | 3,080 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #33.
Santa Maria High School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
901 South Broadway
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 925-2567
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 925-2567
Gr: 9-12 | 3,143 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #44.
Delta High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4893 Bethany Ln.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-6356
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-6356
Gr: 9-12 | 291 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
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