Top Rankings
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 10%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 2,158 students in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the California public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 52% 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
17 Schools
3,501 Schools
# Students
8,630 Students
1,854,363 Students
# Teachers
452 Teachers
87,821 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, which is ranked #106 of all 1,925 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 98% has increased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#104 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
75%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
29%
Graduation Rate
98%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
8%
11%
% Hispanic
30%
55%
% Black
7%
5%
% White
48%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $30,981 is higher than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $43,289 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$267 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$374 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$30,981
$19,974
Spending / Student
$43,289
$18,396
Best Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1501 California Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 393-9227
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 393-9227
Grades: 6-8
| 884 students
Rank: #22.
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)
Alternative School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2525 Fifth St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 396-2640
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 396-2640
Grades: K-8
| 219 students
Rank: #33.
Malibu Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
30237 Morning View Dr.
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 457-6801
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 457-6801
Grades: 6-8
| 247 students
Rank: #44.
John Adams Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2425 16th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 452-2326
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 452-2326
Grades: 6-8
| 808 students
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