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 10%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 2,192 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 32%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% 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
3,459 Schools
# Students
8,616 Students
1,857,843 Students
# Teachers
464 Teachers
88,071 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, which is ranked #122 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 94% has increased from 91% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#119 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
34%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
75%
47%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
29%
Graduation Rate
94%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)20.6%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.64
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
8%
11%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
30%
55%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
7%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
48%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $36,467 is higher than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $42,093 is higher than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$314 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$363 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$36,467
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$42,093
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 59% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 914 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #22.
Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)
Alternative School
(Math: 60-64% | 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
Gr: K-8 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
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
Gr: 6-8 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #44.
John Adams Middle School
(Math: 45% | 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
Gr: 6-8 | 806 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
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