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 2025 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 2,875 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 65% 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
3,501 Schools
# Students
12,484 Students
1,854,363 Students
# Teachers
644 Teachers
87,821 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
District Rank
Santa Barbara Unified School District, which is ranked #661 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 95% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#663 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
95%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.64
# American Indian Students
25 Students
9,887 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
349 Students
201,760 Students
% Asian Students
3%
11%
# Hispanic Students
7,483 Students
1,009,980 Students
% Hispanic Students
60%
55%
# Black Students
81 Students
97,908 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
3,810 Students
413,325 Students
% White Students
30%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
9 Students
7,600 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
702 Students
109,003 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
628
90,358
# Students in 1st Grade:
470
70,728
# Students in 2nd Grade:
479
73,359
# Students in 3rd Grade:
434
73,090
# Students in 4th Grade:
529
76,068
# Students in 5th Grade:
527
82,191
# Students in 6th Grade:
519
289,122
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,289
439,549
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,307
441,705
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,495
59,696
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,559
51,846
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,556
51,149
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,692
55,419
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,994 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,002 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$237 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$237 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,994
$19,974
Spending / Student
$19,002
$18,396
Best Santa Barbara Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
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
| 290 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
| 893 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
| 736 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
| 450 students
Rank: #55.
Santa Barbara Junior High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
721 East Cota St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-7751
Grades: 7-8
| 502 students
Rank: #66.
Alta Vista
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
215 East Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: 7-9
| 4 students
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