For the 2025 school year, there are 41 public schools serving 31,714 students in Santa Maria, CA (there are 7 private schools, serving 1,735 private students). 95% of all K-12 students in Santa Maria, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in Santa Maria, CA are Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, Orcutt Academy Charter and Joe Nightingale Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Santa Maria, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the California public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Santa Maria have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 91% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Santa Maria, CA (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Benjamin Foxen Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4949 Foxen Canyon Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 937-1148
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 937-1148
Grades: K-8
| 192 students
Rank: #22.
Orcutt Academy Charter
Charter School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
500 Dyer St.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8900
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8900
Grades: K-12
| 778 students
Rank: #33.
Joe Nightingale Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
255 Winter Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8650
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8650
Grades: K-6
| 684 students
Rank: #44.
Pine Grove Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1050 East Rice Ranch Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8800
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8800
Grades: K-6
| 547 students
Rank: #55.
Patterson Road Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
400 Patterson Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8750
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8750
Grades: K-6
| 641 students
Rank: #66.
Orcutt Junior High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
608 Pinal St.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8700
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8700
Grades: 7-8
| 480 students
Rank: #77.
Family Partnership Charter
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1157 E. Clark Ave. Ste. H
Santa Maria, CA 93456
(805) 348-3333
Santa Maria, CA 93456
(805) 348-3333
Grades: K-12
| 400 students
Rank: #88.
Lakeview Junior High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3700 Orcutt Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8600
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8600
Grades: 7-8
| 426 students
Rank: #99.
Olive Grove Charter - Buellton
Charter School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
240 East Highway 246, Ste. 100
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Grades: K-12
| 29 students
Rank: #1010.
Ralph Dunlap Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1220 Oak Knoll Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8500
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8500
Grades: K-6
| 486 students
Rank: #1111.
Ernest Righetti High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
941 East Foster Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-2051
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-2051
Grades: 9-12
| 2,424 students
Rank: #1212.
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
930 West Rancho Verde
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7680
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7680
Grades: K-6
| 882 students
Rank: #1313.
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1248 East Dena Way
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7940
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7940
Grades: K-6
| 874 students
Rank: #1414.
Alice Shaw Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
759 Dahlia Pl.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8850
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8850
Grades: K-6
| 526 students
Rank: #1515.
Jimenez Roberto And Dr. Francisco Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1970 South Biscayne St.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-4340
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-4340
Grades: K-8
| 1,043 students
Rank: #1616.
Pioneer Valley High School
(Math: 18% | 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
Grades: 9-12
| 3,112 students
Rank: #1717.
Orcutt School For Independent Study
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1220 Oak Knoll Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 960-5572
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 960-5572
Grades: K-8
| 44 students
Rank: #1818.
Sanchez (David J.) Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
804 West Liberty St.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-4625
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-4625
Grades: K-6
| 658 students
Rank: #1919.
Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1921 North Carlotti Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6250
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6250
Grades: K-6
| 876 students
Rank: #2020.
Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1890 Sandalwood Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 361-6860
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 361-6860
Grades: K-6
| 292 students
Rank: #2121.
Fairlawn Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
120 North Mary Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7500
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7500
Grades: K-6
| 716 students
Rank: #2222.
Olive Grove Charter - Lompoc
Charter School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
820 North H St. Suites Bcd
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Grades: K-12
| 109 students
Rank: #2323.
Kunst (Tommie) Junior High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
930 Hidden Pines Way
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-5800
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-5800
Grades: 7-8
| 1,028 students
Rank: #2424.
Miller (Isaac) Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
410 East Camino Colegio
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7560
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7560
Grades: K-6
| 883 students
Rank: #2525.
Bill Libbon Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
750 Meehan St.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6500
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6500
Grades: K-6
| 739 students
Rank: #2626.
Olive Grove Charter - Orcutt/santa Maria
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5075 Bradley Rd., Ste. 234
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Grades: K-12
| 141 students
Rank: #2727.
Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara
Charter School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1933 Cliff Dr., Ste.12
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Grades: K-12
| 82 students
Rank: #2828.
El Camino Junior High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
219 West El Camino
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7800
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7800
Grades: 7-8
| 833 students
Rank: #2929.
Fesler (Isaac) Junior High School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1100 East Fesler St.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7880
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7880
Grades: 7-8
| 958 students
Rank: #3030.
Santa Maria High School
(Math: 12% | 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
Grades: 9-12
| 3,110 students
Rank: #3131.
Battles (Washington) Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
605 East Battles Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6880
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6880
Grades: K-6
| 756 students
Rank: #3232.
Liberty Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1300 West Sonya Ln.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-4530
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-4530
Grades: K-6
| 873 students
Rank: #3333.
Alvin Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
301 East Alvin Ave.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6760
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6760
Grades: K-6
| 939 students
Rank: #3434.
Adam (William Laird) Elementary School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 West Windsor
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-6700
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-6700
Grades: K-6
| 870 students
Rank: #3535.
Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1120 West Harding St.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7620
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7620
Grades: K-6
| 867 students
Show 6 more public schools in Santa Maria, CA (out of 41 total schools)
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Santa Maria, California Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
625 S. Mcclelland
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 348-3333
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 348-3333
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
610 Pinal St
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8550
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8550
Grades: K-6
| 488 students
Phoenix High School (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
402 Farnel Rd., Ste. M
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 964-4710
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 964-4710
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Santa Maria, CA?
The top ranked public schools in Santa Maria, CA include Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, Orcutt Academy Charter and Joe Nightingale Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Santa Maria?
41 public schools are located in Santa Maria.
What percentage of students in Santa Maria go to public school?
95% of all K-12 students in Santa Maria are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Santa Maria?
Santa Maria public schools minority enrollment is 91% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Santa Maria are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Santa Maria include: Pioneer Valley High School vs. Santa Maria High School, Ralph Dunlap Elementary School vs. Patterson Road Elementary School, Santa Maria High School vs. Pioneer Valley High School
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