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 high schools serving 6,305 students in Santa Barbara Unified School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in California.
Public High Schools in Santa Barbara Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Santa Barbara Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 95%, which is more than the California average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Santa Barbara Senior High School, with 97% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
21 Schools
2,817 Schools
# Students
12,484 Students
2,139,525 Students
# Teachers
644 Teachers
100,737 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1
Student By Grade
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
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
11%
% Hispanic
60%
56%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
30%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
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 High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Dos Pueblos Senior High School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
7266 Alameda Ave.
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 968-2541
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 968-2541
Grades: 9-12
| 2,075 students
Rank: #22.
Alta Vista Alternative High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
215 East Ortega St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: 9-12
| 134 students
Rank: #33.
San Marcos Senior High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4750 Hollister Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4581
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-4581
Grades: 9-12
| 1,943 students
Rank: #44.
Santa Barbara Senior High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
700 East Anapamu St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 966-9101
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 966-9101
Grades: 9-12
| 2,046 students
Rank: #55.
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
Rank: #66.
La Cuesta Continuation High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
710 Santa Barbara St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-0883
Grades: 9-12
| 103 students
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