Best Schools in Santa Barbara County, CA
Santa Barbara County, CA has 160 public schools (23 high, 17 middle, 95 elementary) serving 79,055 students. On average they score 35% on state proficiency tests against a projected 35%, so schools in Santa Barbara County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Santa Barbara County, CA
The top high schools in Santa Barbara County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Malibu High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Monica-malibu Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 396 Students
2. Dos Pueblos Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2034 Students
3. Santa Ynez Valley Union High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Ynez Valley Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 847 Students
4. San Marcos Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2020 Students
5. Cabrillo High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lompoc Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1066 Students
6. Ernest Righetti High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Maria Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2494 Students
7. Carpinteria Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carpinteria Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 653 Students
8. Pioneer Valley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Maria Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 3220 Students
9. Ventura High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ventura Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2095 Students
10. Santa Barbara Senior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2107 Students
Best Middle Schools in Santa Barbara County, CA
The top middle schools in Santa Barbara County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. La Colina Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 900 Students
2. Malibu Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Monica-malibu Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 255 Students
3. Jonata Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buellton Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 169 Students
4. Goleta Valley Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 717 Students
5. Lakeview Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orcutt Union Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 442 Students
6. Orcutt Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orcutt Union Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 468 Students
7. La Cumbre Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 458 Students
8. Carpinteria Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carpinteria Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 406 Students
9. Santa Barbara Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Barbara Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 560 Students
10. Vandenberg Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lompoc Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 594 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Santa Barbara County, CA
The top elementary schools in Santa Barbara County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Cold Spring Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cold Spring Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 193 Students
2. Montecito Union
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Montecito Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 353 Students
3. Mountain View Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Goleta Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 352 Students
4. Foothill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Goleta Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 374 Students
5. Summerland Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carpinteria Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 50 Students
6. Monte Vista Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hope Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 270 Students
7. Ballard Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 118 Students
8. Peabody Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peabody Charter District • Charter • Grades KG - 6 • 767 Students
9. Vieja Valley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hope Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 300 Students
10. Malibu Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Monica-malibu Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 199 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Santa Barbara County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Santa Barbara County, CA has a total population of 448,229 with 30% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 80%, and 34% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Santa Barbara County, CA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Santa Barbara County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
26.52 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
5.36 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
21.16 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Santa Barbara County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Santa Barbara County, CA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Santa Barbara County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Santa Barbara County, CA
How many schools are in Santa Barbara County, CA?
Santa Barbara County, CA has 160 public schools: 23 high schools, 17 middle schools and 95 elementary schools, serving 79,055 students in total.
How do schools in Santa Barbara County perform on state tests?
On average, 160 schools in Santa Barbara County score 35% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 35%, so on average schools in Santa Barbara County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Santa Barbara County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Santa Barbara County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 38%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 28%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 35%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 24%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 33%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 28%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 32%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Santa Barbara County
15 places in Santa Barbara County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (15)
- Santa Maria (35)
- Santa Barbara (29)
- Lompoc (14)
- Goleta (8)
- Carpinteria (5)
- Santa Ynez (5)
- Vandenberg Air Force Base (3)
- Buellton (2)
- Guadalupe (2)
- New Cuyama (2)
- Solvang (2)
- Los Alamos (1)
- Los Olivos (1)
- Orcutt (1)
- Summerland (1)
School districts (9)
- Santa Maria-Bonita (21 schools)
- Santa Barbara Unified (20 schools)
- Lompoc Unified (16 schools)
- Orcutt Union Elementary (10 schools)
- Goleta Union Elementary (9 schools)
- Carpinteria Unified (6 schools)
- Santa Maria Joint Union High (4 schools)
- Cuyama Joint Unified (3 schools)
- Hope Elementary (3 schools)