Total enrollment
13,272
-501 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
35 schools in Santa Barbara
California · Public K-12
Parents in Santa Barbara have 35 public K-12 options when picking a school, with combined enrollment near 13,272 students (21 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high).
4-year change in Santa Barbara
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
32
+4 (+14%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
87,779
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Students
13,272
public K-12 · NCES
Schools
35
public K-12
About Santa Barbara
Across Santa Barbara, California, 35 public schools serves about 13,272 students between them.
For a sense of the school types, the city spans 21 elementary, 4 middle, 7 high, and 3 other.
Average school size in Santa Barbara is around 379 students, 34% below the California average of about 578.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 13,272 students, contracted 4% from the 13,773 reported in SY 2020-21. Santa Barbara now counts 32 public schools, up from 28 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Santa Barbara discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.