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Santa Barbara County

California · Public K-12

Santa Barbara County reports 129 public K-12 schools and roughly 66,191 students enrolled, per NCES, with a mix of 80 elementary, 16 middle, and 22 high.

7-year change in Santa Barbara County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
66,191
-3,462 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
120
+1 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
19%
was 23%
% Hispanic
73%
was 69%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
2%
was 3%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
443,701
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
129
34 districts
Enrollment
66,191
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$98,161
Above California avg
Free/reduced lunch
68.3%
Above California avg
Elementary
80
35,494 students
Middle
16
9,313 students
High
22
19,464 students
Combined / other
11
1,920 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Santa Maria-Bonita
17,408 students · 34 districts in Santa Barbara County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Santa Barbara County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
48%
Hispanic
48%
Black
2%
Asian
5%
Two or more
28%
Native American
2%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
19%
Hispanic
73%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
36.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.4%
civilian labor
Median age
35
22.4% under 18

Test scores in Santa Barbara County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 93 schools ranked. California state average: 47.6%.

See all 93 schools in Santa Barbara County ranked by score →

All schools (129)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Santa Maria HighSanta MariaHigh09-123,143·
Pioneer Valley HighSanta MariaHigh09-123,080·
Ernest Righetti HighSanta MariaHigh09-122,416·
Dos Pueblos Senior HighGoletaHigh09-122,149·
San Marcos Senior HighSanta BarbaraHigh09-121,926·
Santa Barbara Senior HighSanta BarbaraHigh09-121,924·
Lompoc HighLompocHigh09-121,593·
JIMENEZ ROBERTO AND DR. FRANCISCO ELEMENTARYSanta MariaElementaryKG-081,177·
Cabrillo HighLompocHigh09-121,060·
Bruce (Robert) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-061,050·
Alvin ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06998·
Fesler (Isaac) Junior HighSanta MariaMiddle07-08974·
Tunnell (Martin Luther) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06917·
Kunst (Tommie) Junior HighSanta MariaMiddle07-08912·
Rice (William) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06887·
Miller (Isaac) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06883·
Adam (William Laird) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06874·
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06869·
Liberty ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06865·
Oakley (Calvin C.) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06849·
Taylor (Ida Redmond) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06849·
Bill Libbon ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06834·
La Colina Junior HighSanta BarbaraMiddle07-08832·
El Camino Junior HighSanta MariaMiddle07-08830·
Orcutt Academy CharterOrcuttCombinedKG-12812·
Santa Ynez Valley Union HighSolvangHigh09-12801·
Peabody CharterSanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06780·
Battles (Washington) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06769·
Arthur Hapgood ElementaryLompocElementaryKG-06768·
Lompoc Valley MiddleLompocMiddle07-08744·
Mary Buren ElementaryGuadalupeElementaryKG-04738·
Goleta Valley Junior HighGoletaMiddle07-08731·
Fairlawn ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06716·
Joe Nightingale ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06695·
Arellanes Junior HighSanta MariaMiddle07-08668·
Patterson Road ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06662·
Sanchez (David J.) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06654·
Miguelito ElementaryLompocElementaryKG-06634·
Solvang ElementarySolvangElementaryKG-08602·
Carpinteria Senior HighCarpinteriaHigh09-12593·
Kermit McKenzie IntermediateGuadalupeMiddle04-08585·
Pine Grove ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06569·
Vandenberg MiddleVandenberg Air Force BaseMiddle07-08565·
La Canada ElementaryLompocElementaryKG-06541·
Bonita ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06535·
La Honda STEAM AcademyLompocElementaryKG-06531·
Alice Shaw ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06530·
Santa Barbara Junior HighSanta BarbaraMiddle07-08512·
Ralph Dunlap ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06502·
Buena Vista ElementaryLompocElementaryKG-06498·
Clarence Ruth ElementaryLompocElementaryKG-06495·
Manzanita Public CharterVandenberg Air Force BaseElementaryKG-06483·
Washington ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06477·
Canalino ElementaryCarpinteriaElementaryKG-05471·
Adams ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06469·
Leonora Fillmore ElementaryLompocElementaryKG-06469·
Orcutt Junior HighSanta MariaMiddle07-08464·
Lakeview Junior HighSanta MariaMiddle07-08463·
Roosevelt ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06463·
Carpinteria MiddleCarpinteriaMiddle06-08437·
Brandon ElementaryGoletaElementaryKG-06429·
La Cumbre Junior HighSanta BarbaraMiddle07-08426·
Franklin ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06424·
Isla Vista ElementaryGoletaElementaryKG-06418·
Foothill ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06413·
Los Berros Visual and Performing Arts AcademyLompocElementaryKG-06398·
Hollister ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06393·
Oak Valley ElementaryBuelltonElementaryKG-05377·
Crestview ElementaryVandenberg Air Force BaseElementaryKG-06373·
Family Partnership CharterSanta MariaCombinedKG-12372·
Kellogg ElementaryGoletaElementaryKG-06369·
La Patera ElementaryGoletaElementaryKG-06369·
Harding University PartnershipSanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06364·
Montecito UnionSanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06353·
Mountain View ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06351·
El Camino ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06350·
Aliso ElementaryCarpinteriaElementaryKG-05315·
Monroe ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06315·
Vieja Valley ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06313·
Adelante CharterSanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06306·
Ellwood ElementaryGoletaElementaryKG-06303·
Trivium Charter School AdventureLompocCombinedKG-12301·
Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-06298·
McKinley ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06293·
Delta HighSanta MariaHigh09-12291·
Hope ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06279·
Santa Barbara CharterGoletaElementaryKG-08269·
Monte Vista ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06267·
Cleveland ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06254·
Santa Barbara Community AcademySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06221·
Benjamin Foxen ElementarySanta MariaElementaryKG-08210·
Santa Ynez Valley CharterSanta YnezElementaryKG-08189·
Cold Spring ElementarySanta BarbaraElementaryKG-06188·
Olga L. Reed ElementaryLos AlamosElementaryKG-08170·
Jonata MiddleBuelltonMiddle06-08168·
Los Olivos ElementaryLos OlivosElementaryKG-08159·
Olive Grove Charter - Orcutt/Santa MariaOrcuttCombinedKG-12153·
Santa Ynez ElementarySanta YnezElementary01-08147·
Maple HighLompocHigh09-12135·
Olive Grove Charter - LompocLompocCombinedKG-12125·

Cities in Santa Barbara County

Santa Maria37 schoolsSanta Barbara35 schoolsLompoc16 schoolsGoleta9 schoolsCarpinteria5 schoolsGuadalupe4 schoolsNew Cuyama4 schoolsSolvang4 schoolsBuellton3 schoolsSanta Ynez3 schoolsVandenberg Air Force Base3 schoolsOrcutt2 schoolsGaviota1 schoolLos Alamos1 schoolLos Olivos1 schoolSummerland1 school

About Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County is a wide-reaching county of about 443,701 residents in California. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 66,191 students across 129 schools.

In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $98,161 a year, about 37% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 10% above the California median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Santa Barbara County spans 80 elementary schools (35,494 students), 16 middle schools (9,313), 22 high schools (19,464), and 11 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Santa Barbara County is Santa Maria-Bonita, which alone enrolls about 17,408 students.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 5%: 69,653 students in SY 2017-18 versus 66,191 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 119 to 120 across the same 7-year window. Demographically, the White share of enrollment decreased from 23% to 19%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Santa Barbara County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County, California has 129 public K-12 schools serving approximately 66,191 students.
How many high schools are in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County, California has 22 public high schools, serving approximately 19,464 students.
How many middle schools are in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County, California has 16 public middle schools, serving approximately 9,313 students.
How many elementary schools are in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County, California has 80 public elementary schools, serving approximately 35,494 students.
What is the largest school district in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Maria-Bonita is the largest school district in Santa Barbara County, serving approximately 17,408 students. The county contains 34 school districts overall.
What is the population of Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County, California has a population of approximately 443,701, with a median age of 35. About 22.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Santa Barbara County?
Median household income in Santa Barbara County is $98,161, above the California average of $89,387. About 8.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Santa Barbara County?
Approximately 36.8% of adults 25 and older in Santa Barbara County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Santa Barbara County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 68.3% of students in Santa Barbara County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the California county average of 60.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Barbara County schools?
Across Santa Barbara County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 20.9 to 1.

Santa Barbara County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data