Hollister Elementary

Hollister Elementary operates as an intimate K-5 school in Santa Barbara, California, part of Goleta Union Elementary. Current enrollment sits at 393 students spanning grades K through 6.

Goleta Union Elementary runs 9 schools in total, collectively educating 3,395 students. Hollister Elementary is one of those campuses.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Hollister Elementary logs that 52% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school records 32% White, 9% multiracial, 7% Asian. That composition is broadly in line with Santa Barbara County as a whole.

In terms of school funding signals, Hollister Elementary lists 21 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 18.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 22.3:1, putting Hollister Elementary tighter than the state norm the norm. About 45% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Santa Barbara County runs at roughly 68%, so the school's eligibility rate is lower than the surrounding baseline.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Hollister Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 53.0% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 57.5%.

In the surrounding community, census data for Santa Barbara County shows median household earnings sit near $98,161, roughly 37% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 9%. Across Santa Barbara County's 129 public schools (combined enrollment of about 66,191 students), Hollister Elementary is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is El Camino Elementary, roughly 0.6 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Hollister Elementary at 3rd of 6; the average score across the group is 56.0%.

Hollister Elementary operates from an outer-ring location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Hollister Elementary has ticked down 8%, going from 427 students in 2018 to 393 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 58% to 52% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 19.9:1 in 2018 to 18.7:1 today.

Within the allk12 community for this school, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.