Public school · Santa Maria Joint Union High

Ernest Righetti High — Rating & test scores

941 East Foster Road, Santa Maria · 2,416 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 75

DevelopingScope Score · 48th percentile. Higher than 48 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 95% of the class graduated in four years (513 of 538); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 538
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is Ernest Righetti a good high school?

Developing. Ernest Righetti is higher than most California high schools on English test results. Ernest Righetti is lower than most on math test results and attendance.

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced5361%
Math, Proficient or Advanced4223%
English, Advanced5226%
Math, Advanced468%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance4023 in 100
Ernest Righetti’s place among California high schools, out of 100Santa Maria Joint Union High’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

6.4% of students (167 of 2,602) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school.

Each bar is Ernest Righetti’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
CDE suspension file, 2025–26. All students enrolled during the year (CDE’s cumulative enrollment): 2,602. District and California figures are averages of school rates (3 Santa Maria Joint Union High schools; 1,492 scored California high schools), our calculation.

In its own words

What does Ernest Righetti say about itself?

We haven’t read Ernest Righetti’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.

Open erhs.smjuhsd.org (opens in a new tab)

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

1 of the 4 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Ernest Righetti. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

5 high schools within 4.2 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Orcutt Academy CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8586th
  2. Ernest RighettiScope Score 7548th
  3. Family Partnership CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 7442nd
  4. Santa MariaNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 6815th
  5. Olive Grove Charter - Orcutt/Santa MariaCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 54bottom 1%
Santa Maria Joint Union HighCharter

A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

25%50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does Ernest Righetti compare with schools like it?

Ernest Righetti’s Scope Score is 75. 187 California high schools, counting Ernest Righetti, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 75. Ernest Righetti’s result is higher than 89 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 187

  1. Students from low-income families: 50%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 54%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 54%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 57%

    Scope Score 93Strong · 97th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 59%

    Scope Score 93Strong · 96th percentile

187 California public high schools where 49% to 61% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 49% to 61% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Ernest Righetti’s share. The count includes Ernest Righetti. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

Results in both subjects were similar to 2025. English went from 61% to 63% and math from 23% to 27%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202650%45%63%Ernest RighettiThis school57%CaliforniaCalifornia50%Santa Maria Joint Union HighDistrict

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202620%15%32%CaliforniaCalifornia27%Ernest RighettiThis school22%Santa Maria Joint Union HighDistrict

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Santa Maria Joint Union High’s line combines its 3 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other schools. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. Santa Maria Joint Union High’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringErnest RighettiSanta Maria Joint Union HighCaliforniaTested here
201745%50%60%453
201846%48%56%489
201962%56%57%457
202253%40%55%550
202349%40%55%573
202462%51%56%542
202561%51%57%547
202663%50%57%542
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringErnest RighettiSanta Maria Joint Union HighCaliforniaTested here
201715%20%32%456
201821%22%31%486
201923%26%32%462
202219%16%27%534
202318%16%27%568
202420%19%28%529
202523%20%30%544
202627%22%32%539

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Above California in English (reading and writing); below it in math.

English

63%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

18193726
Santa Maria Joint Union High47%California57%

Math

27%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

50231710
Santa Maria Joint Union High19%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 63% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 27% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”). Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 36 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school26%37%19%18%542
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Santa Maria Joint Union High17%30%24%29%1,943
Math, grade 11 · This school10%17%23%50%539
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Santa Maria Joint Union High7%12%22%59%1,950

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 542 tested in English, 539 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here, at 77% of students. 599 of 2,554 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

24in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (599 of 2,554 students).

At the average high school in the Santa Maria Joint Union High district: 19 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 6.4% of students were suspended at least once (167 of 2,602). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

2,416

students in grades 9–12.

Hispanic or Latino 77%White 16%Filipino 2%Asian 2%Black or African American 1%Two or more races <1%American Indian or Alaska Native <1%Not reported <1%

Family income

55%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 1,340 of 2,416. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

124

teachers, with 13 years of experience on average.

0% were in their first year.

83% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

42%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (81 of 194 students).

Santa Maria Joint Union High: 38%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
Hispanic or Latino77%
White16%
Filipino2%
Asian2%
Black or African American1%
Two or more races<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
Not reported<1%
Pacific Islander—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 97.2 of 116.5 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Hispanic or Latino and homeless students here scored well above the same groups across California in English.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • White88 tested70%California 68%
  • Hispanic or Latino419 tested60%California 49%
  • Low-income382 tested58%California 49%
  • Homeless105 tested49%California 35%
  • Students with disabilities72 tested17%California 19%
  • English learners38 tested13%California 8%

Both groups score below California’s rate for all students statewide. 60% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in English (grade 11, spring 2026), against 49% for the same group across California. Homeless students: 49% in English, against 35% for the same group across California. Every group’s math results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 English, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs Santa Maria Joint Union Highvs California
Low-income · 382 tested in English, 379 in math
English58%+1444%+949%
Math23%+518%023%
Hispanic or Latino · 419 tested in English, 416 in math
English60%+1545%+1149%
Math24%+618%+321%
White · 88 tested in English, 86 in math
English70%+367%+268%
Math38%+236%−644%
English learners · 38 tested
English13%+67%+58%
Math8%+26%08%
Students with disabilities · 72 tested in English, 69 in math
English17%+107%−219%
Math4%+13%−48%
Homeless · 105 tested in English, 104 in math
English49%+1336%+1435%
Math20%+515%+515%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Santa Maria Joint Union High, and across California. ■ Green: a group that is behind across California does much better here, by 10 points or more and more than twice the margin of error.

Military-family students and students of two or more races: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Asian, Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native and Pacific Islander students and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

95% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 60% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 74% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

60%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

47%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

95%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 513 of 538 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

60%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 322 of 539 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

47%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 240 of 513 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

74% enrolled in college within 12 months · 539 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓33 · 6%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓48 · 9%
  • California community college294 · 54%
  • In-state private4 · 1%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year20 · 4%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 · 0%
  • Not enrolled140 · 26%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
74%enrolled in college within a year

539 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California33 (6%)
  • California State University48 (9%)
  • California community college294 (54%)
  • In-state private4 (1%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year20 (4%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 (0%)
  • Not enrolled140 (26%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 513 of 538 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 322 of 539 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 240 of 513 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
84
Admitted
70
Enrolled
28

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC IrvineApplied 59 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 54 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled under 3
  • UCLAApplied 42 · Admitted 5 · Enrolled 4
  • UC RiversideApplied 38 · Admitted 31 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 36 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled 6
  • UC San DiegoApplied 36 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled 4
  • UC MercedApplied 33 · Admitted 33 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC DavisApplied 31 · Admitted 14 · Enrolled 5
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 28 · Admitted 20 · Enrolled 7

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 84 · Admitted 70 · Enrolled 28
  • Fall 2024Applied 83 · Admitted 61 · Enrolled 28
  • Fall 2023Applied 99 · Admitted 69 · Enrolled 32
  • Fall 2022Applied 65 · Admitted 45 · Enrolled 19
  • Fall 2021Applied 80 · Admitted 51 · Enrolled 15
  • Fall 2020Applied 68 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled 16
  • Fall 2019Applied 66 · Admitted 37 · Enrolled 19
  • Fall 2018Applied 58 · Admitted 39 · Enrolled 14
  • Fall 2017Applied 71 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled 16
  • Fall 2016Applied 64 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled 15

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
161
Admitted
154
Enrolled
42

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 343 · Admitted 169 · Enrolled 72
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 288 · Admitted 131 · Enrolled 13
  • San Diego StateApplied 285 · Admitted 66 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 180 · Admitted 151 · Enrolled 28
  • Fresno StateApplied 165 · Admitted 162 · Enrolled 17
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 148 · Admitted 139 · Enrolled 9
  • Chico StateApplied 131 · Admitted 123 · Enrolled 8
  • San José StateApplied 124 · Admitted 103 · Enrolled 8
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 89 · Admitted 83 · Enrolled 9
  • Sacramento StateApplied 86 · Admitted 83 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 73 · Admitted 69 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 73 · Admitted 54 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 69 · Admitted 64 · Enrolled under 6
  • San Francisco StateApplied 66 · Admitted 61 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 51 · Admitted 42 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 43 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 37 · Admitted 33 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 37 · Admitted 36 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 28 · Admitted 27 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 27 · Admitted 25 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 13 · Admitted 12 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 13 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled under 6

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 161 · Admitted 154 · Enrolled 42
  • Fall 2024Applied 147 · Admitted 140 · Enrolled 52
  • Fall 2023Applied 146 · Admitted 138 · Enrolled 49
  • Fall 2022Applied 84 · Admitted 78 · Enrolled 28
  • Fall 2021Applied 102 · Admitted 100 · Enrolled 35
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 14 AP courses in 5 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science3
  • Sciences3
  • History & Social Science3
  • World Languages & Cultures2
  • Arts3
Every approved AP course14 courses in 5 subjects
Math & Computer Science 3
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Statistics
Sciences 3
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
History & Social Science 3
  • Microeconomics
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
World Languages & Cultures 2
  • Spanish Language and Culture
  • Spanish Literature and Culture
Arts 3
  • 2-D Art and Design
  • 3-D Art and Design
  • Drawing

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
639 students took one

2023–24

Students taking a college course for credit while in high school, often through a community college. Federal Civil Rights Data Collection, school-reported.

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families can answer a short set of questions about Ernest Righetti. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  2. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  3. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

Staff can’t answer for this school yet

We don’t check staff emails for Santa Maria Joint Union High yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

Money

Where does the money go?

$20,943 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Santa Maria Joint Union High’s plan for 2026–27 covers $40 million.

$20,943

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$15,087
The school’s share of district office costs
$5,856
Of the total, from federal funds
$1,204
  • Ernest Righetti$20,943
  • Santa Maria Joint Union High high schools$20,228
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

Santa Maria Joint Union High’s yearly plan

$40million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$37million

planned for services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 5 goals. The district’s page lists each one. The plan covers $40 million of $190 million in total budgeted spending. Source: Santa Maria Joint Union High Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around Ernest Righetti like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 93455. They are not figures for the families at Ernest Righetti.

Typical household income in a year

$110,661

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 93455.

Typical home value
$610,300
People who live in this ZIP code
44,611
Typical age
38.6 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
32%

What you can do

Who can act on Ernest Righetti’s results?

Santa Maria Joint Union High’s board decides Ernest Righetti’s plan.

When the plan is set

Santa Maria Joint Union High’s board must adopt its yearly plan (LCAP) by July 1, after at least one public hearing at an earlier meeting.

Read the 2026–27 plan (LCAP, PDF)

How to take part

  1. Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  2. Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  3. Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  4. Read the midyear report, due by February 28.

State support

The state hasn’t placed Ernest Righetti in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 8 questions to Ernest Righetti. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What does the school try before a suspension, and who talks with the family?6.4% suspended at least once, 2025–26 (167 of 2,602 students); average California high school: 2.9%
  2. When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?24 in 100 chronically absent, 2025–26 (599 of 2,554 students); average high school in the Santa Maria Joint Union High district: 19 in 100
  3. What extra help do low-income students get, and how do you know it’s working?23% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (379 students tested); the same group across California: 23%
  4. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  5. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  6. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

How do I get in?

Ask Santa Maria Joint Union High which school serves your address.

Where it is

Where is Ernest Righetti?

Address
941 East Foster Road, Santa Maria 93455Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Ted LyonAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated August 20, 2025.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Santa Maria Joint Union High which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Ernest Righetti a good high school?

Ernest Righetti High has a Scope Score of 75. It scored higher than 48 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Developing, 48th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 24 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 19 in 100 at the average high school in the Santa Maria Joint Union High district. 6.4% of students (167 of 2,602) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 36 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 58% of low-income students in grade 11 at Ernest Righetti High in Santa Maria scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 14 AP courses in 5 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 639 students took a college course for credit in 2023–24, by the federal Civil Rights Data Collection

See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

74% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #777 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #1 of 3 in Santa Maria Joint Union High
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate95%5925%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math17%5122%
Ready for college or career (state measure)60%6020%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math42%5418%
Chronically absent23 in 100565%
Suspension rate7.0% (180 of 2,568)355%
English learners: top level15%485%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–257548#777California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–1914 in 1000.3% (7 of 2,474)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2421 in 1005.2% (133 of 2,581)
2024–2523 in 1007.0% (180 of 2,568)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1154226%37%19%18%63%57%+6

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1153910%17%23%50%27%32%−5

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English54226%63%
2026 · Math53910%27%
2025 · English54726%61%
2025 · Math5448%23%
2024 · English54226%62%
2024 · Math5298%20%
2023 · English57319%49%
2023 · Math5686%18%
2022 · English55022%53%
2022 · Math5345%19%
2019 · English45723%62%
2019 · Math4627%23%
2018 · English48914%46%
2018 · Math4865%21%
2017 · English45313%45%
2017 · Math4563%15%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English54761%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math54423%
2024 · Grade 11 · English54262%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math52920%
2023 · Grade 11 · English57349%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math56818%
2022 · Grade 11 · English55053%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math53419%
2019 · Grade 11 · English45762%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math46223%
2018 · Grade 11 · English48946%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math48621%
2017 · Grade 11 · English45345%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math45615%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide5507%32%51%10%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income38258%+14+9
Hispanic or Latino41960%+15+11
White8870%+3+2
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 23 in 100 → 2025–26 · 24 in 100 · +1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 7.0% (180 of 2,568) → 2025–26 · 6.4% (167 of 2,602) · −0.6 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female15 in 10025 in 100+10 in 100
Male13 in 10022 in 100+9 in 100
Asian2 of 554 of 39—
Black or African American8 of 418 of 35—
Filipino2 of 394 of 40—
Hispanic or Latino14 in 10024 in 100+10 in 100
American Indian or Alaska Native5 of 154 of 17—
Two or more races3 of 593 of 22—
White15 in 10024 in 100+9 in 100
Students with disabilities19 in 10031 in 100+12 in 100
English learners15 in 10028 in 100+13 in 100
Foster youth14 of 278 of 28—
Homeless19 in 10030 in 100+11 in 100
Military families6 of 6418 of 67—
Low-income17 in 10026 in 100+9 in 100
All students14 in 10024 in 100+10 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 60% · numerator 322 students classified Prepared · denominator 539 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 39% · AP-pathway numerator 126 · denominator 322 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 322 of 539 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
95%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
39%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
47%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
74%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
20258470283.863.904.07
20248361283.863.974.09
20239969323.813.914.01
20226545193.874.004.06
20218051153.753.914.05
20206846163.673.884.12
20196637193.823.964.11
20185839143.844.004.09
20177143163.703.874.00
20166443153.723.944.06

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley202536106
Berkeley202438116
Berkeley202342115
Berkeley202227under 3under 3
Berkeley2021233under 3
Davis202531145
Davis2024188under 3
Davis20233517under 3
Davis20222811under 3
Davis20213510under 3
Irvine20255912under 3
Irvine202453123
Irvine2023599under 3
Irvine2022423under 3
Irvine2021548under 3
Los Angeles20254254
Los Angeles20245984
Los Angeles20234553
Los Angeles202242under 3under 3
Los Angeles20213953
Merced20253333under 3
Merced202415153
Merced202326243
Merced20221716under 3
Merced20211816under 3
Riverside20253831under 3
Riverside20241810under 3
Riverside202335264
Riverside202227193
Riverside20211710under 3
San Diego202536154
San Diego20245611under 3
San Diego20235810under 3
San Diego202229126
San Diego2021419under 3
Santa Barbara20255423under 3
Santa Barbara202459235
Santa Barbara2023682011
Santa Barbara202241176
Santa Barbara202144153
Santa Cruz202528207
Santa Cruz202428223
Santa Cruz202349303
Santa Cruz2022175under 3
Santa Cruz20212512under 3
Universitywide2025847028
Universitywide2024836128
Universitywide2023996932
Universitywide2022654519
Universitywide2021805115

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
2-D Art and Designthis school
3-D Art and Designthis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Drawingthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
Microeconomicsthis school
Physics 1this school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Spanish Literature and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count15
AP enrollment (male/female)300
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 639 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections2
Physics sections38
Chemistry sections20
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)2,406

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California336%
California State University489%
California community college29454%
In-state private41%
Out-of-state, 4-year204%
Out-of-state, 2-year00%
Not enrolled14026%

539 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 74% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$13,351 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 8,953 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$835 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 2,416

Central federal expenditures attributed here$369 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 2,416

District current expense · FY 2024–25$21,560 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 50%Instruction support 16%Student services 12%Administration 6%Buildings & maintenance 13%Other 3%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$87,227,98450.40%50%
Instruction support$28,509,36316.47%16%
Student services$20,395,69911.78%12%
Administration$10,321,5105.96%6%
Buildings & maintenance$21,926,67012.67%13%
Other$4,690,0502.71%3%
Total$173,071,276100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $173,071,276 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$13,351 per pupil
2020$12,424 per pupil
2019$13,174 per pupil
2018$13,017 per pupil
2017$12,616 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.6%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 93455 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 93455 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$110,661
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)32%
ZIP-area population44,611
Median age38.6 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 93455 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

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Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

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