Public school · Santa Barbara Unified

San Marcos Senior High — Rating & test scores

4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara · 1,926 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 78

SolidScope Score · 62nd percentile. Higher than 62 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, 96% of the class graduated in four years (403 of 420); 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: 420
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 San Marcos a good high school?

Solid. San Marcos is higher than most California high schools on math test results and attendance. San Marcos is lower than most on English test results.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced4456%
Math, Proficient or Advanced6635%
English, Advanced5828%
Math, Advanced7519%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance5320 in 100
San Marcos’s place among California high schools, out of 100Santa Barbara Unified’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 53% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing) and 30% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

Each bar is San Marcos’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
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11: 423. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English and 413,523 in math tested).

In its own words

What does San Marcos say about itself?

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

Open sanmarcos.sbunified.org (opens in a new tab)

Schools like it

How does San Marcos compare with schools like it?

San Marcos’s Scope Score is 78. 209 California high schools, counting San Marcos, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 75. San Marcos’s result is higher than 141 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 209

  1. Students from low-income families: 64%

    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

209 California public high schools where 52% to 64% 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 52% to 64% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of San Marcos’s share. The count includes San Marcos. 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?

English results were similar to 2025; math results were lower. English went from 56% to 53% and math from 35% to 30%.

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%2017201820192022202320242025202660%62%59%Santa Barbara UnifiedDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia53%San MarcosSan Marcos

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202641%33%35%Santa Barbara UnifiedDistrict32%CaliforniaCalifornia30%San MarcosSan Marcos

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Santa Barbara Unified’s line combines its 4 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 Barbara Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSan MarcosSanta Barbara UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201762%60%60%529
201861%61%56%477
201965%62%57%446
202250%52%55%344
202356%56%55%423
202450%52%56%405
202556%57%57%465
202653%59%57%423
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSan MarcosSanta Barbara UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201733%41%32%527
201838%41%31%473
201943%42%32%443
202228%34%27%335
202332%32%27%395
202432%33%28%411
202535%33%30%462
202630%35%32%423

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Near California in both subjects.

English

53%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

26212924
Santa Barbara Unified58%California57%

Math

30%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

46241713
Santa Barbara Unified35%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 53% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 30% 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. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 23 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 school24%29%21%26%423
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Santa Barbara Unified28%30%20%22%1,431
Math, grade 11 · This school13%17%24%46%423
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Santa Barbara Unified17%18%21%44%1,423

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 423 tested in English, 423 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 58% of students. 411 of 1,983 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

21in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (411 of 1,983 students).

At the average Santa Barbara Unified high school: 34 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 3.2% of students were suspended at least once (65 of 2,006). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

1,926

students in grades 9–12.

Hispanic or Latino 58%White 34%Two or more races 3%Asian 2%Not reported 1%Black or African American <1%Filipino <1%

Family income

58%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 1,118 of 1,926. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

94

teachers, with 14 years of experience on average.

4% were in their first year.

85% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

43%

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 (42 of 97 students).

Santa Barbara Unified: 50%. 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 Latino58%
White34%
Two or more races3%
Asian2%
Not reported1%
Black or African American<1%
Filipino<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
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: 77.3 of 90.8 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Hispanic or Latino and low-income students scored well below the same groups across California in English.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • White132 tested80%California 68%
  • Military families30 tested43%California 58%
  • Low-income244 tested39%California 49%
  • Hispanic or Latino254 tested37%California 49%
  • Students with disabilities32 tested9%California 19%

37% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in English (grade 11, spring 2026), against 49% for the same group across California. Low-income students: 39% in English, against 49% 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 Barbara Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 244 tested in English, 245 in math
English39%−241%−1049%
Math16%−218%−723%
Hispanic or Latino · 254 tested in English, 255 in math
English37%−542%−1249%
Math16%−319%−521%
White · 132 tested
English80%+278%+1268%
Math56%+254%+1244%
Students with disabilities · 32 tested in English, 33 in math
English9%−716%−1019%
Math3%−58%−58%
Military families · 30 tested
English43%−245%−1558%
Math17%−522%−1532%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Santa Barbara Unified, and across California. No group that is behind across California does 10 or more points better here.

Students of two or more races and English learners: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Asian, Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander and homeless 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?

96% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 63% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 83% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

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

63%

Across California: 52%.

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

63%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

96%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 403 of 420 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

63%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 264 of 421 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

63%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 254 of 403 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

83% enrolled in college within 12 months · 475 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓55 · 12%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓29 · 6%
  • California community college216 · 46%
  • In-state private37 · 8%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year54 · 11%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year2 · <1%
  • Not enrolled82 · 17%

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
83%enrolled in college within a year

475 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California55 (12%)
  • California State University29 (6%)
  • California community college216 (46%)
  • In-state private37 (8%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year54 (11%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year2 (0%)
  • Not enrolled82 (17%)

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 · 403 of 420 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 · 264 of 421 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 · 254 of 403 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
139
Admitted
104
Enrolled
46

By campus · fall 2025

  • UCLAApplied 100 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled 8
  • UC San DiegoApplied 87 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 82 · Admitted 18 · Enrolled 12
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 77 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled 11
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 73 · Admitted 62 · Enrolled 5
  • UC IrvineApplied 70 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC DavisApplied 66 · Admitted 40 · Enrolled 7
  • UC RiversideApplied 36 · Admitted 27 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC MercedApplied 29 · Admitted 25 · Enrolled under 3

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 139 · Admitted 104 · Enrolled 46
  • Fall 2024Applied 156 · Admitted 112 · Enrolled 41
  • Fall 2023Applied 185 · Admitted 136 · Enrolled 59
  • Fall 2022Applied 170 · Admitted 99 · Enrolled 35
  • Fall 2021Applied 178 · Admitted 128 · Enrolled 54
  • Fall 2020Applied 137 · Admitted 84 · Enrolled 36
  • Fall 2019Applied 170 · Admitted 97 · Enrolled 53
  • Fall 2018Applied 155 · Admitted 69 · Enrolled 33
  • Fall 2017Applied 164 · Admitted 103 · Enrolled 51
  • Fall 2016Applied 142 · Admitted 100 · Enrolled 55

CSU’s own records

California State University

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

Applied
142
Admitted
133
Enrolled
33

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 489 · Admitted 155 · Enrolled 52
  • San Diego StateApplied 438 · Admitted 202 · Enrolled 24
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 262 · Admitted 155 · Enrolled 14
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 160 · Admitted 147 · Enrolled 11
  • San Francisco StateApplied 128 · Admitted 117 · Enrolled 8
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 107 · Admitted 96 · Enrolled 7
  • Chico StateApplied 105 · Admitted 100 · Enrolled 8
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 101 · Admitted 67 · Enrolled under 6
  • San José StateApplied 81 · Admitted 72 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 81 · Admitted 79 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 78 · Admitted 69 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State LAApplied 58 · Admitted 51 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 56 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 51 · Admitted 48 · Enrolled —
  • Sacramento StateApplied 39 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 38 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 33 · Admitted 30 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 27 · Admitted 24 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 25 · Admitted 24 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 24 · Admitted 24 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 13 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 8 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

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 142 · Admitted 133 · Enrolled 33
  • Fall 2024Applied 155 · Admitted 148 · Enrolled 23
  • Fall 2023Applied 184 · Admitted 167 · Enrolled 34
  • Fall 2022Applied 145 · Admitted 127 · Enrolled 26
  • Fall 2021Applied 152 · Admitted 131 · Enrolled 28
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 22 AP courses in 6 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 Science5
  • Sciences5
  • English2
  • History & Social Science6
  • World Languages & Cultures1
  • Arts3
Every approved AP course22 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 5
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Precalculus
  • Statistics
Sciences 5
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
  • Physics 2
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 6
  • Human Geography
  • Microeconomics
  • Psychology
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
  • World History: Modern
World Languages & Cultures 1
  • Spanish Language 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)
929 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 San Marcos. 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 Barbara Unified 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?

$17,638 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Santa Barbara Unified’s plan for 2026–27 covers $26 million.

$17,638

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$10,955
The school’s share of district office costs
$6,683
Of the total, from federal funds
$1,144
  • San Marcos$17,638
  • Santa Barbara Unified high schools$18,146
  • 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 Barbara Unified’s yearly plan

$26million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$22million

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 4 goals. The district’s page lists each one. The plan covers $26 million of $263 million in total budgeted spending. Source: Santa Barbara Unified Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around San Marcos like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 93110. They are not figures for the families at San Marcos.

Typical household income in a year

$129,209

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 93110.

Typical home value
$1,199,500
People who live in this ZIP code
15,436
Typical age
47.4 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
51%

What you can do

Who can act on San Marcos’ results?

Santa Barbara Unified’s board decides San Marcos’ plan.

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 San Marcos 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 6 questions to San Marcos. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do low-income students get, and how do you know it’s working?16% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (245 students tested); the same group across California: 23%
  2. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  3. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  4. 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

Which schools feed into San Marcos, and how do I get in?

Ask Santa Barbara Unified which school serves your address. From La Cumbre Junior High and parts of La Colina Junior High.

Boundaries split some neighborhoods. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level.

Middle · assigned
La Cumbre Junior High Scope Score 74Developing · 43rd percentile · 2026

Fed by 5 elementary schools

Middle · part of its area
La Colina Junior High Scope Score 88Strong · 92nd percentile · 2026

Split: some of its area goes to another high school

High · this school
San Marcos Senior High

From the district’s 2024 attendance boundaries. Shares are our estimate of where the zone’s children live. We use 2020 Census child counts, or land area where few children were counted. A share counts children living in the zone, not a school’s enrolled students. A boundary doesn’t guarantee a place. Transfers, permits, magnets and other programs can change the path. Check your child’s address and current assignment with the district. Explore schools on the map

All feeding elementary schools (5)Grouped by the middle school each one feeds, with each school’s standing

Into La Cumbre Junior High

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Adams Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 75 · Solid · 50th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Harding University Partnership

    Assigned

    Scope Score 81 · Solid · 74th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • McKinley Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 69 · Needs Support · 12th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Monroe Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 73 · Developing · 39th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Washington Elementary

    Assigned for part of the zone

    Scope Score 84 · Strong · 84th percentile · elementary · 2026

    63% of the zone’s children

Middle-school links

  • La Cumbre Junior High

    Assigned

    Scope Score 74 · Developing · 43rd percentile · middle · 2026

  • La Colina Junior High

    Assigned for part of the zone

    Scope Score 88 · Strong · 92nd percentile · middle · 2026

    76% of the zone’s children

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking.

Where it is

Where is San Marcos?

Address
4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara 93110Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Dare HoldrenAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated August 8, 2024.

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 Barbara Unified which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is San Marcos a good high school?

San Marcos Senior High has a Scope Score of 78. It scored higher than 62 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Solid, 62nd percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 21 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 34 in 100 at the average Santa Barbara Unified high school. 3.2% of students (65 of 2,006) 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 23 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, 39% of low-income students in grade 11 at San Marcos Senior High in Santa Barbara 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 22 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 929 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?

83% 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 #569 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #2 of 4 in Santa Barbara Unified
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate96%6025%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math24%5822%
Ready for college or career (state measure)63%6120%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math45%5718%
Chronically absent20 in 100585%
Suspension rate2.8% (56 of 1,986)545%
English learners: top level11%425%

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
2024–257862#569California 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 1003.8% (81 of 2,146)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2421 in 1002.4% (48 of 2,029)
2024–2520 in 1002.8% (56 of 1,986)

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 1142324%29%21%26%53%57%−4

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 1142313%17%24%46%30%32%−2

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 · English42324%53%
2026 · Math42313%30%
2025 · English46528%56%
2025 · Math46219%35%
2024 · English40523%50%
2024 · Math41115%32%
2023 · English42327%56%
2023 · Math39514%32%
2022 · English34421%50%
2022 · Math33510%28%
2019 · English44635%65%
2019 · Math44316%43%
2018 · English47731%61%
2018 · Math47314%38%
2017 · English52929%62%
2017 · Math52711%33%

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 8 · English0—
2025 · Grade 11 · English46556%
2025 · Grade 8 · Math0—
2025 · Grade 11 · Math46235%
2024 · Grade 11 · English40550%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math41132%
2023 · Grade 11 · English42356%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math39532%
2022 · Grade 11 · English34450%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math33528%
2019 · Grade 11 · English44665%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math44343%
2018 · Grade 11 · English47761%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math47338%
2017 · Grade 11 · English52962%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math52733%

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
Schoolwide43614%28%48%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-income24439%−2−10
Hispanic or Latino25437%−5−12
White13280%+2+12
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 · 20 in 100 → 2025–26 · 21 in 100 · +1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 2.8% (56 of 1,986) → 2025–26 · 3.2% (65 of 2,006) · +0.4 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female15 in 10019 in 100+4 in 100
Male13 in 10022 in 100+9 in 100
Asian3 of 747 of 48—
Black or African American1 of 150 of 13—
Filipino0 of 120 of 11—
Hispanic or Latino16 in 10024 in 100+8 in 100
Two or more races4 of 179 of 63—
White12 in 10017 in 100+5 in 100
Students with disabilities30 in 10033 in 100+3 in 100
English learners25 in 10040 in 100+15 in 100
Homeless18 in 100——
Low-income18 in 10025 in 100+7 in 100
All students14 in 10021 in 100+7 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 63% · numerator 264 students classified Prepared · denominator 421 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 60% · AP-pathway numerator 159 · denominator 264 (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 264 of 421 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
96%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
60%
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)
63%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
83%

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)
2025139104463.924.054.17
2024156112413.924.034.17
2023185136594.024.124.12
202217099353.884.084.23
2021178128543.954.064.17
202013784363.904.074.16
201917097533.884.034.05
201815569333.834.054.08
2017164103513.894.084.10
2016142100553.854.004.07

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
Berkeley2025821812
Berkeley2024812610
Berkeley2023128218
Berkeley20221002310
Berkeley2021963115
Davis202566407
Davis202477396
Davis2023112575
Davis202296406
Davis202193547
Irvine20257023under 3
Irvine20246728under 3
Irvine20231006117
Irvine20227812under 3
Irvine20217014under 3
Los Angeles2025100108
Los Angeles2024110107
Los Angeles2023136158
Los Angeles2022119106
Los Angeles2021118168
Merced20252925under 3
Merced20241512under 3
Merced202313134
Merced20221613under 3
Merced20211716under 3
Riverside20253627under 3
Riverside20242616under 3
Riverside2023108under 3
Riverside20223216under 3
Riverside20213121under 3
San Diego20258717under 3
San Diego20249023under 3
San Diego202311619under 3
San Diego2022106214
San Diego2021106395
Santa Barbara2025773811
Santa Barbara202498408
Santa Barbara20231204110
Santa Barbara2022105183
Santa Barbara20211104210
Santa Cruz202573625
Santa Cruz202487646
Santa Cruz202386595
Santa Cruz202284465
Santa Cruz202172467
Universitywide202513910446
Universitywide202415611241
Universitywide202318513659
Universitywide20221709935
Universitywide202117812854

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
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
Drawingthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
Human Geographythis school
Microeconomicsthis school
Physics 1this school
Physics 2this school
Precalculusthis school
Psychologythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school
World History: Modernthis 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 count5
AP enrollment (male/female)250
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 929 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections3
Physics sections11
Chemistry sections5
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)1,943

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 California5512%
California State University296%
California community college21646%
In-state private378%
Out-of-state, 4-year5411%
Out-of-state, 2-year20%
Not enrolled8217%

475 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 83% · % 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$14,447 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 13,188 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$891 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,926

Central federal expenditures attributed here$253 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,926

District current expense · FY 2024–25$21,939 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 56%Instruction support 15%Student services 12%Administration 6%Buildings & maintenance 10%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$135,008,41655.95%56%
Instruction support$35,369,38014.66%15%
Student services$28,490,70911.81%12%
Administration$15,394,4586.38%6%
Buildings & maintenance$25,228,43310.46%10%
Other$1,806,6190.75%1%
Total$241,298,016100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $241,298,016 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$14,447 per pupil
2020$13,462 per pupil
2019$13,495 per pupil
2018$11,638 per pupil
2017$10,981 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 holders0.0%

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 93110 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 93110 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$129,209
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)51%
ZIP-area population15,436
Median age47.4 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 93110 →

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

Embed this scorecard

<iframe
  src="https://schoolscope.co/embed/school/san-marcos-senior-high-5230"
  width="100%" height="210" loading="lazy"
  style="border:0;border-radius:12px"
  title="San Marcos Senior High — SchoolScope scorecard">
</iframe>

Free to embed with the credit link. Data updates automatically.

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