Public school · Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

Santa Monica High — Rating & test scores

601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica · 2,588 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap, with building heights from LA County. 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 89

StrongScope Score · 93rd percentile. Higher than 93 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, 99% of the class graduated in four years (696 of 704); 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: 704
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 Santa Monica High a good high school?

Strong. Santa Monica High is higher than most California high schools on test results. Santa Monica High is lower than most on attendance.

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

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced9283%
Math, Proficient or Advanced9057%
English, Advanced9558%
Math, Advanced9235%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance4921 in 100
Santa Monica High’s place among California high schools, out of 100Santa Monica-Malibu Unified’s other high schoolBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 83% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing) and 56% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

Each bar is Santa Monica High’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: 597 in English, 579 in math. 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).

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

0 of the 8 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Santa Monica High. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

9 high schools within 4.9 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Santa MonicaScope Score 8993rd
  2. New West CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8686th
  3. Palisades CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8586th
  4. Culver CityCulver City Unified · by addressScope Score 8381st
  5. WISH AcademyCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8381st
  6. VeniceLos Angeles Unified · by addressScope Score 8175th
  7. Magnolia Science Academy 4Charter · its own lotteryScope Score 7863rd
  8. University High School CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 7447th
  9. WESM Health/Sports MedicineMagnet · by applicationScope Score 7232nd
Santa Monica-Malibu UnifiedA neighborhood school in another districtCharterMagnet or school of choice

A neighborhood school in another district takes students who live in its area. Ask that district about a transfer. A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats. A magnet or other school of choice takes applications through its district.

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%

5 of 9 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

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 Santa Monica High compare with schools like it?

Santa Monica High’s Scope Score is 89. 168 California high schools, counting Santa Monica High, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 80. Santa Monica High’s result is higher than 154 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 168

  1. Students from low-income families: 31%

    Scope Score 100Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 37%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 36%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 40%

    Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 32%

    Scope Score 94Strong · 97th percentile

168 California public high schools where 29% to 41% 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 29% to 41% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Santa Monica High’s share. The count includes Santa Monica High. 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 stayed at 83% and math went from 57% to 56%.

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%2017201820192022202320242025202682%83%83%Santa Monica HighThis school82%Santa Monica-Malibu UnifiedDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%20172018201920222023202420252026Both 53%56%Santa Monica HighThis school55%Santa Monica-Malibu UnifiedDistrict32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified’s line combines its 2 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other school. 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 Monica-Malibu Unified’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSanta Monica HighSanta Monica-Malibu UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201783%82%60%645
201879%79%56%657
201981%81%57%609
202282%82%55%585
202383%81%55%638
202484%83%56%647
202583%81%57%599
202683%82%57%597
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSanta Monica HighSanta Monica-Malibu UnifiedCaliforniaTested here
201753%53%32%628
201851%51%31%663
201956%56%32%617
202251%52%27%589
202351%49%27%629
202457%56%28%647
202557%55%30%591
202656%55%32%579

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Well above California in both subjects.

English

83%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

113152
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified82%California57%

Math

56%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

23212531
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified55%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 83% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 56% 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 27 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 school52%31%11%6%597
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Santa Monica-Malibu Unified51%31%11%7%684
Math, grade 11 · This school31%25%21%23%579
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Santa Monica-Malibu Unified31%24%21%24%665

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 597 tested in English, 579 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?

White students are the largest group here, at 42% of students. 546 of 2,618 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 (546 of 2,618 students).

At the average Santa Monica-Malibu Unified high school: 23 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 1.8% of students were suspended at least once (47 of 2,641). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

2,588

students in grades 9–12.

White 42%Hispanic or Latino 33%Two or more races 9%Black or African American 9%Asian 7%Filipino <1%

Family income

35%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 916 of 2,588. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

141

teachers, with 12 years of experience on average.

8% were in their first year.

81% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

54%

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 (28 of 52 students).

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified: 54%. 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
White42%
Hispanic or Latino33%
Two or more races9%
Black or African American9%
Asian7%
Filipino<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
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: 107.6 of 133.1 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Four student groups here scored well above the same groups across California in English.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Two or more races55 tested93%California 67%
  • White252 tested92%California 68%
  • Asian39 tested90%California 79%
  • Hispanic or Latino193 tested74%California 49%
  • Low-income188 tested69%California 49%
  • Black or African American50 tested62%California 42%
  • Students with disabilities58 tested43%California 19%

Hispanic or Latino, low-income and Black or African American students and students with disabilities all score below California’s rate for all students statewide. 74% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in English (grade 11, spring 2026), against 49% for the same group across California. The chart gives each group’s figures. 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 Monica-Malibu Unifiedvs California
Low-income · 188 tested in English, 182 in math
English69%069%+2049%
Math33%033%+1023%
White · 252 tested in English, 244 in math
English92%+587%+2468%
Math71%+665%+2744%
Hispanic or Latino · 193 tested in English, 187 in math
English74%074%+2549%
Math33%033%+1221%
Two or more races · 55 tested
English93%+192%+2667%
Math71%+170%+2843%
Black or African American · 50 tested in English, 47 in math
English62%+458%+2042%
Math40%+139%+2119%
Asian · 39 tested in English, 38 in math
English90%090%+1179%
Math79%+277%+1267%
Students with disabilities · 58 tested in English, 51 in math
English43%+439%+2419%
Math18%+315%+108%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, 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.

No published rate here for Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students, English learners 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?

99% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 73% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 82% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

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

73%

Across California: 52%.

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

65%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

99%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 696 of 704 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

73%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 515 of 704 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

65%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 450 of 696 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

82% enrolled in college within 12 months · 646 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓107 · 17%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓83 · 13%
  • California community college185 · 29%
  • In-state private45 · 7%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year106 · 16%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year1 · <1%
  • Not enrolled119 · 18%

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
82%enrolled in college within a year

646 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California107 (17%)
  • California State University83 (13%)
  • California community college185 (29%)
  • In-state private45 (7%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year106 (16%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year1 (0%)
  • Not enrolled119 (18%)

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 · 696 of 704 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 · 515 of 704 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 · 450 of 696 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
370
Admitted
274
Enrolled
130

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 296 · Admitted 79 · Enrolled 16
  • UCLAApplied 276 · Admitted 31 · Enrolled 15
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 259 · Admitted 67 · Enrolled 38
  • UC San DiegoApplied 257 · Admitted 58 · Enrolled 10
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 204 · Admitted 149 · Enrolled 28
  • UC DavisApplied 194 · Admitted 83 · Enrolled 12
  • UC IrvineApplied 175 · Admitted 28 · Enrolled 5
  • UC RiversideApplied 93 · Admitted 78 · Enrolled 5
  • UC MercedApplied 75 · Admitted 72 · 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 370 · Admitted 274 · Enrolled 130
  • Fall 2024Applied 366 · Admitted 254 · Enrolled 99
  • Fall 2023Applied 383 · Admitted 269 · Enrolled 114
  • Fall 2022Applied 398 · Admitted 260 · Enrolled 127
  • Fall 2021Applied 396 · Admitted 264 · Enrolled 138
  • Fall 2020Applied 330 · Admitted 259 · Enrolled 132
  • Fall 2019Applied 332 · Admitted 225 · Enrolled 123
  • Fall 2018Applied 332 · Admitted 206 · Enrolled 105
  • Fall 2017Applied 313 · Admitted 190 · Enrolled 95
  • Fall 2016Applied 316 · Admitted 203 · Enrolled 102

CSU’s own records

California State University

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

Applied
358
Admitted
343
Enrolled
78

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 889 · Admitted 240 · Enrolled 61
  • San Diego StateApplied 876 · Admitted 284 · Enrolled 41
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 698 · Admitted 370 · Enrolled 53
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 554 · Admitted 521 · Enrolled 87
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 400 · Admitted 280 · Enrolled 28
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 393 · Admitted 303 · Enrolled 31
  • San Francisco StateApplied 333 · Admitted 309 · Enrolled 28
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 229 · Admitted 213 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal State LAApplied 214 · Admitted 189 · Enrolled 11
  • San José StateApplied 197 · Admitted 154 · Enrolled 12
  • Chico StateApplied 157 · Admitted 146 · Enrolled 11
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 155 · Admitted 143 · Enrolled 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 142 · Admitted 140 · Enrolled 12
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 117 · Admitted 114 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 107 · Admitted 102 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 98 · Admitted 92 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal State East BayApplied 77 · Admitted 62 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 77 · Admitted 71 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 65 · Admitted 64 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 52 · Admitted 45 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 51 · Admitted 49 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied 20 · Admitted 18 · Enrolled under 6
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 12 · Admitted 9 · 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 358 · Admitted 343 · Enrolled 78
  • Fall 2024Applied 339 · Admitted 322 · Enrolled 70
  • Fall 2023Applied 338 · Admitted 310 · Enrolled 97
  • Fall 2022Applied 315 · Admitted 296 · Enrolled 88
  • Fall 2021Applied 300 · Admitted 270 · Enrolled 88
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 23 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 Science4
  • Sciences6
  • English2
  • History & Social Science6
  • World Languages & Cultures4
  • Arts1
Every approved AP course23 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 4
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Statistics
Sciences 6
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
  • Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • Physics C: Mechanics
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 6
  • Human Geography
  • Macroeconomics
  • Psychology
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
  • World History: Modern
World Languages & Cultures 4
  • French Language and Culture
  • Japanese Language and Culture
  • Spanish Language and Culture
  • Spanish Literature and Culture
Arts 1
  • 2-D Art and Design

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
155 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 Santa Monica High. 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 Monica-Malibu Unified yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

The neighborhood

What is the area around Santa Monica High like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 90405. They are not figures for the families at Santa Monica High.

Typical household income in a year

$121,241

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 90405.

Typical home value
$1,929,900
People who live in this ZIP code
27,298
Typical age
43.1 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
70%

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 7 questions to Santa Monica High. 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?33% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (182 students tested); the same group across California: 23%
  2. How do you stretch students who are already ahead?52% scored Advanced in English, grade 11, spring 2026 (597 students tested); California: 27%
  3. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  4. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  5. 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 Santa Monica High, and how do I get in?

Ask Santa Monica-Malibu Unified which school serves your address. From John Adams Middle and Lincoln Middle.

Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level.

Middle · assigned
John Adams Middle Scope Score 82Strong · 81st percentile · 2026

Fed by 2 elementary schools

Middle · assigned
Lincoln Middle Scope Score 87Strong · 91st percentile · 2026

Fed by 3 elementary schools

High · this school
Santa Monica High

Both middle schools are assigned here.

From the district’s 2026 attendance boundaries, plus nearby estimates. 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 John Adams Middle

Into Lincoln Middle

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Franklin Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 96 · Strong · 99th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Grant Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 87 · Strong · 89th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • McKinley Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 84 · Strong · 83rd percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Roosevelt Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 87 · Strong · 89th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Will Rogers Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 77 · Solid · 60th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Santa Monica Alternative (K-8)

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder · Check how it admits students.

    Scope Score 85 · Strong · 86th percentile · elementary · 2026

Middle-school links

  • John Adams Middle

    Assigned

    Scope Score 82 · Strong · 81st percentile · middle · 2026

  • Lincoln Middle

    Assigned

    Scope Score 87 · Strong · 91st percentile · middle · 2026

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 Santa Monica High?

Address
601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica 90405Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Marae CruceAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated May 17, 2023.

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 Monica-Malibu Unified which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Santa Monica High a good high school?

Santa Monica High has a Scope Score of 89. It scored higher than 93 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Strong, 93rd 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 23 in 100 at the average Santa Monica-Malibu Unified high school. 1.8% of students (47 of 2,641) 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 27 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, 69% of low-income students in grade 11 at Santa Monica High 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 23 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 155 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?

82% 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 ↓

In its own words

What does Santa Monica High say about itself?

These lines come from the school’s own website. They are the school’s description. They are not parent reviews or test results.

What the school says, and what the records show

Three things the school says on its About page.

  • The school says: a House systemAbout Samohi, read November 2, 2026
    Verdict: Not assessed
    The record shows:
    • No public record we hold says how a school groups its students, so none can confirm a House system.
    Records checked: CDE and NCES enrollment and staffing files

    Ask:How is a student placed in a House, and do they keep the same House all four years?

  • The school says: one House Principal, two Advisors, a Teacher Leader and an administrative assistantAbout Samohi, read November 2, 2026
    Verdict: Not assessed
    The record shows:
    • No public record we hold reports staff by House: the state and federal staffing files count teachers for the whole school.
    Records checked: CDE and NCES staffing files

    Ask:In a House, who notices when a student starts missing school, and what do they do?

  • The school says: Each of our Houses consists of approximately 560 students.About Samohi, read November 2, 2026
    Verdict: Not assessed
    The record shows:
    • No public record we hold reports enrollment by House or the number of Houses. Schoolwide enrollment is 2,588 (2024–25), which can’t confirm a House size.
    Records checked: CDE Census Day and NCES enrollment files

    Ask:How many Houses are there this year, and how many students are in each?

  • Not assessed: the records we hold can’t test the claim as worded

samohi.smmusd.org/about-us/about-samohi, read November 2, 2026

What we read and what we left out

Each is one statement, quoted and compared with the public records we have. The same page calls students “academically successful, musically talented, athletically thriving and intellectually flourishing”; no record we hold measures those as worded. Evaluative words with no measure, such as “strong and diverse curriculum,” and statements of aim aren’t listed. The courses on record are under Life at school; each group’s results are under Every learner.

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 #104 of 1,498 California high schools we score
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate99%6325%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math46%8422%
Ready for college or career (state measure)73%6820%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math70%7518%
Chronically absent20 in 100585%
Suspension rate1.4% (37 of 2,679)605%
English learners: top level32%765%

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.

School pattern · 2024–25 · What patterns mean

Broad baseMost students here met or exceeded the standard. The Met or exceeded row above gives the figure.
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
2024–258993#104California 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
2018–1912 in 1003.7% (108 of 2,921)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2423 in 1002.7% (71 of 2,620)
2024–2520 in 1001.4% (37 of 2,679)

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 1159752%31%11%6%83%57%+26

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 1157931%25%21%23%56%32%+24

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 · English59752%83%
2026 · Math57931%56%
2025 · English59958%83%
2025 · Math59135%57%
2024 · English64755%84%
2024 · Math64731%57%
2023 · English63856%83%
2023 · Math62927%51%
2022 · English58552%82%
2022 · Math58927%51%
2019 · English60955%81%
2019 · Math61732%56%
2018 · English65753%79%
2018 · Math66330%51%
2017 · English64551%83%
2017 · Math62827%53%

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 · English59983%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math59157%
2024 · Grade 11 · English64784%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math64757%
2023 · Grade 11 · English63883%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math62951%
2022 · Grade 11 · English58582%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math58951%
2019 · Grade 11 · English60981%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math61756%
2018 · Grade 11 · English65779%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math66351%
2017 · Grade 11 · English64583%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math62853%

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
Schoolwide61324%36%36%3%

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-income18869%0+20
White25292%+5+24
Hispanic or Latino19374%0+25
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 · 1.4% (37 of 2,679) → 2025–26 · 1.8% (47 of 2,641) · +0.4 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female12 in 10022 in 100+10 in 100
Male11 in 10020 in 100+9 in 100
Asian6 in 10018 in 100+12 in 100
Black or African American14 in 10026 in 100+12 in 100
Filipino1 of 202 of 22—
Hispanic or Latino13 in 10022 in 100+9 in 100
Two or more races9 in 10019 in 100+10 in 100
White11 in 10020 in 100+9 in 100
Students with disabilities22 in 10038 in 100+16 in 100
English learners8 in 10023 of 81—
Homeless13 of 3411 of 28—
Low-income14 in 10026 in 100+12 in 100
All students12 in 10021 in 100+9 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 73% · numerator 515 students classified Prepared · denominator 704 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 87% · AP-pathway numerator 446 · denominator 515 (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 515 of 704 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
99%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
87%
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)
65%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
82%

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)
20253702741303.893.984.06
2024366254993.823.964.05
20233832691143.924.014.10
20223982601273.924.034.11
20213962641383.884.004.10
20203302591323.863.954.01
20193322251233.904.024.06
20183322061053.794.003.98
2017313190953.743.943.98
20163162031023.763.943.97

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
Berkeley20252596738
Berkeley20242474822
Berkeley20232704322
Berkeley20222994728
Berkeley20212616336
Davis20251948312
Davis2024199755
Davis20231978414
Davis20222066514
Davis20212059313
Irvine2025175285
Irvine2024175263
Irvine2023173275
Irvine2022194426
Irvine2021196397
Los Angeles20252763115
Los Angeles20242622215
Los Angeles20232823116
Los Angeles20223043020
Los Angeles20212813217
Merced20257572under 3
Merced20244639under 3
Merced20235957under 3
Merced202279747
Merced202167624
Riverside202593785
Riverside202476565
Riverside202392699
Riverside202298594
Riverside202186476
San Diego20252575810
San Diego2024260464
San Diego2023245427
San Diego20222785015
San Diego20212497311
Santa Barbara20252967916
Santa Barbara20242778118
Santa Barbara20233016517
Santa Barbara20222994913
Santa Barbara20212936818
Santa Cruz202520414928
Santa Cruz202421514226
Santa Cruz202325116122
Santa Cruz20222519820
Santa Cruz202122713526
Universitywide2025370274130
Universitywide202436625499
Universitywide2023383269114
Universitywide2022398260127
Universitywide2021396264138

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
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
French Language and Culturethis school
Human Geographythis school
Japanese Language and Culturethis school
Macroeconomicsthis school
Physics 1this school
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetismthis school
Physics C: Mechanicsthis school
Psychologythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Spanish Literature 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 count20
AP enrollment (male/female)1,113
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 155 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections9
Physics sections28
Chemistry sections22
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)2,559

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 California10717%
California State University8313%
California community college18529%
In-state private457%
Out-of-state, 4-year10616%
Out-of-state, 2-year10%
Not enrolled11918%

646 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 82% · % 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$17,123 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 9,929 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

District current expense · FY 2024–25$25,939 per ADA

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

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 58%Instruction support 11%Student services 9%Administration 8%Buildings & maintenance 13%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$121,633,48058.00%58%
Instruction support$23,547,63211.23%11%
Student services$19,789,3249.44%9%
Administration$16,619,1167.93%8%
Buildings & maintenance$26,578,84512.67%13%
Other$1,535,0540.73%1%
Total$209,703,450100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $209,703,450 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$17,123 per pupil
2020$15,913 per pupil
2019$16,566 per pupil
2018$15,621 per pupil
2017$15,269 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 holders0.8%

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 90405 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 90405 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$121,241
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)70%
ZIP-area population27,298
Median age43.1 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 90405 →

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

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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

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