Elementary Schools in Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria, California has 27 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 35.8/100 — 7.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Joe Nightingale Elementary at 57/100, where 32.4% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Santa Maria schools average 10.2% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.0% (below the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
How Santa Maria schools compare
Santa Maria's 27 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 35.8 — 7.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 24.0 to 56.8, a 32.8-point spread.
The top-ranked school is Joe Nightingale Elementary with a Scope Score of 57 and 32.4% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in Santa Maria averages 15.0%, which is above the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
School archetypes in Santa Maria
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in Santa Maria ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Nightingale Elementary Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum | 32.4% | Solid 57/100 |
| 2 | Ernest Righetti High Santa Maria Joint Union High Building Momentum | 17.0% | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | Pine Grove Elementary Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum | 25.3% | Solid 52/100 |
| 4 | Santa Maria High Santa Maria Joint Union High Building Momentum | 8.8% | Developing 49/100 |
| 5 | Pioneer Valley High Santa Maria Joint Union High Building Momentum | 11.1% | Developing 48/100 |
| 6 | Benjamin Foxen Elementary Blochman Union Elementary Building Momentum | 28.6% | Developing 47/100 |
| 7 | Bill Libbon Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 9.4% | Developing 41/100 |
| 8 | Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 16.2% | Developing 40/100 |
| 9 | Alice Shaw Elementary Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum | 11.5% | Developing 38/100 |
| 10 | Ralph Dunlap Elementary Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum | 13.3% | Developing 38/100 |
| 11 | Sanchez (David J.) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 8.6% | Developing 36/100 |
| 12 | Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 8.2% | Developing 36/100 |
| 13 | Patterson Road Elementary Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum | 12.9% | Developing 35/100 |
| 14 | Delta High Santa Maria Joint Union High Building Momentum | 0.5% | Developing 33/100 |
| 15 | Miller (Isaac) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 5.7% | Developing 31/100 |
| 16 | Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 4.8% | Developing 31/100 |
| 17 | Fairlawn Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 5.7% | Developing 31/100 |
| 18 | Liberty Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 5.1% | Developing 30/100 |
| 19 | Bruce (Robert) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 4.3% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 20 | Bonita Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 1.6% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 21 | Alvin Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 5.9% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 22 | Jiménez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 9.2% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 23 | Battles (Washington) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 4.7% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 24 | Rice (William) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 4.8% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 25 | Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Culture First | 8.1% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 26 | Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 6.8% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 27 | Adam (William Laird) Elementary Santa Maria-Bonita Building Momentum | 4.2% | Needs Support 24/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in Santa Maria
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Santa Maria
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology