Students
31,215
enrolled at the 36 public schools with a Santa Maria address.
Santa Maria · Santa Barbara County
Schools in Santa Maria
Santa Maria’s 25 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 84.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Narrow to a ZIP code
1 school is farther out, off this map. Roads © OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab)
Open the map →Elementary schools
Which elementary schools in Santa Maria score highest?
Pine Grove Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 84. That is higher than 83 in 100 California elementary schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Pine Grove Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–6
262549% below the standard
Scope Score 84Strong · 83rd percentile
Rank 2
Joe Nightingale Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–6
242155% below the standard
Scope Score 78Solid · 64th percentile
Rank 3
Benjamin Foxen Elementary
Blochman Union Elementary · 93454 · Grades K–8
242650% below the standard
Scope Score 77Solid · 57th percentile
Rank 4
Family Partnership CharterCharter
Blochman Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–12 · Check how it admits students.
162460% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 54th percentile
Rank 5
Trivium CharterCharter
Blochman Union Elementary · 93454 · Grades K–12 · Check how it admits students.
151966% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 53rd percentile
Rank 6
Alice Shaw Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–6
162163% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 45th percentile
Rank 7
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
132562% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 36th percentile
Rank 8
Bill Libbon Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades Pre–K–6
1677% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 30th percentile
Rank 9
Patterson Road Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–6
1970% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 29th percentile
Rank 10
Liberty Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
1284% below the standard
Scope Score 71Developing · 26th percentile
Show the other 15 elementary schools
Rank 11
Ralph Dunlap Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–6
2169% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 20th percentile
Rank 12
Battles (Washington) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades K–6
1382% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 13
Jiménez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–8
1873% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 18th percentile
Rank 14
Bruce (Robert) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
1283% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile
Rank 15
Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
1679% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile
Rank 16
Sanchez (David J.) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
2170% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 15th percentile
Rank 17
Miller (Isaac) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades K–6
1481% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 14th percentile
Rank 18
Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades K–6
1579% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 11th percentile
Rank 19
Fairlawn Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
1283% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 9th percentile
Rank 20
Bonita Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
1089% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 8th percentile
Rank 21
Rice (William) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades K–6
1085% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 22
Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93455 · Grades K–6
1284% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 23
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades K–6
1576% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 6th percentile
Rank 24
Alvin Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades K–6
1183% below the standard
Scope Score 66Needs Support · 2nd percentile
Rank 25
Adam (William Laird) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–6
1186% below the standard
Scope Score 64Needs Support · bottom 1%
12in 100
The average Santa Maria elementary school had 12 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.
Each score compares a school with the 5,726 California elementary schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
Middle schools
Which middle schools in Santa Maria score highest?
Orcutt Junior High is highest, with a Scope Score of 79. That is higher than 71 in 100 California middle schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Orcutt Junior High
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades 7–8
212851% below the standard
Scope Score 79Solid · 71st percentile
Rank 2
Family Partnership CharterCharter
Blochman Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–12 · Check how it admits students.
163549% below the standard
Scope Score 78Solid · 64th percentile
Rank 3
Lakeview Junior High
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades 7–8
163054% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 53rd percentile
Rank 4
Jiménez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades K–8
122365% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
Rank 5
Trivium CharterCharter
Blochman Union Elementary · 93454 · Grades K–12 · Check how it admits students.
152362% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile
Rank 6
Benjamin Foxen Elementary
Blochman Union Elementary · 93454 · Grades K–8
2170% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 32nd percentile
Rank 7
Orcutt School for Independent Study
Orcutt Union Elementary · 93429 · Grades K–8 · Check how it admits students.
1975% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 21st percentile
Rank 8
Kunst (Tommie) Junior High
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades 7–8
1875% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 9
Arellanes Junior High
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93455 · Grades 7–8
1580% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 9th percentile
Rank 10
Fesler (Isaac) Junior High
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93454 · Grades 7–8
1482% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Show the other 1 middle school
Rank 11
El Camino Junior High
Santa Maria-Bonita · 93458 · Grades 7–8
1483% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 6th percentile
13in 100
The average Santa Maria middle school had 13 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.
Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.
High schools
Which high schools in Santa Maria score highest?
Ernest Righetti High is highest, with a Scope Score of 75. That is higher than 48 in 100 California high schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Ernest Righetti High
Santa Maria Joint Union High · 93455 · Grades 9–12
172558% below the standard
Scope Score 75Developing · 48th percentile
Rank 2
Family Partnership CharterCharter
Blochman Union Elementary · 93455 · Grades K–12 · Check how it admits students.
132760% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 42nd percentile
Rank 3
Pioneer Valley High
Santa Maria Joint Union High · 93454 · Grades 9–12
2564% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 33rd percentile
Rank 4
Santa Maria High
Santa Maria Joint Union High · 93454 · Grades 9–12
2170% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 15th percentile
15in 100
The average Santa Maria high school had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
1 high school not ranked statewide
It is compared only with other continuation schools, so it is listed apart.
- Delta HighContinuation high school
Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025.
Districts
Which districts run the schools here?
Four districts run the public schools with a Santa Maria address. The home address decides which district serves a child. Charter schools are not counted here.
District
Santa Maria-Bonita
21schools here
Elementary, Middle. Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico), Bill Libbon, Kunst (Tommie), Liberty, Battles (Washington), Jiménez Roberto and Dr. Francisco, Bruce (Robert), Oakley (Calvin C.) and 13 more.
Open the district →District
Orcutt Union Elementary
8schools here
Elementary, Middle. Pine Grove, Orcutt Junior High, Joe Nightingale, Lakeview, Alice Shaw, Patterson Road, Orcutt School for Independent Study, Ralph Dunlap.
Open the district →District
Santa Maria Joint Union High
4schools here
High. Ernest Righetti, Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria High, Delta.
Open the district →District
Blochman Union Elementary
1school here
Elementary. Benjamin Foxen.
Open the district →Does living in Santa Maria decide which school my child attends?
No. A city can hold schools from more than one district, and attendance boundaries decide which school serves an address. Confirm the school for your address with the district.
Charter and private
What other schools are here?
7 private schools have a Santa Maria address. They don’t take California’s state tests, so we don’t score them.
- St. Joseph High School93455 · 488 students
- Valley Christian Academy93455 · 387 students
- St. Louis de Montfort93455 · 286 students
- Pacific Christian School93455 · 259 students
- St. Mary of the Assumption School93454 · 200 students
- Eagles Christian Academy93458 · 26 students
- Agape School of Christian Education93458 · 3 students
Open the private-school directory →
2 charter schools have a Santa Maria address. They are in the lists above, marked Charter. Private school names and enrollment are from the California Department of Education’s private school filings and the federal Private School Survey.
Students
Who goes to school here?
31,215 students go to the 36 public schools with a Santa Maria address. 81 in 100 qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Low-income families
33–98%
of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, from the lowest elementary school to the highest. California: 63%.
Missing school
12in 100
students chronically absent at the average elementary school here. California: 17 in 100.
Students and meal counts: California Department of Education, free or reduced-price meal file, 2024–25. Chronic absence: California Department of Education, 2025–26, an average of school rates.
Common questions
What do parents ask about schools in Santa Maria?
Are the public schools in Santa Maria good?
Santa Maria’s 25 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 84. Of those, 1 is Strong, 4 are Solid, 5 are Developing and 15 are Needs Support. Santa Maria’s 11 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 67 to 79. Of those, 3 are Solid, 3 are Developing and 5 are Needs Support. Santa Maria’s 4 public high schools have Scope Scores from 68 to 75. Of those, 3 are Developing and 1 is Needs Support. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Santa Maria rank highest?
Pine Grove Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 84. It is Strong, at the 83rd percentile. Orcutt Junior High is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 79. It is Solid, at the 71st percentile. Ernest Righetti High is the highest high school, with a Scope Score of 75. It is Developing, at the 48th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Santa Maria compare with California?
The average Santa Maria elementary school had 12 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once. The average Santa Maria middle school had 13 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average Santa Maria high school had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California high school we score had 22 in 100.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools with a Santa Maria address. They can belong to more than one school district.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.
State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), springs 2025 and 2026.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.