Schools
21
listed public schools. We score 17 elementary and five middle.
School district · Santa Barbara County
Santa Maria-Bonita schools
Santa Maria-Bonita’s 17 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 73. Its 5 middle schools have Scope Scores from 67 to 74.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Students
17,408
in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.
Spending
$20,317
per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.
The path
What is the path through the district?
Santa Maria-Bonita has 17 elementary schools and five middle schools that we score.
Elementary
17schools
Scope Scores from 64 to 73.
See the elementary schools ↓Middle · 5 schools
- Jiménez Roberto and Dr. FranciscoScope Score 74
- Kunst (Tommie)Scope Score 70
- ArellanesScope Score 68
- Fesler (Isaac)Scope Score 67
- El CaminoScope Score 67
High school
Run by another district
Our records do not name that district. Ask Santa Maria-Bonita which high school district serves your address.
Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking.
Elementary schools
Which elementary schools in Santa Maria-Bonita score highest?
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 73. That is higher than 36 in 100 California elementary schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 869 students
132562% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 36th percentile
Rank 2
Bill Libbon Elementary
Grades Pre–K–6 · 834 students
1677% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 30th percentile
Rank 3
Liberty Elementary
Grades K–6 · 865 students
1284% below the standard
Scope Score 71Developing · 26th percentile
Rank 4
Battles (Washington) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 769 students
1382% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 5
1873% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 18th percentile
Rank 6
Bruce (Robert) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 1,050 students
1283% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile
Rank 7
Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 849 students
1679% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile
Rank 8
Sanchez (David J.) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 654 students
2170% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 15th percentile
Rank 9
Miller (Isaac) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 883 students
1481% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 14th percentile
Rank 10
Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 849 students
1579% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 11th percentile
Show the other 7 elementary schools
Rank 11
Fairlawn Elementary
Grades K–6 · 716 students
1283% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 9th percentile
Rank 12
Bonita Elementary
Grades K–6 · 535 students
1089% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 8th percentile
Rank 13
Rice (William) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 887 students
1085% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 14
Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 298 students
1284% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 15
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 917 students
1576% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 6th percentile
Rank 16
Alvin Elementary
Grades K–6 · 998 students
1183% below the standard
Scope Score 66Needs Support · 2nd percentile
Rank 17
Adam (William Laird) Elementary
Grades K–6 · 874 students
1186% below the standard
Scope Score 64Needs Support · bottom 1%
The average elementary school in Santa Maria-Bonita 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-Bonita score highest?
Jiménez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 74. That is higher than 46 in 100 California middle schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
122365% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
Rank 2
Kunst (Tommie) Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 912 students
1875% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 3
Arellanes Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 668 students
1580% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 9th percentile
Rank 4
Fesler (Isaac) Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 974 students
1482% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 5
El Camino Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 830 students
1483% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 6th percentile
The average middle school in Santa Maria-Bonita had 15 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.
Against California
How does the district compare with California?
12 in 100 students at the average elementary school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 17 in 100.
Students who miss a lot of school
Average elementary school, students in 100
Santa Maria-Bonita12 in 100
California17 in 100
Students from low-income families
Qualify for free or reduced-price meals
Santa Maria-Bonita93%
California63%
Spending per student
Day-to-day spending, 2024–25
Santa Maria-Bonita$20,317
Typical district$20,491
English learners who moved up a level
On the state’s English test (ELPAC)
Santa Maria-Bonita53%
California47%
Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 16,153 of 17,408 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 53% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (3,983 of 7,455 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.
The district
Where does Santa Maria-Bonita’s money go?
About 66 cents of every Santa Maria-Bonita dollar went to classroom instruction.
$20,317
spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.
Every dollar, by what it paid for
66¢13¢10¢7¢4¢
- Instruction66%
- Instruction support13%
- Student services10%
- Buildings & maintenance7%
- Administration4%
Every California district publishes a yearly plan, the LCAP: its goals and what it will spend to reach them. Search it for a program, grade or student group you care about.
Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.
State records
Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?
17,408 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. Santa Maria-Bonita isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
Who goes to the district’s schools
- Hispanic or Latino 95%
- Other or not reported 5%
Is the state giving the district extra help?
Santa Maria-Bonita isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).Common questions
What do parents ask about this district?
Are the public schools in Santa Maria-Bonita good?
Santa Maria-Bonita’s 17 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 73. Of those, 3 are Developing and 14 are Needs Support. Santa Maria-Bonita’s 5 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 67 to 74. Of those, 1 is Developing and 4 are 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-Bonita rank highest?
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 36th percentile. Jiménez Roberto and Dr. Francisco Elementary is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 74. It is Developing, at the 46th 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-Bonita compare with California?
The average elementary school in Santa Maria-Bonita 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 middle school in Santa Maria-Bonita had 15 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.
How much does Santa Maria-Bonita spend per student?
Santa Maria-Bonita spent $20,317 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 66 cents of every Santa Maria-Bonita dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
Does living in the Santa Maria-Bonita district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. 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.
Next
Which places nearby can you look at next?
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Santa Maria-Bonita, with the district’s spending and state records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26
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), spring 2026.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.