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Schools in 93455 — Santa Maria, California

93455 has 9 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 42.2 — 1.5 points near the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 32.9 to 56.8, a 23.9-point spread.

Avg Scope Score
42.2
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
23.9
32.9 – 56.8
Avg Exceeded %
15.9%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
20.1%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
9
With Scope Scores

How 93455 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Joe Nightingale Elementary with a Scope Score of 57 and 32.4% of students exceeding standard.

Strong growth trajectory: Schools in 93455 show an average grade 3-to-5 improvement of +5.4 percentage points, suggesting these schools are adding real value over time.

Chronic absenteeism across 93455 averages 20.1%, near the state average of 18.1%.

How 93455 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 93455
93455Santa Maria9Developing
42.2/100
93454Santa Maria10Developing
34.9/100
-7.4
93458Santa Maria9Developing
30.9/100
-11.3
93446Paso Robles10Developing
40.0/100
-2.3
93465Templeton4Developing
49.3/100
+7.0

School archetypes in 93455

3 On the Rise1 Growth Engine5 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 4 schools in 93455 are classified as On the Rise (3) or Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

All schools in 93455

#SchoolExceededScore
1Joe Nightingale Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary Growth Engine
32.4%Solid
57/100
2Ernest Righetti High
Santa Maria Joint Union High Building Momentum
17.0%Solid
53/100
3Pine Grove Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary On the Rise
25.3%Solid
52/100
4Orcutt Academy Charter
Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum
21.7%Developing
39/100
5Alice Shaw Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum
11.5%Developing
38/100
6Ralph Dunlap Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary Building Momentum
13.3%Developing
38/100
7Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary
Santa Maria-Bonita On the Rise
8.2%Developing
36/100
8Patterson Road Elementary
Orcutt Union Elementary On the Rise
12.9%Developing
35/100
9Delta High
Santa Maria Joint Union High Building Momentum
0.5%Developing
33/100

Schools in 93455 on the map

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about 93455

  • 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

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Santa Maria good?
Santa Maria's 9 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 42.2/100, which is 1.5 points near the California state average of 43.8. 15.9% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Maria?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Santa Maria is Joe Nightingale Elementary with a Scope Score of 57/100 and 32.4% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Santa Maria schools compare to the state average?
Santa Maria elementary schools average a Scope Score of 42.2 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (1.5 points near). The exceeded rate averages 15.9% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.1% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 32.9 to 56.8, a 23.9-point spread.
How many schools are in Santa Maria?
Santa Maria has 9 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.