Transitional kindergarten · Santa Barbara
22 of Santa Barbara’s public and charter campuses ran a TK class in 2025–26, enrolling 619 four-year-olds.
Source: CDE 2025–26 October enrollment count, 22 campuses in Santa Barbara.
Eligibility
Who can start TK in 2027–28?
Children who turn 4 by September 1, 2027 can start, and it’s free.
Age
Is my child old enough?
A birthday from September 2, 2022 through September 1, 2023 (our arithmetic from the rule). A child who turns 5 by September 1 starts kindergarten instead.
Rule: California Education Code § 48000 (opens in a new tab)
Cost
Does TK cost anything?
No. TK is a free public school year before kindergarten, and enrolling is optional. Hours, before- and after-school care and open seats vary by campus, so ask the school.
Where to enroll
Through 6 school districts, or a charter
- Santa Barbara Unified
- 9 of 22
- Goleta Union Elementary
- 4 of 22
- Hope Elementary
- 3 of 22
- Cold Spring Elementary
- 1 of 22
2 more districts are named on their campuses below.
Campuses
Which Santa Barbara campuses have a TK class?
22 campuses in Santa Barbara had a TK class in 2025–26.
Campuses by TK headcount
49in TK
Hollister Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Goleta Union Elementary
Scope Score 78Solid · 62nd percentile
48in TK
El Camino Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Goleta Union Elementary
Scope Score 76Solid · 56th percentile
48in TK
Franklin Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
46in TK
Roosevelt Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 81Strong · 76th percentile
42in TK
Harding University Partnership
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 81Solid · 74th percentile
40in TK
Peabody CharterCharter
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 82Strong · 79th percentile
35in TK
McKinley Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 12th percentile
34in TK
Hope Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Hope Elementary
Scope Score 79Solid · 68th percentile
31in TK
Adams Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 75Solid · 50th percentile
30in TK
Montecito Union
Grades TK–6 · Montecito Union Elementary
Scope Score 99Strong · 99th percentile
29in TK
Mountain View Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Goleta Union Elementary
Scope Score 90Strong · 94th percentile
27in TK
Foothill Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Goleta Union Elementary
Scope Score 87Strong · 89th percentile
24in TK
Cleveland Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 13th percentile
24in TK
Santa Barbara Community Academy
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 76Solid · 54th percentile
24in TK
Washington Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 84Strong · 84th percentile
23in TK
Monroe Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Santa Barbara Unified
Scope Score 73Developing · 39th percentile
20in TK
Monte Vista Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Hope Elementary
Scope Score 83Strong · 80th percentile
20in TK
Vieja Valley Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Hope Elementary
Scope Score 80Solid · 72nd percentile
17in TK
Cold Spring Elementary
Grades TK–6 · Cold Spring Elementary
Scope Score 97Strong · 99th percentile
5in TK
Trivium Charter School VoyageCharter
Grades TK–12 · Blochman Union Elementary · Check how it admits students.
Scope Score 81Strong · 75th percentile
2in TK
Santa Barbara County Special Education
Grades TK–12 · Santa Barbara County Office of Education
No score
1in TK
Olive Grove Charter - Santa BarbaraCharter
Grades TK–12 · SBE - Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbar · Check how it admits students.
No score
Each campus’s TK headcount is from the state’s 2025–26 October enrollment count. Each Scope Score and percentile compares a school’s elementary grades with California elementary schools. A campus without elementary results shows none.
Each headcount counts the students enrolled on one October day, so it shows who enrolled, not seats open now. A campus missing here may still run TK; confirm with the school or district.
Before TK
Too young for TK? Where can my child go?
Santa Barbara has 80 licensed child care programs.
56
child care centers24
family child care homesA child born after September 1, 2023 isn’t old enough for TK in 2027–28. Until they are, look at Santa Barbara’s centers and family child care homes, and ask each one about ages and openings.
Licensed programs from the California Community Care Licensing Division: child care centers as of August 13, 2026, family child care homes as of May 25, 2025. A license is not a quality rating or a current opening.