Best Public Schools in Santa Maria, CA

Santa Maria, California is served by 35 public schools across four main districts, educating approximately 30,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with a mix of 24 elementary, 6 middle, 4 high, and 1 alternative school in this Central Coast community.

When comparing schools, significant performance differences exist between districts. Schools in the Orcutt Union Elementary district, like top-performing Joe Nightingale Elementary, generally outperform those in the larger Santa Maria-Bonita district, despite similar student demographics. High schools, including Ernest Righetti High with a 95.4% graduation rate, successfully graduate students above the state average, though academic proficiency, especially in mathematics, is a widespread challenge area for all schools.

Notable standout schools include the smaller Family Partnership Charter and Benjamin Foxen Elementary, which achieve strong results with low chronic absenteeism. In contrast, schools like Delta High and Bruce (Robert) Elementary face significant challenges with very low proficiency rates and high absenteeism, highlighting the stark disparities within the city's educational landscape.