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Santa Barbara Community Academy

Q: Is Santa Barbara Community Academy a good school?

Santa Barbara Community Academy ranks 4128 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

4128^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 30% of California elementary schools

Summary

Santa Barbara Community Academy is a public elementary school serving 221 students in grades K-6 within the Santa Barbara Unified district, located in a neighborhood with significant economic need where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, the school faces considerable challenges, with proficiency rates in English and math well below both district and state averages, resulting in a statewide ranking at the 30th percentile. The school shows a notable performance gap compared to nearby schools like Monte Vista Elementary and Vieja Valley Elementary, and there is a significant gender disparity, with female students outperforming male students by a wide margin. Performance has also declined sharply for English Language Learners in recent years, and sixth graders, in particular, struggle with English language arts.

While the school spends slightly more per student than the district average and has a similar class size, these resources have not translated into stronger academic results. The school's chronic absenteeism rate has been volatile, spiking after the pandemic. Interestingly, other schools with similar student demographics, such as Adams Elementary, achieve better outcomes, and schools in the neighboring Hope Elementary district consistently outperform those in Santa Barbara Unified, suggesting factors beyond funding are at play.

221

Students ?

17.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,079

Per pupil spending ?

82.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

850 Portesuello Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2971

(805) 687-2081

District: Santa Barbara Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

95.0%

Two or more races:

3.2%

White:

1.8%

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Compare Santa Barbara Community Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 44th percentile in 2013 → 30th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (28% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 14 percentile points since 2013

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 16 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school28%

District avg44%

California avg41%

4,128^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▲ up 8 pts since 2015

From bottom 21% (2015) to bottom 30% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 10Elementary Schools in the Santa Barbara Unified

665^th of 1,543Santa Barbara Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	28.0	4128 of 5857	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.1	4107 of 5869	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.1	4542 of 5859	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.3	3849 of 5883	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.5	3658 of 5789	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.3	3969 of 5662	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.8	3624 of 5692	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	21.0	4529 of 5614	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	22.2	4411 of 5611	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	43.5	3103 of 5530	43.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	30.7	2509 of 3162	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	3149 of 3311	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	44.4	1527 of 3275	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.7	1217 of 3246	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.8	3406 of 5597	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	3126 of 5612	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.0	3864 of 5609	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	3087 of 5635	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.6	3704 of 5492	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.1	3826 of 5413	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.9	3030 of 5107	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	3032 of 5107	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.4	3510 of 5087	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.5	2864 of 5084	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.5	2647 of 4963	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	38.6	2959 of 4830	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.4	3561 of 5460	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.3	3596 of 5517	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.5	3605 of 5363	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.6	2862 of 5264	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.6	2776 of 5173	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.9	3025 of 5084	40.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	23.2	4456 of 5628	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.4	4875 of 5643	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.3	5284 of 5638	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.8	4339 of 5663	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.8	3813 of 5510	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.9	3780 of 5431	30.4%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.0	116 of 153	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)41st percentile+11 vs school

Female (2025)39th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)35th percentile+5 vs school

Military Connected (2025)24th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2025)21st percentile-9 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)21st percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy33%-16 vs state

Mathematics25%-12 vs state

Science24%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Santa Barbara Community Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)		CSA Spanish Listening (2025)		CSA Spanish Writing (2025)		CSA Spanish Reading (2025)		CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Santa Barbara Community Academy	Public	K-6	850 Portesuello Ave.	Santa Barbara	93101	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 687-2081	221	13	17.5	82.4%	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	210 (95.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.2%)	28	4128^th of 5857 public elementary schools	29.5%		28.1	4107^th of 5869 public elementary schools	30.0%	21									23.9	23.9	36.7	37.9	33.3	21.4	32.6	33.3	27.6	19.6	23.3	25.2							$17,079	$1,231	$15,848
Harding University Partnership	Public	K-6	1625 Robbins St.	Santa Barbara	93101	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 965-8994	364	21	16.9	78.0%	61 (16.8%)	2 (0.5%)	279 (76.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.0%)	54.6	2331^st of 5857 public elementary schools	60.2%		43.7	2943^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	49.9%	612									24.6	24.6	64.3	57.1	41.9	38.3	48.9	67.4	40.5	33.9	42.9	44.9							$17,680	$1,657	$16,023
Adams Elementary	Public	K-6	2701 Las Positas Rd.	Santa Barbara	93105	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 563-2515	469	28	16.6	64.4%	97 (20.7%)	2 (0.4%)	331 (70.6%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.2%)	60.3	2056^th of 5857 public elementary schools	64.9%		58.5	2123^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	63.8%	67									40.9	40.9	46.6	54.6	51.5	53.9	51.9	56.9	41.8	36.4	35.9	42.0							$15,047	$1,808	$13,239
Peabody Charter	Public, Charter	K-6	3018 Calle Noguera	Santa Barbara	93105	Santa Barbara County	Peabody Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 563-1172	780	35	22.2	42.7%	361 (46.3%)	2 (0.3%)	352 (45.1%)	15 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (6.4%)	88.6	738^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.4%		88.5	786^th of 5869 public elementary schools	86.6%	48									57.7	57.7	69.1	70.7	71.2	74.8	71.4	64.6	59.8	64.9	64.5	63.5							$16,029	$1,430	$14,599
Monroe Elementary	Public	K-6	431 Flora Vista Dr.	Santa Barbara	93109	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 966-7023	315	19	16.2	69.2%	63 (20.0%)	3 (1.0%)	211 (67.0%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (10.5%)	47	2766^th of 5857 public elementary schools	52.8%		46.4	2772^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	52.8%	6									40.5	40.5	45.5	34.2	46.0	46.7	43.1	34.1	34.2	40.5	33.3	35.3							$19,172	$2,435	$16,737
Roosevelt Elementary	Public	K-6	1990 Laguna St.	Santa Barbara	93101	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 563-2062	463	26	17.5	55.1%	175 (37.8%)	6 (1.3%)	224 (48.4%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (11.0%)	65	1839^th of 5857 public elementary schools	68.6%		64.4	1859^th of 5869 public elementary schools	68.3%	20									42.3	42.3	56.1	49.0	53.9	54.0	53.4	49.1	52.9	32.7	48.7	46.2	89.5	96.5		93.0	91.2	91.2	$15,971	$1,461	$14,510
Washington Elementary	Public	K-6	290 Lighthouse Rd.	Santa Barbara	93109	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 965-6653	477	29	16.4	41.1%	231 (48.4%)	1 (0.2%)	165 (34.6%)	11 (2.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	66 (13.8%)	75.6	1348^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.0%		77.5	1268^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.4%	80									40.6	40.6	52.7	82.0	55.1	61.5	62.1	63.0	75.4	41.2	48.7	56.4	97.4		97.4				$16,295	$1,350	$14,945
McKinley Elementary	Public	K-6	350 Loma Alta Dr.	Santa Barbara	93109	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 966-9926	293	17	17.0	80.9%	20 (6.8%)	1 (0.3%)	261 (89.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.8%)	19.3	4893^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	16.5%		17.2	5099^th of 5869 public elementary schools	13.1%	206	5.6	5.6	30.6	30.6	5.6	5.6	0.0	0.0	9.4	9.4	14.7	21.2	9.4	40.7	20.6	8.3	18.2	12.5	51.9	21.1							$16,242	$1,341	$14,901
Hope Elementary	Public	K-6	3970-A La Colina Rd.	Santa Barbara	93110	Santa Barbara County	Hope Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 563-2974	279	16	17.4	42.3%	109 (39.1%)	2 (0.7%)	138 (49.5%)	8 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	21 (7.5%)	82.3	1059^th of 5857 public elementary schools	81.9%		83.4	1022^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	82.6%	37									51.1	51.1	71.1	61.5	64.4	78.4	68.6	65.8	51.3	44.4	75.7	58.5	93.2				93.2		$22,377	$1,496	$20,881
Monte Vista Elementary	Public	K-6	730 North Hope Ave.	Santa Barbara	93110	Santa Barbara County	Hope Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 687-5333	267	14	19.0	25.8%	151 (56.6%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (34.1%)	13 (4.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	88.8	724^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.6%		91.9	580^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.1%	144									70.7	70.7	61.0	73.5	73.2	79.5	71.6	61.0	52.9	78.1	71.8	66.5							$19,605	$1,112	$18,493

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Barbara Community Academy

How many students attend Santa Barbara Community Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 221 students attended Santa Barbara Community Academy.

Is Santa Barbara Community Academy a good school?

Santa Barbara Community Academy ranks 4128^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Santa Barbara Community Academy?

Students at Santa Barbara Community Academy are 95% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% White.

What district is Santa Barbara Community Academy in?

Santa Barbara Unified

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.