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Ballard Elementary

Q: Is Ballard Elementary a good school?

Ballard Elementary ranks 756 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

756^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 87% of California elementary schools

Summary

Ballard Elementary is a small, high-performing public school serving grades K-6 with just 113 students, operating as its own independent district in the Santa Ynez Valley community of Solvang, CA.

The school consistently ranks among the top in the state, with students significantly outperforming both state and local averages in English, math, and science. For example, its 77.46% English proficiency is far higher than nearby schools like Los Olivos Elementary (64.21%) and Solvang Elementary (52.98%). This excellence is supported by a low student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1 and a very low rate of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds compared to other area schools.

Interesting findings show Ballard is exceptionally effective with male students and prepares sixth graders very well for middle school. While its small size allows for personalized attention, other small local schools do not achieve the same results, indicating that Ballard's success comes from a combination of focused resources, effective teaching, and consistent performance over time. The school's higher per-student spending, at over $26,000, is a notable resource advantage within the Ballard Elementary district, contributing to its stable and standout academic environment.

113

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,467

Per pupil spending ?

10.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2425 School St.
Solvang, CA 93463-9709

(805) 688-4812

District: Ballard Elementary

Students who attend Ballard Elementary usually attend:

High:

Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.8%

Hispanic:

12.4%

Two or more races:

7.1%

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Compare Ballard Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 98th percentile in 2013 → 87th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (70% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of California elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school70%

District avg70%

California avg41%

756^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 13%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From top 3% (2015) to top 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

139^th of 1,543Ballard Elementary 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	88.3	756 of 5857	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	92.0	568 of 5869	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	97.3	160 of 5859	97.3%	★★★★★
2022	89.3	727 of 5883	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	96.5	183 of 5789	96.8%	★★★★★
2018	95.1	279 of 5662	95.1%	★★★★★
2017	94.2	380 of 5692	93.3%	★★★★★
2016	97.4	116 of 5614	97.9%	★★★★★
2015	97.3	163 of 5611	97.1%	★★★★★
2013	95.4	90 of 5530	98.4%	★★★★★
2012	94.7	107 of 5390	98.0%	★★★★★
2011	95.0	128 of 5377	97.6%	★★★★★
2010	91.5	362 of 5314	93.2%	★★★★★
2009	83.9	800 of 5193	84.6%	★★★★☆
2008	96.6	96 of 5113	98.1%	★★★★★
2007	90.9	472 of 5113	90.8%	★★★★★
2006	98.5	26 of 4818	99.5%	★★★★★
2005	95.7	178 of 4822	96.3%	★★★★★
2004	94.2	273 of 4809	94.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.0	752 of 5597	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	99.3	3 of 5635	99.9%	★★★★★
2019	99.3	1 of 5492	100.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.4	89 of 5628	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	93.3	399 of 5643	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	95.0	306 of 5638	94.6%	★★★★★
2022	91.4	549 of 5663	90.3%	★★★★★
2018	90.1	566 of 5431	89.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.7	563 of 2598	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	659 of 2651	75.1%	★★★★☆
2023	88.9	136 of 2661	94.9%	★★★★★
2022	77.8	532 of 2726	80.5%	★★★★☆
2019	88.5	135 of 2834	95.2%	★★★★★
2018	82.7	350 of 2737	87.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2025)98th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2025)87th percentile~ school

White (2025)78th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy77%+29 vs state

Mathematics66%+29 vs state

Science50%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ballard Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (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	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th 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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th 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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ballard Elementary	Public	K-6	2425 School St.	Solvang	93463	Santa Barbara County	Ballard Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 688-4812	113	7	16.1	10.6%	89 (78.8%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (12.4%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.1%)	88.3	756^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.1%		92	568^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.3%	188	50.0		50.0	55.0	86.4	78.6	93.3			77.5	70.0	68.2	50.0	73.3			66.2				$26,467	$185	$26,282
Los Olivos Elementary	Public	K-8	2540 Alamo Pintado Ave.	Los Olivos	93441	Santa Barbara County	Los Olivos Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 688-4025	159	11	14.8	18.9%	102 (64.2%)	2 (1.3%)	42 (26.4%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.9%)	84.8	929^th of 5857 public elementary schools	84.1%		71	1550^th of 5869 public elementary schools	73.6%	621	58.3	50.0	53.3	63.6	68.8	66.7		64.7	83.3	64.2	63.6	62.5	58.3		52.9	33.3	51.6				$15,503	$309	$15,194
Santa Ynez Elementary	Public	1-8	3325 Pine St.	Santa Ynez	93460	Santa Barbara County	College Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 686-7310	147	10	14.1	45.6%	54 (36.7%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (55.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.8%)	70.8	1564^th of 5857 public elementary schools	73.3%		65.9	1777^th of 5869 public elementary schools	69.7%	213	45.0	46.2	45.7	56.3	50.0	75.0	68.8	52.4	61.5	61.1	56.3	42.9	35.0	46.7	38.1	30.8	40.2
College Elementary	Public	K	3525 Pine St.	Santa Ynez	93460	Santa Barbara County	College Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 686-7300	28	2	14.0	35.7%	15 (53.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (42.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.6%)								(n/a)
Santa Ynez Valley Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	1224 Tyndall St.	Santa Ynez	93460	Santa Barbara County	Santa Ynez Valley Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 686-7360	189	12	15.7	20.6%	72 (38.1%)	1 (0.5%)	30 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (44.4%)	45.8	2843^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	51.5%		34.6	3556^th of 5869 public elementary schools	39.4%	713	42.9		42.3	52.9	18.2	47.6	42.9			45.5	52.9	22.7	19.1	28.6			33.9				$14,401	$09	$14,392
Solvang Elementary	Public	K-8	565 Atterdag Rd.	Solvang	93463	Santa Barbara County	Solvang Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 688-4810	602	31	19.3	38.2%	197 (32.7%)	3 (0.5%)	348 (57.8%)	5 (0.8%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.3%)	50.8	2557^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.3%		56.4	2217^th of 5869 public elementary schools	62.2%	340	35.6	52.2	44.5	41.7	41.4	56.9	54.4	71.0	73.5	56.9	43.6	27.1	28.8	52.2	37.7	68.1	42.7	96.3		96.3	$14,675	$3,077	$11,598
Oak Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	595 Second St.	Buellton	93427	Santa Barbara County	Buellton Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 688-6992	377	18	20.9	56.8%	142 (37.7%)	5 (1.3%)	193 (51.2%)	7 (1.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.7%)	66.5	1764^th of 5857 public elementary schools	69.9%		39.7	3190^th of 5869 public elementary schools	45.6%	1426	45.5		45.5	54.9	50.9	50.0				52.0	54.9	55.9	38.6				50.7	97.1	97.1		$13,239	$1,418	$11,821
Vista de Las Cruces	Public	K-8	9467 San Julian Rd.	Gaviota	93117	Santa Barbara County	Vista del Mar Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 686-1880	65	5	13.0	40.0%	35 (53.8%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (33.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (12.3%)								(n/a)			44.4	63.6						46.8	72.7						48.9				$4,515	$476	$4,039
Olga L. Reed Elementary	Public	K-8	480 Centennial St.	Los Alamos	93440	Santa Barbara County	Orcutt Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 344-2401	170	7	24.1	95.9%	16 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	142 (83.5%)	1 (0.6%)	3 (1.8%)	1 (0.6%)	6 (3.5%)	29.1	4037^th of 5857 public elementary schools	31.1%		24.6	4402^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	25.0%	365	12.5	15.0	13.9	35.3	42.9	25.0	24.0	55.6	60.0	41.2	41.2	50.0	31.3	8.0	22.2	30.0	27.7				$15,164	$1,805	$13,359
Los Berros Visual and Performing Arts Academy	Public	K-6	3745 Via Lato	Lompoc	93436	Santa Barbara County	Lompoc Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 742-2350	398	20	19.9	58.3%	126 (31.7%)	6 (1.5%)	231 (58.0%)	8 (2.0%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.5%)	30.1	3953^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	32.5%		29.9	3937^th of 5869 public elementary schools	32.9%	16	25.4		25.4	26.2	29.2	38.1	29.2			31.2	26.2	29.2	28.6	33.3			29.4				$18,470	$1,370	$17,100

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Ballard Elementary?

Students at Ballard Elementary are 79% White, 12% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Ballard Elementary a good school?

Ballard Elementary ranks 756^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Ballard Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 113 students attended Ballard Elementary.

What district is Ballard Elementary in?

Ballard Elementary

What schools do graduates of Ballard Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ballard Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Santa Ynez Valley Union High

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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.