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Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary

Public Grades K-6

5077^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of California elementary schools

Summary

Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 917 students in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, which faces significant academic challenges across the region.

The school is currently performing well below state averages, with its ranking dropping sharply in recent years. However, it shows some relative strengths, slightly outperforming the district average in math and notably in science. There are significant inconsistencies within the school; for example, third-grade math is a relative strength, while fourth-grade math lags. Interestingly, while test scores have fallen, the school has made real progress in improving student attendance, reducing chronic absenteeism significantly since 2022.

Compared to nearby schools like Fairlawn Elementary and Alvin Elementary, Tunnell has a higher chronic absenteeism rate. A key comparison is with Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary, a school with a very similar student population that achieves much higher academic results, suggesting different approaches within the same district can lead to different outcomes. Tunnell also receives less funding per student than several neighboring schools, such as Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary and Battles (Washington) Elementary.

917

Students ?

21.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,170

Per pupil spending ?

84.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1248 East Dena Way
Santa Maria, CA 93454-2551

(805) 361-7940

District: Santa Maria-Bonita

Students who attend Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Kunst (Tommie) Junior High
High:	Pioneer Valley High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

89.3%

White:

6.1%

Asian:

2.0%

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Compare Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 15th percentile in 2013 → 13th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (21% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 26 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school21%

District avg20%

California avg41%

5,077^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 17Elementary Schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita

1409^th of 1,543Santa Maria-Bonita 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	17.2	5077 of 5857	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.8	4701 of 5869	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.2	3706 of 5859	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.0	3226 of 5883	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.2	3592 of 5789	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.1	3987 of 5662	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.0	4169 of 5692	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.7	4374 of 5614	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	18.1	4829 of 5611	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.1	4723 of 5530	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	22.1	4511 of 5390	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	17.6	4822 of 5377	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	21.4	4508 of 5314	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	23.1	4208 of 5193	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	23.9	4059 of 5113	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	27.3	3754 of 5113	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	21.9	3862 of 4818	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	31.1	3214 of 4822	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	30.0	3243 of 4809	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	39.4	1100 of 2227	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	20.7	2312 of 2585	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.3	2037 of 2128	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	30.2	2540 of 3162	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	44.5	1513 of 3245	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.7	1015 of 3311	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.2	2399 of 3275	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.9	2184 of 3246	32.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	16.3	4999 of 5597	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.7	4547 of 5612	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.8	3587 of 5609	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.4	2976 of 5635	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.4	3550 of 5492	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.0	4171 of 5413	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	4240 of 5107	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.2	3866 of 5107	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.1	2741 of 5087	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.9	2213 of 5084	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.8	2503 of 4963	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.7	3167 of 4830	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	43.6	242 of 429	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	57.5	123 of 364	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	107 of 335	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.2	58 of 356	83.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	4679 of 5460	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.5	4267 of 5517	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.6	3013 of 5363	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.7	2105 of 5264	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.7	2765 of 5173	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.8	3499 of 5084	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.8	4716 of 5628	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.9	4456 of 5643	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.5	3579 of 5638	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.9	3279 of 5663	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.2	3381 of 5510	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.4	3590 of 5431	33.9%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	23.3	67 of 78	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.8	2537 of 2847	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.3	1413 of 2635	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.9	804 of 2420	66.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)51st percentile+5 vs school

Homeless (2025)44th percentile+30 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)20th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)17th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)16th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)14th percentile~ school

Migrant (2025)14th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)11th percentile~ school

Female (2025)11th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy23%-26 vs state

Mathematics19%-18 vs state

Science18%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 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
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary	Public	K-6	1248 East Dena Way	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-7940	917	42	21.6	84.2%	56 (6.1%)	2 (0.2%)	819 (89.3%)	18 (2.0%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (1.9%)	17.2	5077^th of 5857 public elementary schools	13.3%		21.8	4701^st of 5869 public elementary schools	19.9%	376	17.7	17.7	27.6	18.4	26.7	19.3	23.3	30.3	15.0	14.0	17.7	19.2	92.3	94.4		93.7	96.5	96.5	$19,170	$17,446	$1,724
Rice (William) Elementary	Public	K-6	700 East Vickie Ave.	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-7740	887	40	21.9	95.2%	16 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	847 (95.5%)	3 (0.3%)	7 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (1.6%)	11	5567^th of 5857 public elementary schools	5.0%		13	5480^th of 5869 public elementary schools	6.6%	87	5.1	5.1	19.7	13.0	13.8	25.6	18.1	24.1	13.4	6.8	13.3	14.4							$21,406	$19,548	$1,858
Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary	Public	K-6	1921 North Carlotti Dr.	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-6250	849	45	19.0	85.7%	36 (4.2%)	2 (0.2%)	762 (89.8%)	33 (3.9%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	12 (1.4%)	17.3	5074^th of 5857 public elementary schools	13.4%		18.2	5009^th of 5869 public elementary schools	14.7%	65	12.4	12.4	17.2	26.3	20.7	30.3	24.3	19.0	21.6	10.7	24.1	19.0	98.3			98.3		98.3	$23,943	$21,272	$2,671
Alvin Elementary	Public	K-6	301 East Alvin Ave.	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-6760	998	41	24.2	97.6%	12 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	973 (97.5%)	3 (0.3%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.4%)	12	5502^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	6.1%		14.8	5322^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	9.3%	180	12.8	12.8	17.2	17.4	22.2	15.9	18.1	22.3	16.4	16.7	6.7	15.6	97.2						$19,564	$17,888	$1,676
Bruce (Robert) Elementary	Public	K-6	601 West Alvin Ave.	Santa Maria	93458	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-6940	1,050	47	22.3	96.1%	10 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1,026 (97.7%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.6%)	10.8	5583^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	4.7%		10.7	5651^st of 5869 public elementary schools	3.7%	68	8.6	8.6	12.0	17.1	26.3	11.9	16.5	17.6	20.5	14.2	6.7	14.6	98.1						$20,386	$18,294	$2,092
Miller (Isaac) Elementary	Public	K-6	410 East Camino Colegio	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-7560	883	40	21.8	94.5%	20 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	839 (95.0%)	5 (0.6%)	7 (0.8%)	2 (0.2%)	8 (0.9%)	16	5179^th of 5857 public elementary schools	11.6%		18	5030^th of 5869 public elementary schools	14.3%	149	12.4	12.4	24.1	22.0	26.8	22.9	24.0	27.4	21.6	11.5	14.4	19.0							$20,246	$18,608	$1,638
Fairlawn Elementary	Public	K-6	120 Mary Dr.	Santa Maria	93458	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-7500	716	34	20.8	97.6%	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	705 (98.5%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14.9	5272^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	10.0%		18.4	4993^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	14.9%	279	11.8	11.8	21.1	22.2	16.8	29.7	22.4	16.5	18.9	14.7	18.5	17.1	96.5			97.4			$21,460	$19,810	$1,650
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary	Public	K-6	930 West Rancho Verde	Santa Maria	93458	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-7680	869	35	24.8	94.2%	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	840 (96.7%)	10 (1.2%)	6 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	40.6	3177^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.8%		44.8	2878^th of 5869 public elementary schools	51.0%	299	22.1	22.1	32.5	44.4	40.2	37.7	38.5	49.6	46.3	30.1	22.8	37.2							$21,512	$19,834	$1,678
Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary	Public	K-6	1120 West Harding St.	Santa Maria	93458	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-7620	849	40	21.0	95.9%	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	830 (97.8%)	11 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	15	5261^st of 5857 public elementary schools	10.2%		14.8	5321^st of 5869 public elementary schools	9.3%	60	13.5	13.5	14.2	25.9	20.0	17.2	19.4	18.2	33.0	12.7	11.1	19.0	95.6				96.4		$22,073	$20,412	$1,661
Battles (Washington) Elementary	Public	K-6	605 East Battles Rd.	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria-Bonita	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 361-6880	769	37	20.8	97.3%	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	748 (97.3%)	9 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.0%)	11.4	5546^th of 5857 public elementary schools	5.3%		13.8	5405^th of 5869 public elementary schools	7.9%	141	12.9	12.9	22.5	20.4	24.4	19.1	21.5	20.2	9.0	8.7	5.3	10.6	98.2		98.2		98.2		$21,634	$19,922	$1,712

Frequently Asked Questions about Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary?

Students at Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary are 89% Hispanic, 6% White, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

Is Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary a good school?

Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary ranks in the bottom 13.3% of California elementary schools.

What district is Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary in?

Santa Maria-Bonita

What schools do graduates of Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary attend?

Students who attend Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kunst (Tommie) Junior High
High : Pioneer Valley High

How many students attend Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 917 students attended Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary.

Rate Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.