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Santa Maria High

Q: Is Santa Maria High a good school?

Santa Maria High ranks 1239 th of 2137 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

1239^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,137 California High Schools

Better than 42% of California high schools

Summary

Santa Maria High is a grades 9–12 school serving 3,143 students in Santa Maria on California’s Central Coast. SchoolDigger ranks it 1,239th of 2,137 California schools, in the 42nd percentile, with 2 stars. Its 2025–26 graduation rate was 87%, close to the state rate but below most nearby schools. Most importantly, proficiency remains below state levels in all three subjects, with the largest shortfall in math.

Santa Maria’s strongest subject compared with the state is ELA, while math is the clearest weakness: 2025–26 proficiency was 43% in ELA, 19% in math and 28% in science, versus state rates of 49%, 38% and 36%. Compared with the Santa Maria Joint Union High district, the school was 3 points lower in ELA, about even in math and 1 point lower in science. Its 11th-grade results were near the nearby-school averages, though it ranked fifth-lowest of the ten schools in ELA and fourth-lowest in math and science. Graduation was 5 points below the district rate and the second-lowest among nearby schools; its 9% dropout rate was higher than the state and district rates.

Results have improved since 2022–23: proficiency rose 16 points in ELA, 9 in math and 14 in science, and the gaps with the state narrowed in each subject, although they remain substantial in math. Santa Maria is the largest nearby school, just ahead of Pioneer Valley High, and its 2024–25 student-teacher ratio of 21.9 was the group’s second-highest, compared with a nearby average of 18.6. In 2024–25, 76% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible; California provides free meals statewide, so this eligibility measure does not indicate whether students can receive free meals. SchoolDigger’s group rankings show a notably low standing for Special Education Students (9th percentile, compared with 42nd overall) and a sharp rise for Migrant Students, from 33rd percentile in 2024–25 to 74th in 2025–26.

3,143

Students ?

21.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,920

Per pupil spending ?

76.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

901 South Broadway
Santa Maria, CA 93454-6603

(805) 925-2567

District: Santa Maria Joint Union High

Feeder schools for Santa Maria High:

Elementary:	Adam (William Laird) Elementary
	Battles (Washington) Elementary
	Fairlawn Elementary
	Liberty Elementary
	More...
	Sanchez (David J.) Elementary
Middle:	Arellanes Junior High
	Fesler (Isaac) Junior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

97.3%

White:

1.2%

Asian:

0.9%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Santa Maria High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 35th percentile in 2015 → 42nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (30% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 19 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg32%

California avg42%

1,239^th of 2,137

California public high schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4High Schools in the Santa Maria Joint Union High

613^th of 968Santa Maria Joint Union High 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
2026	41.4	1239 of 2137	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.3	1251 of 2162	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.7	1277 of 2159	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.6	1567 of 2170	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.4	1525 of 2123	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.3	1373 of 2133	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.0	1033 of 2017	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.5	1141 of 2021	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.8	1128 of 2039	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	32.5	1306 of 1994	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	53.5	691 of 2426	71.5%	★★★★☆
2012	49.1	821 of 2354	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	50.6	785 of 2367	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	44.0	919 of 2281	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	48.4	785 of 2238	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	44.7	801 of 2117	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	33.8	1046 of 2063	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	31.7	1049 of 1968	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	31.9	996 of 1901	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	28.2	979 of 1653	40.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	23.7	1015 of 1161	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.2	1036 of 1117	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.9	964 of 1052	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	32.2	791 of 1085	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	903 of 1064	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.1	819 of 1044	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.7	489 of 941	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.0	578 of 938	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	35.3	1220 of 1865	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.6	1203 of 1906	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.3	1159 of 1915	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.6	1451 of 1915	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.1	1450 of 1858	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.6	1264 of 1833	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.4	935 of 1760	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	49.0	927 of 1880	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.6	985 of 1900	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.9	1007 of 1902	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.1	1327 of 1917	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.5	1301 of 1861	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.1	1106 of 1814	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.0	713 of 1742	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	57.5	126 of 358	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.4	198 of 410	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.2	197 of 328	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.8	189 of 290	34.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	1024 of 1999	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.8	1097 of 2013	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.8	1127 of 2026	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.8	1397 of 2030	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.0	1358 of 1943	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	1214 of 1937	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.1	787 of 1862	57.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	1087 of 1932	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.4	1142 of 1942	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.3	1212 of 1948	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.6	1405 of 1963	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	1394 of 1916	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.3	1255 of 1880	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.0	1053 of 1834	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	21 of 82	74.4%	★★★★☆
2025	37.2	57 of 85	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.0	55 of 85	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	36.9	97 of 156	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.1	104 of 175	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.3	152 of 183	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	18.3	1128 of 1235	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	27.7	930 of 1252	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	1134 of 1216	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.7	982 of 1197	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	20.7	966 of 1193	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	1059 of 1204	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Migrant (2026)74th percentile+32 vs school

Homeless (2026)65th percentile+23 vs school

Hispanic (2026)51st percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)44th percentile~ school

Military Connected (2026)38th percentile-4 vs school

Female (2026)35th percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)27th percentile-14 vs school

White (2023)19th percentile-9 vs school

Disabled (2022)13th percentile-16 vs school

Special Education (2026)9th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy43%-6 vs state

Science28%-8 vs state

Mathematics19%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Santa Maria High

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)			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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Santa Maria High	Public	9-12	901 South Broadway	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 925-2567	3,143	144	21.9	76.1%	39 (1.2%)	6 (0.2%)	3,057 (97.3%)	29 (0.9%)	4 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.1%)	41.4	1239^th of 2137 public high schools	42.0%		40.3	1251^st of 2162 public high schools	42.1%	12		29.0	5.9	28.3		43.5	43.5		19.4	19.4	$27,920	$26,640	$1,280
Pioneer Valley High	Public	9-12	675 Panther Dr.	Santa Maria	93454	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 922-1305	3,080	140	22.0	71.9%	70 (2.3%)	13 (0.4%)	2,893 (93.9%)	87 (2.8%)	4 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	8 (0.3%)	45	1141^st of 2137 public high schools	46.6%		47.2	1092^nd of 2162 public high schools	49.5%	49		32.2	7.1	31.6		45.9	45.9		19.7	19.7	$26,979	$25,752	$1,227
Ernest Righetti High	Public	9-12	941 East Foster Rd.	Santa Maria	93455	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 937-2051	2,416	115	21.0	55.5%	424 (17.5%)	32 (1.3%)	1,815 (75.1%)	78 (3.2%)	17 (0.7%)	6 (0.2%)	34 (1.4%)	63.4	745^th of 2137 public high schools	65.1%		58	877^th of 2162 public high schools	59.4%	132		39.3		38.9		62.6	62.6		27.1	27.1	$29,708	$28,504	$1,204
Delta High	Public	9-12	4893 Bethany Ln.	Santa Maria	93455	Santa Barbara County	Santa Maria Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 937-6356	291	14	20.7	78.7%	11 (3.8%)	2 (0.7%)	274 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9.6	1975^th of 2137 public high schools	7.6%		10.9	1974^th of 2162 public high schools	8.7%	1		2.4	13.3	3.1		16.6	16.6		0.0	0.0	$33,469	$32,788	$681
Central Coast New Technical High	Public	9-12	523 North Thompson Ave.	Nipomo	93444	San Luis Obispo County	Lucia Mar Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 474-3350	318	17	19.1	50.3%	160 (50.3%)	2 (0.6%)	123 (38.7%)	7 (2.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.0%)	88.3	235^th of 2137 public high schools	89.0%		92.9	150^th of 2162 public high schools	93.1%	85		56.8		56.8		90.5	90.5		41.9	41.9	$19,079	$16,452	$2,627
Nipomo High	Public	9-12	525 North Thompson Rd.	Nipomo	93444	San Luis Obispo County	Lucia Mar Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 474-3300	819	43	19.0	70.2%	225 (27.5%)	5 (0.6%)	542 (66.2%)	10 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	31 (3.8%)	59.8	820^th of 2137 public high schools	61.6%		61.4	785^th of 2162 public high schools	63.7%	35		41.0		39.5		60.3	60.0		21.5	21.4	$19,372	$16,590	$2,782
Lopez Continuation High	Public	10-12	1055 Mesa View Dr.	Arroyo Grande	93420	San Luis Obispo County	Lucia Mar Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 474-3750	96	9	10.9	77.1%	27 (28.1%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (65.6%)	2 (2.1%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	9.6	1974^th of 2137 public high schools	7.6%		11.2	1959^th of 2162 public high schools	9.4%	15		5.5		5.5		12.7	12.7		1.7	1.7	$28,736	$24,444	$4,292
Arroyo Grande High	Public	9-12	495 Valley Rd.	Arroyo Grande	93420	San Luis Obispo County	Lucia Mar Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 474-3200	2,012	96	20.9	47.2%	966 (48.0%)	11 (0.5%)	845 (42.0%)	60 (3.0%)	4 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	115 (5.7%)	71.4	593^rd of 2137 public high schools	72.3%		79.9	414^th of 2162 public high schools	80.9%	179		40.9	8.3	40.0		66.5	66.5		36.2	36.2	$15,413	$12,818	$2,595
Cabrillo High	Public	9-12	4350 Constellation Rd.	Lompoc	93438	Santa Barbara County	Lompoc Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 742-2900	1,060	56	19.0	48.3%	322 (30.4%)	22 (2.1%)	544 (51.3%)	47 (4.4%)	11 (1.0%)	4 (0.4%)	108 (10.2%)	47	1098^th of 2137 public high schools	48.6%		61.3	790^th of 2162 public high schools	63.5%	308		38.9		39.4		35.9	35.9		23.7	23.7	$26,829	$26,010	$819
Maple High	Public	9-12	4010 Jupiter Ave.	Lompoc	93438	Santa Barbara County	Lompoc Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 742-3150	135	9	14.7	85.2%	26 (19.3%)	2 (1.5%)	99 (73.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)	1 (0.7%)	3 (2.2%)	6.9	2104^th of 2137 public high schools	1.5%		9	2072^nd of 2162 public high schools	4.2%	32		1.7		3.0		4.8	4.8		0.0	0.0	$38,111	$36,882	$1,229

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Maria High

How many students attend Santa Maria High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 3,143 students attended Santa Maria High.

Is Santa Maria High a good school?

Santa Maria High ranks 1239^th of 2137 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Santa Maria High in?

Santa Maria Joint Union High

What schools feed into Santa Maria High?

Santa Maria High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Adam (William Laird) Elementary
Elementary : Battles (Washington) Elementary
Elementary : Fairlawn Elementary
Elementary : Liberty Elementary
Elementary : Sanchez (David J.) Elementary
Middle : Arellanes Junior High
Middle : Fesler (Isaac) Junior High

What is the racial makeup of Santa Maria High?

Students at Santa Maria High are 97% Hispanic, 1% White.

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Latest California data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

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.