Best High Schools in Zip Code 93101

This analysis covers two public high schools in Santa Barbara, CA (zip code 93101), both serving grades 9-12 within the Santa Barbara Unified district: Alta Vista Alternative High and La Cuesta Continuation High.

These are small, specialized schools with significant challenges. Alta Vista Alternative High shows stronger outcomes, with an 82.8% graduation rate and some academic proficiency, particularly in science. In contrast, La Cuesta Continuation High faces severe difficulties, with a 57.1% graduation rate, a 40.5% dropout rate, and 0% proficiency in math and science. Both schools perform well below the district's average academic scores.

The most critical issue for both schools is extremely high chronic absenteeism, affecting 78.8% of students at Alta Vista and 94% at La Cuesta, which is a major barrier to learning. They receive high per-student funding and have low student-to-teacher ratios, yet these resources have not translated into strong academic results. Parents should understand these schools serve specific student populations with complex needs, and their performance data reflects those unique challenges within the broader Santa Barbara Unified system.