- La Colina Junior High — Grades 7–8 · 832 students
- Goleta Valley Junior High — Grades 7–8 · 731 students
- Santa Barbara Junior High — Grades 7–8 · 512 students
- La Cumbre Junior High — Grades 7–8 · 426 students
- Alta Vista — Grades 7–8 · 2 students
- Dos Pueblos Senior High — Grades 9–12 · 2,149 students
- San Marcos Senior High — Grades 9–12 · 1,926 students
- Santa Barbara Senior High — Grades 9–12 · 1,924 students
- Alta Vista Alternative High — Grades 9–12 · 119 students
- La Cuesta Continuation High — Grades 9–12 · 77 students
- Washington Elementary — Grades K–6 · 477 students
- Adams Elementary — Grades K–6 · 469 students
- Roosevelt Elementary — Grades K–6 · 463 students
- Franklin Elementary — Grades K–6 · 424 students
- Harding University Partnership — Grades K–6 · 364 students
- Monroe Elementary — Grades K–6 · 315 students
- McKinley Elementary — Grades K–6 · 293 students
- Santa Barbara Charter — Grades K–8 · 269 students
- Cleveland Elementary — Grades K–6 · 254 students
- Santa Barbara Community Academy — Grades K–6 · 221 students
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| Metric | Santa Barbara Unified School District | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 21 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $15,700/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Near average |
About Santa Barbara Unified School District
Zip code 93109 in Santa Barbara, California is served by Santa Barbara Unified School District for public school enrollment. The district covers grades Kindergarten – 12th. This page provides a data-driven overview of Santa Barbara Unified School District’s funding levels, size, rating, and what families should know before enrolling or making a housing decision in this area.
Funding and Resources
Per-pupil spending at Santa Barbara Unified School District runs approximately $15,700 annually, placing it near the California state average of approximately $16,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
Santa Barbara Unified School District is a small, community-focused district with 1 schools serving students from Kindergarten – 12th. Small districts often benefit from tighter community cohesion, more personalized teacher-student relationships, and stronger parental involvement. The trade-off is narrower program variety: fewer elective courses, specialized tracks, or extracurricular options than larger systems offer.
Understanding the 8/10 Rating
SchoolDistrictFinder rates Santa Barbara Unified School District 8 out of 10 — above average among California public school districts. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection (2017–18 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because California is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Santa Barbara Unified School District earns an above-average rating, with reading and math proficiency rates stronger than most other districts in California. Above-average districts generally show solid and consistent academic results across their schools. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful academic strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 93109
Children in zip code 93109 are assigned to Santa Barbara Unified School District for public school enrollment, covering grades Kindergarten – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 93109, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Santa Barbara Unified School District at (805)963-4338 or visit www.sbunified.org. Typical enrollment documents include a signed lease or mortgage statement, birth certificate, state-required immunization documentation, and recent report cards or transcripts. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — California districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Santa Barbara
Research consistently shows that district assignment affects residential property values. Because Santa Barbara Unified School District serves zip code 93109, homes in and around zip code 93109 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In California, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Santa Barbara Unified School District programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 93109.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Santa Barbara Unified School District before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 93109 data.