📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 20 Rated Districts in Santa Barbara County, CA
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
Best School Districts in Santa Barbara County, California (2026)
This page lists the 20 public school districts headquartered in Santa Barbara County, California that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using CAASPP 2023–24 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in California, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Santa Barbara County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Santa Barbara County, California? ▼
Among the 20 rated districts in Santa Barbara County, California, 2 share the top position at 10/10 (Excellent), 99th percentile of California districts on CAASPP 2023–24 reading and math proficiency: Cold Spring Elementary School District (Santa Barbara); Montecito Union Elementary School District (Santa Barbara).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in California and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.