Santa Maria High
901 South Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454-6603
Summary
Santa Maria High is underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 42nd percentile among comparable California schools.
Only 43.5% of students met California's reading standard, but it is holding steady.
Math is weaker: 19.4% of students met California's math standard, but it is trending up.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 43.5% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 19.4% |
| Reading State Rank | 996/1,596 (38th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 850/1,596 (47th percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 21:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 3,143 |
| Low-Income Students | 2,478 (78.8%) |
| English Learners | 675 (21.5%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading fell 1.0 points from last year and rose 0.1 points over the full period. Math rose 3.6 points from last year and rose 5.7 points over the full period.
•Math +5.7 percentage points (2024–2026)Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Only one group has a reportable reading result.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
43.5% of tested students meet the reading standard in the grade shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank No. 996 of 1,596 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 14.2-point reading income gap is about the same as the 14.7-point gap at a typical California 9–12 school. It widened over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
9.4% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 46.7% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results rose and English-only results rose.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Only one group has a reportable math result.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
19.3% of tested students meet the math standard in the grade shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank No. 850 of 1,596 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
Low-income students are 0.3 points ahead in math. It narrowed over the period shown.
•
English Learners vs English Native
8.2% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 8.9% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results rose and English-only results fell.
•How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 876 schools for reading and 882 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California 9–12 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does Santa Maria High compare within the district?
Santa Maria High is No. 3 in both reading and math proficiency among the 3 9–12 schools in Santa Maria Joint Union High with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does Santa Maria High rank in California?
Santa Maria High ranks No. 996 of 1,596 in reading and No. 850 of 1,596 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at Santa Maria High compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 3 in reading and No. 2 in math among 3 9–12 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 42.9% meet the reading standard and 19.4% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does Santa Maria High compare with other schools in Santa Maria?
Santa Maria High is No. 3 in both reading and math proficiency among the 3 9–12 schools in Santa Maria with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Santa MariaHow does Santa Maria High compare with other schools in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Maria High is No. 9 in reading and No. 11 in math proficiency among the 12 9–12 schools in Santa Barbara County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Santa Barbara CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving 9–12 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria HighThis school | 19.4% | 43.5% |
| Ernest Righetti High | 27.1% | 62.5% |
| Pioneer Valley High | 19.7% | 45.9% |
