2024 Best High Schools in the Santa Barbara Area

Best schools

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Parent: As a parent of two boys at Cate, we continue to be very pleased with their high school experience. Our family has not historically gone to boarding schools but we have found the overall experience of making friends from all over the world, the academic rigor and critical thinking skills to be worth the cost. The teachers and administration truly care about the students' well being and success. And the culture is much more collaborative than competitive. The mesa is an amazing place to attend school!... Read 82 reviews
#1 Best Private High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Cate School
Blue checkmark.
Private School,
CARPINTERIA, CA,
9-12,
82 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.
Featured Review: Parent says As a parent of two boys at Cate, we continue to be very pleased with their high school experience. Our family has not historically gone to boarding schools but we have found the overall experience....
Read 82 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A+,
Students: 298,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5 to 1,
View nearby homes Virtual tour
Alum: If you want to be surrounded by brilliant, caring, perceptive, encouraging teachers, go to Laguna Blanca. You will be welcomed with open arms. They tirelessly help students understand concepts and explore the unknown, and at the same time they know that you're in high school and let you be in charge of yourself, whether that means slacking off or fully embracing your education. Laguna Blanca and its teachers want to help you bring your ambitions to reality. The Dean of Students supported me and a couple friends tirelessly as we started and maintained our club. All teachers make such efforts to help boost and deepen students' thinking, writing, research, and self confidence; as well as sacrificing hours enthusiastically brainstorming with us. Extracurricular programs encourage anyone interested to get involved. The campus is beautiful, classes are in individual buildings so you get to walk outside going from class to class, and the general atmosphere will make you feel quite at home.... Read 41 reviews
#2 Best Private High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Laguna Blanca School
Blue checkmark.
Private School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
K-12,
41 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.
Featured Review: Alum says If you want to be surrounded by brilliant, caring, perceptive, encouraging teachers, go to Laguna Blanca. You will be welcomed with open arms. They tirelessly help students understand concepts and...The campus is beautiful, classes are in individual buildings so you get to walk outside going from class to class, and the general atmosphere will make you feel quite at home..
Read 41 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A+,
Students: 348,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7 to 1,
View nearby homes
#3 Best Private High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Anacapa School
Blue checkmark.
Private School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
7-12,
7 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.
Featured Review: Alum says Anacapa School was a great experience for me grades 8-11, I loved the teachers and classes. I can't wait to see where the new administration takes the school, I'm sure it will be great..
Read 7 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A+,
Students: 42,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 6 to 1,
View nearby homes
SponsoredCatholic School
Roanoke Catholic School
Private School·
ROANOKE, VA·
PK, K-12
·
Rating 4.05 out of 5 76
SponsoredChristian School
Veritas Collegiate Academy
Private School·
CHESAPEAKE, VA·
K-12
·
Rating 4.61 out of 5 112
SponsoredPrivate School
Norfolk Academy
Private School·
NORFOLK, VA·
1-12
·
Rating 4.51 out of 5 151
#4 Best Private High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Bishop Garcia Diego High School
Blue checkmark.
Private School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
9-12,
75 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.
Featured Review: Senior says The teachers are dedicated to their craft and are always available to help students. They work quite hard to ensure the maximum capacity of learning. The campus is beautiful and the community is very....
Read 75 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A+,
Students: 290,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 12 to 1,
View nearby homes Virtual tour
Senior: Dos Pueblos is a great school, which at excels at higher level academics for higher level students, as well as support classes for students who need more assistance. Either way Dos Pueblos is a great school for college readiness, support, school involvement/activities. Another great thing about Dos Pueblos is staff and teachers actually care about their students, their health, mental health, and futures. Students can easily find trusted adults on campus and can go to school knowing that someone on campus will be there for them.... Read 490 reviews
#1 Best Public High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Dos Pueblos Senior High School
Santa Barbara Unified School District, CA,
9-12,
490 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.
Featured Review: Senior says Dos Pueblos is a great school, which at excels at higher level academics for higher level students, as well as support classes for students who need more assistance. Either way Dos Pueblos is a great....
Read 490 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A,
Students: 2,034,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21 to 1,
View nearby homes
Sophomore: San Marcos Senior High School has an inclusive community that specializes in the preforming arts. The preforming arts are top notch, with Choir and Marching Band going to competitions and placing into championships and always placing quite highly. The theater department is also highly rated by the community, and it is such a pleasure to work on stage with such an inclusive and kind community of people from Santa Barbara. Our Culinary Arts and other Arts programs are also top notch with every week students getting into a creative zone and the teachers allowing them to flow and be creative to reach their highest potentials. Overall I would recommend San Marcos to any student looking for an inclusive, inspiring, and arts oriented students.... Read 380 reviews
#2 Best Public High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
San Marcos Senior High School
Santa Barbara Unified School District, CA,
9-12,
380 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.
Featured Review: Sophomore says San Marcos Senior High School has an inclusive community that specializes in the preforming arts. The preforming arts are top notch, with Choir and Marching Band going to competitions and placing....
Read 380 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A,
Students: 2,020,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21 to 1,
View nearby homes
Parent: Santa Barbara Senior High School has been described by many as an institution with a rich academic and extracurricular environment. The best parts of the experience often include dedicated and passionate teachers, a diverse student body, and a variety of extracurricular activities ranging from sports to arts and community service. Students often appreciate the supportive and inclusive atmosphere that fosters both personal and academic growth. However, some might mention challenges such as overcrowded classrooms or limited resources for certain programs. To enhance the overall experience, improvements such as reducing class sizes, expanding resources for extracurricular activities, and promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives could be beneficial. Overall, Santa Barbara Senior High School is recognized for its commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education and preparing them for future endeavors.... Read 369 reviews
#3 Best Public High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Santa Barbara Senior High School
Santa Barbara Unified School District, CA,
9-12,
369 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.
Featured Review: Parent says Santa Barbara Senior High School has been described by many as an institution with a rich academic and extracurricular environment. The best parts of the experience often include dedicated and....
Read 369 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A,
Students: 2,107,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21 to 1,
View nearby homes
#5 Best Private High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Providence School
Blue checkmark.
Private School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
PK, K-12,
12 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars.
Featured Review: Senior says Providence has really prepared me for College. Classes are challenging but the teachers are great and help you whenever you need help. Teacher to student ratio is very small. its a great intimate....
Read 12 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A,
Students: 332,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7 to 1,
View nearby homes
Senior: The student-advisor relationship at Middle College transcends my prior experiences, cultivating a nurturing environment that fosters both academic achievement and personal development. Students establish close connections with their advisors—a departure from the conventional high school model. Having encountered two other scholastic environments that purported to emphasize strong relationships, the support provided by Middle College teachers is unparalleled. Unlike my prior schools, where community cohesion waned, Middle College consistently provides a sense of support and encouragement from both advisors and peers. Moreover, at my former institution, I observed an echo chamber within the student body, stifling constructive discourse on contentious issues. In contrast, Middle College actively encourages students to engage in civil dialogue, listen to diverse perspectives, and participate in polite discussions rather than merely formulating passive rebuttals.... Read 17 reviews
#4 Best Public High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Alta Vista Alternative High School
Online School,
Santa Barbara Unified School District, CA,
9-12,
17 Niche users give it an average review of 4.1 stars.
Featured Review: Senior says The student-advisor relationship at Middle College transcends my prior experiences, cultivating a nurturing environment that fosters both academic achievement and personal development. Students....
Read 17 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: A minus,
Students: 117,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13 to 1,
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#5 Best Public High Schools in Santa Barbara Area.
Carpinteria Senior High School
Carpinteria Unified School District, CA,
9-12,
125 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.
Featured Review: Sophomore says Overall it is a very good school. There are a lot of resources available when it comes to applying to college and recieving financial and other aid..
Read 125 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: B+,
Students: 653,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18 to 1,
View nearby homes
Senior: I loved La Cuesta Continuation High School! I attended La Cuesta for the school year of 2011-2012 as a Senior. I was messing up ditching school as a junior at another high school and got transferred here . The atmosphere, the teachers, staff all made school much more likeable. I wish I wouldn't have ditched as often as I did and I really wish I would have gone to La Cuesta all 4 years of high school. It's a smaller campus and it felt like a family because everybody knew everybody. The class sizes were smaller so there was an opportunity for the teachers to actually get to know you instead of you being a nobody in the class. I loved my experience there and thankfully I graduated on time. There was a lot of work I had to do to graduate but I did it and am happy to say I graduated from this school.... Read 9 reviews
La Cuesta Continuation High School
Santa Barbara Unified School District, CA,
9-12,
9 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.
Featured Review: Senior says I loved La Cuesta Continuation High School! I attended La Cuesta for the school year of 2011-2012 as a Senior. I was messing up ditching school as a junior at another high school and got transferred....
Read 9 reviews.
Overall Niche Grade: C,
Students: 80,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 10 to 1,
View nearby homes
Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara
Public School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
K-12,
Overall Niche Grade: B+,
Students: 80,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 20 to 1,
View nearby homes
Trivium Charter School Voyage
Public School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
K-12,
1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.
Featured Review: Alum says Great hybrid school in California. Students have the option to complete their schoolwork completely online or to attend in person classes twice a week in addition to the online learning. The school....
Read 1 reviews.
Students: 297,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19 to 1,
View nearby homes
Santa Barbara County Special Education
Santa Barbara County Office Of Education, CA,
K-12,
Students: 58,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 6 to 1,
View nearby homes
ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY
Private School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
7-12,
Students: 20,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5 to 1,
View nearby homes
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara
Blue checkmark.
Private School,
SANTA BARBARA, CA,
6-12,
Students: 15,
Student-Teacher Ratio: 1 to 1,
View nearby homes Virtual tour
SponsoredAll-Girls School
Oakcrest School
Private School·
VIENNA, VA·
6-12
·
Rating 4.37 out of 5 137
SponsoredPrivate School
Randolph-Macon Academy
Private School·
FRONT ROYAL, VA·
6-12
·
Rating 4.15 out of 5 179
SponsoredCatholic School
St. Mary's Catholic School
Private School·
RICHMOND, VA·
PK, K-8
·
Rating 3.13 out of 5 8

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2024 Best High Schools in the Santa Barbara Area

Cate School

Cate School

Laguna Blanca School

Laguna Blanca School

Anacapa School

Anacapa School

Bishop Garcia Diego High School

Bishop Garcia Diego High School

Dos Pueblos Senior High School

Dos Pueblos Senior High School

San Marcos Senior High School

San Marcos Senior High School

Santa Barbara Senior High School

Santa Barbara Senior High School

Providence School

Providence School

Alta Vista Alternative High School

Alta Vista Alternative High School

Carpinteria Senior High School

Carpinteria Senior High School

La Cuesta Continuation High School

La Cuesta Continuation High School

Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara

Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara

Trivium Charter School Voyage

Trivium Charter School Voyage

Santa Barbara County Special Education

Santa Barbara County Special Education

ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY

ST THERESE CLASSICAL ACADEMY

Fusion Academy Santa Barbara

Fusion Academy Santa Barbara