Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about high schools in and around Santa Barbara, and how this independent guide works.
- How many high schools are there in Santa Barbara?
- We profile ten high schools in and around the city — three large comprehensive public campuses, public alternative and continuation programs, and several private and independent schools. See the full list of schools.
- What are the public high schools in Santa Barbara?
- The three comprehensive public high schools are Santa Barbara High School, San Marcos High School, and Dos Pueblos High School (in neighboring Goleta), all in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. The district also runs alternative and continuation programs such as Alta Vista and La Cuesta.
- What school district are the public schools in?
- The comprehensive public high schools belong to the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD). Dos Pueblos sits in Goleta but is part of the same district and athletic league.
- What is the difference between a comprehensive and an alternative or continuation school?
- Comprehensive high schools are the large, full-program campuses serving most students in grades 9–12. Alternative and continuation schools are smaller public programs offering a different setting or pathway — flexible scheduling, credit recovery, or specialized support.
- What private high schools are in Santa Barbara?
- Private options include faith-based schools such as Bishop Garcia Diego High School (Catholic) and Providence School, independent schools such as Laguna Blanca and Anacapa, and Cate School, a boarding school about eleven miles southeast in Carpinteria. Browse them on the schools page.
- Are there Catholic high schools in Santa Barbara?
- Yes — Bishop Garcia Diego High School is the Catholic, diocesan high school serving the area.
- How does this comparison guide work?
- Each school has a profile with academics, programs, athletics, clubs and facilities. You can put schools side by side in the comparison tool, read themed guides and rankings, or jump straight to a head-to-head.
- Can I compare public and private schools on test scores?
- Only partly. California public schools report state CAASPP results, but private schools do not take CAASPP, so a like-for-like academic comparison usually is not possible. Where a figure is not published, we show a dash rather than guess.
- Where does the data come from?
- Profiles are compiled from official school and district sites, the California School Dashboard, CAASPP, CDE DataQuest, NCES, U.S. News, GreatSchools, and MaxPreps, cross-checked by hand. See our methodology for the full list and limitations.
- Is this site affiliated with any school or district?
- No. Santa Barbara High Schools is an independent informational guide. We are not affiliated with any school, district, or the City of Santa Barbara. Always confirm current details directly with each school.