Santa Barbara Unified Celebrates Test Score Growth; Literacy Rate Moves above 51%
Our students, teachers, staff, and administrators have come together to achieve remarkable results. Test scores are soaring back to levels not seen since before the pandemic, showcasing the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.
According to the official California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), English Language Arts scores indicate that 51.7% of students are meeting or exceeding the standard, and in Math, 41.4% of the students are meeting or exceeding the standard.
"The recent test score growth across our district is a powerful testament to the tireless efforts of our teachers and staff. This achievement is a direct result of their commitment to our Call to Action: to create joyful, engaging, and inclusive learning environments that foster a love of learning for all,” said Dr. Hilda Maldonado, Superintendent. “It proves that by focusing on evidence-based practices and aligning as leaders, teachers, and staff, we can accelerate equitable results in academic progress for every single student. Our teachers are the heart of this success, and I couldn't be prouder of their dedication."
Santa Barbara Unified has the highest test scores of any TK-12 school district in the County. The District outperforms Santa Barbara County and the State of California in test scores.
“I am so proud of our students, teachers, and staff for their hard work to get us to this point. Every percentage point represents real progress for real students. These results are exciting, but we know there's still work to do. I am confident we will continue to improve our test scores this year and beyond,” said Board President Gabe Escobedo.
A Decade of Student Performance
An analysis of CAASPP English Language Arts (ELA) and Math proficiency for SB Unified Schools from 2015 to 2025.
The Big Picture: ELA & Math Proficiency Trends
This chart displays the complete ten-year journey for both ELA and Math proficiency rates for SB Unified. It captures the initial period of growth, the significant dip following major instructional disruptions, and the ongoing path to recovery.
Key Milestones: Performance Highs and Lows
Peak Performance Pre-Disruption
Both subjects reached their highest proficiency levels in the years just before the 2020 disruption, setting a benchmark for recovery efforts.
54.92%
ELA Peak (2017-18)
44.73%
Math Peak (2018-19)
The Academic Impact of Disruption
The 2021-22 school year revealed a significant drop in proficiency from the previous highs, quantifying the academic challenge faced by students and educators.
2024-25 Proficiency by Grade Level
An essential breakdown of the final 2024-25 results, showing where academic achievement is strongest. Grades 7 and 11 demonstrate particularly strong proficiency in ELA, while Grade 3 is the only grade where Math proficiency currently surpasses ELA.
Equity Gaps: Gender and Socio-Economic Disadvantage
SED Status Performance (2024-25)
A significant achievement gap persists, with Non-SED students achieving substantially higher proficiency rates than their Socio-Economically Disadvantaged (SED) peers across both subjects.
Gender Performance (2024-25)
Female students maintained higher proficiency rates than male students in both ELA and Math, which aligns with historical trends in standardized testing.
Performance by Ethnic Group (2024-25)
This breakdown highlights the wide variations in achievement across ethnic groups, showing the largest achievement gaps exist for Hispanic/Latino and Black or African American students.
The Road to Recovery: Strategy & Results
This section pairs the data demonstrating the recovery progress with the strategic investments and initiatives driving the academic rebound within SB Unified.
Investment in Teachers and Leadership
SB Unified's exceptional teachers are the foundation of the test score growth. To support them, the District invested heavily in professional learning, new curriculum, lower class sizes, and additional student support. Leaders also engaged in learning about results-based leadership in a partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, fostering a culture of alignment, accountability, and student-centered decision-making.
Targeted Curriculum and Literacy Initiatives
- Since 2022-2023, elementary educators have participated in Orton-Gillingham to acquire the most effective strategies for teaching reading.
- The District invested in LETRS training for key educators and will expand this to all K-6 teachers this year, cultivating a team of expert literacy instructors.
- This foundation facilitated the successful rollout of the new Wit and Wisdom and Fundations English Language Arts curriculum in the 2023-2024 school year.
- Junior High School math teachers implemented a new curriculum and IXL, a new digital learning platform.
- Through a robust Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), staff and leaders use data to inform decisions that ensure they know every child by name, face, and story.
Comparative Performance: Outperforming Peers
SB Unified's performance in 2023-24 and 2024-25 significantly exceeds both the Santa Barbara County and State of California averages in both subjects, highlighting the district's effective strategies and strong academic position.
A Persistent Gap: ELA vs. Math
While both subjects follow similar trends, a notable performance gap between ELA and Math proficiency has remained consistent over the entire decade. On average, ELA proficiency has been over 10 percentage points higher than Math.
Key Takeaways
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2024-25 Marks Decade Growth
The 2024-25 proficiency levels for SB Unified have surpassed the 2015-16 starting points, marking a positive growth over the decade. However, scores remain approximately 3 percentage points below the pre-disruption peaks for both ELA and Math, indicating the full recovery journey is ongoing.
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Outperforming Peers
Santa Barbara Unified scores significantly higher than both the Santa Barbara County and State of California averages in both ELA and Math, reinforcing the success of its focused recovery initiatives and providing a model for regional growth.
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Road to Recovery
The significant rebound in scores from the 2021-22 low aligns directly with the timing of major instructional investments, including LETRS training and the rollout of new ELA and Math curricula. This demonstrates the efficacy of targeted, high-leverage professional development.
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Math More Impacted, but Recovering
Mathematics proficiency saw a larger percentage point drop (8.9 points) compared to ELA (7.4 points) but is showing steady progress back toward its historical high, validating the focus on the new Junior High math curriculum and IXL platform.
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Sustaining Growth through MTSS
The adoption of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) ensures that data and accountability are used for continuous, student-centered decision-making, establishing a robust system designed to sustain growth beyond the initial recovery phase.
Teachers Fuel Test Score Growth
Santa Barbara Unified's exceptional teachers are the foundation of the test score growth. To support them, the District invested in professional learning, new curriculum, lower class sizes, and additional support for students. Leaders also engaged in learning about results-based leadership in a unique partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This investment in focusing on both alignment of efforts, accountability tools, and student-centered decision making is shifting the District’s culture to a collaborative and mission-driven organization.
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Santa Barbara Unified School District 24-25 CAASP Results |
ELA | Mathematics | |||
| 2024 Met/Exc. |
2025 Met/Exc. | 2024 Met/Exc. |
2025 Met/Exc. | ||
| SBUSD overall | 49.39% | 51.70% | 39.28% | 41.38% | |
| Adams Elementary | 49.13% | 51.87% | 43.68% | 42.01% | |
| Cleveland Elementary | 28.35% | 35.82% | 30.43% | 29.71% | |
| Franklin Elementary | 50.79% | 50.62% | 55.37% | 51.44% | |
| Harding University Partnership | 40.51% | 48.93% | 32.68% | 44.85% | |
| McKinley Elementary | 20.80% | 20.63% | 16.29% | 21.10% | |
| Monroe Elementary | 44.17% | 43.11% | 33.34% | 35.33% | |
| Roosevelt Elementary | 52.37% | 53.39% | 43.14% | 46.18% | |
| Santa Barbara Community Academy | 33.34% | 32.58% | 23.08% | 25.19% | |
| Washington Elementary | 58.82% | 62.06% | 55.15% | 56.43% | |
| Goleta Valley JHS | 53.51% | 54.79% | 48.95% | 48.88% | |
| La Colina JHS | 68.07% | 68.90% | 56.62% | 60.87% | |
| La Cumbre JHS | 33.57% | 41.98% | 25.46% | 34.87% | |
| Santa Barbara JHS | 33.12% | 30.77% | 23.58% | 26.72% | |
| Dos Pueblos SHS | 68.47% | 68.61% | 46.97% | 45.68% | |
| La Cuesta Continuation HS | 9.09% | 4.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| San Marcos SHS | 50.37% | 55.92% | 32.11% | 34.84% | |
| Santa Barbara SHS | 37.09% | 44.88% | 19.50% | 18.71% | |
| Alta Vista Alternative HS | 33.33% | 26.09% | 25.00% | 9.09% | |
Since the 2022-2023 school year, elementary educators have participated in the Orton-Gillingham course to acquire the most effective strategies for teaching reading. Furthermore, SB Unified has invested in LETRS training for key educators to cultivate a team of expert teachers throughout the District. This commitment to professional development will continue this year with the introduction of LETRS trainers for K-6 teachers, ensuring expanded learning opportunities for all teachers. The solid foundation established for teachers has facilitated a successful rollout of the new Wit and Wisdom and Fundations English Language Arts curriculum in the 2023-2024 school year. In Junior High School, math teachers implemented a new curriculum and IXL, a new personalized learning platform. Through a robust Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), staff and leaders have used data to inform decisions that enable them to know every child by name, face, and story.
Full Results are available here.