- Enrollment
- 3,080
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Santa Maria, CA
Santa Maria High
Federal NCES profile for Santa Maria High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 063567006084
👥 S:T ratio 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Santa Maria High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #1 of 4
- high schools in Santa Maria · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.4:1
- students per teacher
- 75.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Santa Maria High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Maria High ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Santa Maria, CA.
School address
District: Santa Maria Joint Union High · California
NCES ID 063567006084 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-86 students YoY
Santa Maria High held near 3,110 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-86 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 140.7 → 145.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-86 students YoY 063567006084 · Santa Maria, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
3,143 enr · 22.4:1 · 75.3% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Pioneer Valley High (3,080 students)
Santa Maria High held near 3,110 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-86 headcount). Teacher FTE added 140.7 → 145.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Santa Maria High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Santa Maria High
3,143 students
- Pioneer Valley
Pioneer Valley High
3,080 students
- Ernest Righett
Ernest Righetti High
2,416 students
- Delta High 291
Delta High
291 students
What this shows Santa Maria High reports 3,143 students on the CCD universe file.
How Santa Maria High compares
Santa Maria High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.3% | ▲ 36% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,143 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.4:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
3,143
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 57% in California - lower ratio than 43% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
18.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,168
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors10.0 FTE
Per 314 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 137 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 97.4%
White 1.2%
Asian 0.9%
African American 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Two or More 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 97.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 5.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 5.1, Santa Maria High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 10
District finance for Santa Maria Joint Union High reports $17,168 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Santa Maria High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Valley High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ernest Righetti High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Delta High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Santa Maria High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,416
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 291
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar high schools in Santa Maria
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~3,143 students)
Frequently asked questions about Santa Maria High
How many students attend Santa Maria High?
Santa Maria High has 3,143 students enrolled. It is a high school in Santa Maria, CA. CCD year-over-year: 3,196 (2022-23) → 3,110 (2023-24), nearly flat (-86).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria High?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria High is 22.4:1, which is 4% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 43% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Santa Maria High?
75.3% of students at Santa Maria High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Santa Maria High?
The largest demographic group at Santa Maria High is Hispanic or Latino at 97.4% of enrollment, in Santa Maria, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Santa Maria High?
Santa Maria High has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Santa Maria High rank among high schools in Santa Maria?
By Resource Investment Index, Santa Maria High ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Santa Maria, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Santa Maria on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Maria Joint Union High?
Besides Santa Maria High, Santa Maria Joint Union High also operates Pioneer Valley High (3,080 students), Ernest Righetti High (2,416 students), and Delta High (291 students). See the Santa Maria Joint Union High district page for the complete list.