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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Santa Maria Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 30 public elementary schools serving 18,806 students in Santa Maria, CA.
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Santa Maria, CA are Joe Nightingale Elementary School, Orcutt Academy Charter and Benjamin Foxen Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Santa Maria, CA public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 46% statewide average). Elementary schools in Santa Maria have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 90% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Elementary Schools in Santa Maria, CA (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Joe Nightingale Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
255 Winter Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8650
Gr: K-6 | 695 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #22.
Orcutt Academy Charter
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
500 Dyer St.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8900
Gr: K-12 | 812 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #33.
Benjamin Foxen Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4949 Foxen Canyon Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 937-1148
Gr: K-8 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #44.
Pine Grove Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1050 East Rice Ranch Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8800
Gr: K-6 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #55.
Patterson Road Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
400 Patterson Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8750
Gr: K-6 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #66.
Family Partnership Charter
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1157 E. Clark Ave. Ste. H
Santa Maria, CA 93456
(805) 348-3333
Gr: K-12 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #77.
Ontiveros (Juan Pacifico) Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
930 West Rancho Verde
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7680
Gr: K-6 | 869 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #88.
Ralph Dunlap Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1220 Oak Knoll Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8500
Gr: K-6 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #99.
Orcutt School For Independent Study
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1220 Oak Knoll Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 960-5572
Gr: K-8 | 44 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1010.
Olive Grove Charter - Buellton
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
240 East Highway 246, Ste. 100
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Gr: K-12 | 34 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1111.
Alice Shaw Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
759 Dahlia Pl.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 938-8850
Gr: K-6 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1212.
Arellanes (Don Juan Bautista) Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1890 Sandalwood Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 361-6860
Gr: K-6 | 298 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1313.
Tunnell (Martin Luther) Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1248 East Dena Way
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7940
Gr: K-6 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1414.
Jimenez Roberto And Dr. Francisco Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1970 South Biscayne St.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-4340
Gr: K-8 | 1,177 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1515.
Sanchez (David J.) Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
804 West Liberty St.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-4625
Gr: K-6 | 654 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1616.
Fairlawn Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Mary Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7500
Gr: K-6 | 716 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1717.
Olive Grove Charter - Santa Barbara
Charter School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1933 Cliff Dr., Ste.12
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Gr: K-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1818.
Miller (Isaac) Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
410 East Camino Colegio
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7560
Gr: K-6 | 883 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1919.
Taylor (Ida Redmond) Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1921 North Carlotti Dr.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6250
Gr: K-6 | 849 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2020.
Olive Grove Charter - Orcutt/santa Maria
Charter School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
5075 Bradley Rd., Ste. 234
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Gr: K-12 | 153 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2121.
Olive Grove Charter - Lompoc
Charter School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
820 North H St. Suites Bcd
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 623-1111
Gr: K-12 | 125 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2222.
Bill Libbon Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
750 Meehan St.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6500
Gr: K-6 | 834 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2323.
Battles (Washington) Elementary School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
605 East Battles Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6880
Gr: K-6 | 769 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2424.
Alvin Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
301 East Alvin Ave.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-6760
Gr: K-6 | 998 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2525.
Liberty Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 West Sonya Ln.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-4530
Gr: K-6 | 865 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2626.
Rice (William) Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
700 East Vickie Ave.
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 361-7740
Gr: K-6 | 887 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2727.
Bonita Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2715 West Main St.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-8290
Gr: K-6 | 535 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
Rank: #2828.
Adam (William Laird) Elementary School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
500 West Windsor
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-6700
Gr: K-6 | 874 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2929.
Oakley (Calvin C.) Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1120 West Harding St.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-7620
Gr: K-6 | 849 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3030.
Bruce (Robert) Elementary School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
601 West Alvin Ave.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 361-6940
Gr: K-6 | 1,050 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public elementary schools in Santa Maria, CA?
The top-ranked public elementary schools in Santa Maria, CA include Joe Nightingale Elementary School, Orcutt Academy Charter and Benjamin Foxen Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Santa Maria?
30 public elementary schools are located in Santa Maria.
What is the racial composition of students in Santa Maria?
Santa Maria public elementary schools minority enrollment is 90% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Santa Maria are often viewed compared to one another?

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