A plain-language guide to local schools

School district boundaries in Santa Barbara County don’t always match neighborhood lines, and they’re one of the first things families ask about. Here’s an honest breakdown by area, public and private, to help narrow a search.

District and enrollment details shift year to year — always confirm current boundaries and enrollment directly with the district before making a decision based on schools alone.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Unified School District

Covers most of the city, including well-known schools like Santa Barbara High School, San Marcos High School, and Peabody Charter School, along with several neighborhood elementary schools.

Montecito

Montecito Union Elementary School District

A single, highly regarded K-6 school serving the community — small by design, with strong parent and community involvement.

Cold Spring Elementary School District

Serves the western foothills and a portion of the Upper Village — another small, well-regarded K-6 district.

Secondary schools

Montecito students typically continue on to Santa Barbara Unified’s middle and high schools.

Hope Ranch

Hope Elementary School District

A small, well-regarded K-6 district serving the Hope Ranch community directly.

Secondary schools

Hope Ranch students typically continue on to Santa Barbara Unified’s middle and high schools.

Goleta

Goleta Union Elementary School District

Serves K-6 students across Goleta with several neighborhood elementary schools.

Secondary schools

Goleta students typically continue on to Santa Barbara Unified’s middle and high schools.

Summerland

Carpinteria Unified School District

Summerland Elementary is a small, close-knit school within the Carpinteria Unified system; students continue on to Carpinteria’s middle and high schools.

Carpinteria

Carpinteria Unified School District

A full K-12 district with elementary, middle, and high schools — including Carpinteria High School — mostly located within city limits.

Private schools across the area

Laguna Blanca · Crane Country Day · Providence

Families across Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Hope Ranch also have access to several well-known private schools, each drawing students from across the South Coast rather than a single neighborhood.

Have questions about a specific school?

Karina can point you toward current information and the right neighborhood to match.

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Karina Matic — CA DRE #01726170
Santa Barbara, CA · +805 680 7701

Karina Matic is affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, an independently owned and operated broker member of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Brokerage License #01317331 · 3868 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.