Santa Barbara Charter

www.sbcharter.org

Charter School 283 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Santa Barbara Charter School (SBCS) is a progressive, tuition-free public charter school located in Goleta, California, serving students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Founded on the principles of experiential learning and educational choice, the school distinguishes itself through a multi-faceted approach that emphasizes the "whole child." Its curriculum is designed to move beyond standardized rote learning, favoring an inquiry-based model that encourages students to think critically, collaborate, and take active ownership of their educational journey.

A hallmark of the Santa Barbara Charter experience is its strong sense of community and parent involvement, which are deeply integrated into the school's operational philosophy. The school balances rigorous academic standards with a robust commitment to the arts, physical education, and social-emotional development. By utilizing small class sizes and personalized learning strategies, SBCS creates a supportive environment where students are empowered to pursue their interests, fostering a lifelong love of learning within a diverse and inclusive campus culture.

283

Total Students

13.0

Full-Time Teachers

21.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

23.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Santa Barbara Charter
Demographic	Student Count
White	167
Hispanic	70
Black	2
Asian	13
Two or More	31

White
167 (59.0 %)
Hispanic
70 (24.7 %)
Two or More
31 (11.0 %)
Asian
13 (4.6 %)
Black
2 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Santa Barbara Unified
Phone:	(805)967-6522
Website:	http://www.sbcharter.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	283
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	13.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	21.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Provision 2
Qualified Free Lunch:	50
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	16

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 53

Grade 1 46

Grade 2 28

Grade 3 41

Grade 4 24

Grade 5 44

Grade 6 43

Grade 7 4