Education - Education & Child Care
Given the intellectual atmosphere of the town, it should come as no surprise that Santa Barbarans have always placed great emphasis on high-quality education. For a relatively small community, Santa Barbara offers incredible educational breadth and diversity. If you’re moving here, you’ll have access to excellent schools, educational facilities, and programs for all ages, from preschool through retirement years.
At the preschool, elementary, and high school levels, parents have many choices for their children within the public and private sectors. At the higher education level, Santa Barbara is home to a University of California campus; Brooks Institute of Photography; Westmont College (a highly rated Christian college); and the prestigious Music Academy of the West summer full-scholarship program. Santa Barbara also has one of the nation’s leading community colleges, Santa Barbara City College, as well as a number of continuing education and professional schools.
This chapter provides an overview of the many educational options available in Santa Barbara, as well as a brief overview of resources for finding appropriate child care and preschools for infants, toddlers, and prekindergartners.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 720 Santa Barbara St.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 720 Santa Barbara St.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 3970 La Colina Rd.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 385 San Ysidro Rd.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 4000 La Colina Rd.
6. Laguna Blanca School
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Telephone: (805) 687-2461
Address: 4125 Paloma Dr.
Description: Founded in 1933, Laguna Blanca School is a top-notch college-preparatory day school in Hope Ranch. The school offers advanced placement courses, an outstanding visual and performing arts program, a community-service component, interscholastic athletic competitions, student exchange opportunities, and a host of extracurricular activities. Not surprisingly, admission to Laguna is highly competitive. There is a maximum class size of just 13 students. Each year 100 percent of Laguna graduates are accepted to college.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 2130 Mission Ridge Rd.
8. Santa Barbara Christian School
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Telephone: (805) 563-4770
Address: 3723 Modoc Rd.
Description: Established in 1960, the Santa Barbara Christian School provides a program of high-quality, nondenominational Christian education. The curriculum focuses on helping students attain a balance of rigorous intellectual competence, healthy character development, and a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Children from both Christian homes and those with no church affiliation are welcome. Total enrollment is around 100 students, and classes average about 18 students per teacher.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 1321 Alameda Padre Serra
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
11. The Howard School
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Telephone: (805) 745-8448
Address: 5315 Foothill Rd.
Description: Known as Santa Barbara’s oldest private school, this school was once located in Montecito but now is situated on the property of Girls Inc. in Carpinteria. The Howard School teaches the tools necessary for a comprehensive classical education. Its curriculum is based on the Carden method, established by Mae Carden in 1934. The approximately 80 students are taught in classes of no more than 15 students.
12. Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education Division
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Description: SBCC Continuing Education is the noncredit division of Santa Barbara City College, dedicated to maintaining a strong program of lifelong learning that is affordable and accessible to the entire community.Continuing Education’s state-supported offerings include an adult high school program; short-term vocational programs; English as a second language classes; parenting, health, and safety courses; family and consumer sciences; and education programs for older adults. Also offered are a number of community education courses (for a tuition fee) in disciplines including arts and crafts, cooking, literature, music, fitness, and personal development. Please visit the website for more information about SBCC Continuing Education.
13. University of California at Santa Barbara Extension
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Telephone: (805) 893-4200
Address: 6950 Hollister Ave.
Description: UCSB Extension offers university-level certificate programs, seminars, and online courses designed for professional training and career advancement. The wide range of courses includes art and design, business and management, computers and technology, education, legal studies, and mediation. Through the UCSB Extension, you can earn university credits and certificates and fulfill professional continuing education and relicensure requirements. Courses are offered every quarter, year-round.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 27 E. Cota St.
City: Santa Barbara, CA
Category: Education
Address: 2112 Santa Barbara St.