Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Q: Is Santa Ynez Valley Union High a good school?

Santa Ynez Valley Union High ranks 708 th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Santa Ynez Valley Union High is a public high school serving 847 students in grades 9-12 in Solvang, California, part of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District. The school has consistently ranked in the top 30-40% of California high schools over the past decade, with a current ranking of 708 out of 2,323 schools. However, the school's academic performance has declined in recent years, with proficiency rates dropping from the high 60s in English Language Arts and the low 40s in Mathematics to the mid-40s and high 20s, respectively.

Compared to the nearby Dos Pueblos Senior High, which is part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Santa Ynez Valley Union High has lower test scores, with Dos Pueblos scoring significantly higher in both English Language Arts (68.47%) and Mathematics (46.98%) for 11th graders. Additionally, Santa Ynez Valley Union High has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 8.5% in 2017-2018 to 25.9% in 2021-2022, which may be impacting the school's overall academic performance.

The school's performance data also reveals significant gaps in academic achievement between different student subgroups, with White and female students consistently outperforming their Hispanic and male counterparts. This suggests the need for targeted interventions and support to address these disparities and ensure equitable educational outcomes for all students. By closely examining the school's data and comparing it to nearby high-performing schools, the school and district can identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to support the success of all students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2975 Mission Dr.
Solvang, CA 93463-9417

(805) 688-6487

District: Santa Ynez Valley Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
708^th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,766

Feeder schools for Santa Ynez Valley Union High:

Elementary:	Ballard Elementary
	College Elementary
	Los Olivos Elementary
	Oak Valley Elementary
	More...
	Santa Ynez Elementary
	Solvang Elementary
	Vista de Las Cruces
Middle:	Jonata Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 19.4

Number of students: 850

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

47.6%

White:

46.0%

Two or more races:

4.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 27.1%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Santa Ynez Valley Union High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Santa Ynez Valley Union High ranks better than 69.5% of high schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.37. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (47.6%), White (46%), two or more races (4.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 27.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Santa Ynez Valley Union High is 19.4. (See more...)

Compare Santa Ynez Valley Union High employs 43.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Santa Ynez Valley Union High is $13,766.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Santa Ynez Valley Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Santa Ynez Valley Union High 708^th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Santa Ynez Valley Union High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Santa Ynez Valley Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Santa Ynez Valley Union High 417^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Santa Ynez Valley Union High?

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Rank History for Santa Ynez Valley Union High

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Rank History for all students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	63.87	287^th	1653	82.6%
2005	71.11	232^nd	1901	87.8%
2006	69.46	295^th	1968	85.0%
2007	78.43	144^th	2063	93.0%
2008	68.26	299^th	2117	85.9%
2009	72.03	227^th	2238	89.9%
2010	71.23	261^st	2281	88.6%
2011	67.60	339^th	2367	85.7%
2012	72.46	252^nd	2354	89.3%
2013	67.75	347^th	2426	85.7%
2015	89.19	193^rd	1994	90.3%
2016	88.78	214^th	2039	89.5%
2017	79.63	419^th	2021	79.3%
2018	87.48	258^th	2017	87.2%
2019	76.28	433^rd	2133	79.7%
2022	84.40	289^th	2123	86.4%
2023	75.27	408^th	2348	82.6%
2024	56.37	708^th	2323	69.5%

See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	49.34	487^th	1547	68.5%
2024	39.50	722^nd	1534	52.9%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	81.00	304^th	1862	83.7%
2019	61.59	642^nd	1937	66.9%
2022	69.53	452^nd	1943	76.7%
2023	66.74	484^th	2247	78.5%
2024	43.59	1022^nd	2235	54.3%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	86.51	227^th	1760	87.1%
2019	72.83	420^th	1833	77.1%
2022	80.74	309^th	1858	83.4%
2023	79.50	313^th	2118	85.2%
2024	65.30	512^th	2098	75.6%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	89.75	86^th	1052	91.8%
2019	52.59	377^th	1117	66.2%
2022	85.05	103^rd	1161	91.1%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	85.73	274^th	1834	85.1%
2019	73.97	427^th	1880	77.3%
2022	84.57	249^th	1916	87.0%
2023	67.72	491^st	2207	77.8%
2024	46.09	902^nd	2172	58.5%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	75.01	406^th	1742	76.7%
2019	59.01	663^rd	1814	63.5%
2022	73.60	363^rd	1861	80.5%
2023	71.35	394^th	2142	81.6%
2024	44.07	993^rd	2125	53.3%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	86.60	117^th	1173	90.0%
2019	73.71	274^th	1222	77.6%
2022	83.64	154^th	1204	87.2%
2023	70.30	301^st	1434	79.0%
2024	53.03	541^st	1406	61.5%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Santa Ynez Valley Union High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	668	5	11	93	24	n/a	n/a	0	801
1989	635	7	10	111	29	n/a	n/a	0	792
1990	633	4	9	126	28	n/a	n/a	0	800
1991	671	6	10	166	21	n/a	n/a	0	874
1992	669	7	11	172	16	n/a	n/a	0	875
1993	650	8	14	172	15	n/a	n/a	0	859
1994	672	10	9	167	17	n/a	n/a	0	875
1995	746	6	13	181	13	n/a	n/a	0	959
1996	746	6	13	181	13	n/a	n/a	0	959
1997	803	7	18	221	13	n/a	n/a	0	1062
1998	787	12	17	219	5	n/a	n/a	0	1040
1999	788	16	19	239	8	n/a	n/a	0	1070
2000	796	12	21	242	6	n/a	n/a	1	1078
2001	759	9	24	227	22	n/a	n/a	17	1058
2002	763	5	21	260	23	n/a	n/a	17	1089
2003	763	5	21	260	23	n/a	n/a	17	1089
2004	721	3	17	296	24	n/a	n/a	53	1114
2005	768	4	16	312	19	n/a	n/a	64	1183
2006	705	3	13	319	13	n/a	n/a	87	1140
2007	655	3	13	305	12	n/a	n/a	100	1088
2008	635	6	11	305	12	n/a	n/a	0	969
2009	664	7	10	316	4	2	117	0	1120
2010	627	5	9	385	8	2	44	0	1080
2011	600	4	7	361	7	2	50	0	1031
2012	572	1	9	384	11	0	38	0	1015
2013	542	0	9	389	13	0	42	0	995
2014	549	0	9	394	16	0	40	0	1008
2015	539	2	8	404	10	0	38	0	1001
2016	511	3	7	397	13	0	35	0	966
2017	486	2	5	398	10	0	38	0	939
2018	469	4	8	403	10	0	39	0	933
2019	454	4	6	402	9	0	33	0	908
2020	416	4	7	396	7	0	40	0	870
2021	402	5	6	394	4	0	41	0	852
2022	404	6	5	391	5	0	38	3	852
2023	376	4	4	412	6	0	42	3	847
2024	391	4	4	405	5	0	37	4	850

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	801	32.8	24.4	n/a
1989	792	32.4	24.4	n/a
1990	800	34.5	23.1	n/a
1991	874	38.2	22.8	n/a
1992	875	38.8	22.5	8.7
1993	859	38.8	22.1	14
1994	875	41.6	21.0	11.5
1995	959	43.3	22.1	11.6
1996	959	43.3	22.1	11.6
1997	1062	46.9	22.6	11.7
1998	1040	44.9	23.2	12.7
1999	1070	44.3	24.2	10.8
2000	1078	45.5	23.7	10.2
2001	1058	37.9	27.9	11
2002	1089	40.0	27.2	12
2003	1089	40.0	27.2	12
2004	1114	42.4	26.3	12.1
2005	1183	44.0	26.9	12.9
2006	1140	43.7	26.1	17.9
2007	1088	47.2	23.1	22.1
2008	969	55.4	17.5	17.2
2009	1120	44.5	20.7	15.9
2010	1080	47.8	22.5	23.1
2011	1031	n/a	n/a	19.1
2012	1015	52.8	19.2	0.3
2013	995	49.7	19.9	25.3
2014	1008	51.1	19.7	23
2015	1001	50.0	20.0	23.6
2016	966	50.0	19.3	22.8
2017	939	49.5	18.9	22.5
2018	933	47.1	19.7	28.2
2019	908	44.0	20.5	27.4
2020	870	n/a	n/a	29.5
2021	852	43.7	19.4	20.8
2022	852	43.8	19.4	24.6
2023	847	45.5	18.6	24.4
2024	850	43.7	19.4	27.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	801	32.8	24.4	n/a
1989	792	32.4	24.4	n/a
1990	800	34.5	23.1	n/a
1991	874	38.2	22.8	n/a
1992	875	38.8	22.5	8.7
1993	859	38.8	22.1	14
1994	875	41.6	21.0	11.5
1995	959	43.3	22.1	11.6
1996	959	43.3	22.1	11.6
1997	1062	46.9	22.6	11.7
1998	1040	44.9	23.2	12.7
1999	1070	44.3	24.2	10.8
2000	1078	45.5	23.7	10.2
2001	1058	37.9	27.9	11
2002	1089	40.0	27.2	12
2003	1089	40.0	27.2	12
2004	1114	42.4	26.3	12.1
2005	1183	44.0	26.9	12.9
2006	1140	43.7	26.1	17.9
2007	1088	47.2	23.1	22.1
2008	969	55.4	17.5	17.2
2009	1120	44.5	20.7	15.9
2010	1080	47.8	22.5	23.1
2011	1031	n/a	n/a	19.1
2012	1015	52.8	19.2	0.3
2013	995	49.7	19.9	25.3
2014	1008	51.1	19.7	23
2015	1001	50.0	20.0	23.6
2016	966	50.0	19.3	22.8
2017	939	49.5	18.9	22.5
2018	933	47.1	19.7	28.2
2019	908	44.0	20.5	27.4
2020	870	n/a	n/a	29.5
2021	852	43.7	19.4	20.8
2022	852	43.8	19.4	24.6
2023	847	45.5	18.6	24.4
2024	850	43.7	19.4	27.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$13,766

Data source: California Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Santa Ynez Valley Union High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 433^rd of 2133 High schools	Ranks 408^th of 2348 High schools	2.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	65.9	69.2	3.3%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	64.1	67.9	3.8%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)	57.3	55.4	1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	38.6	40.6	2.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	37.3	39.6	2.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (California)	32.2	27.4	4.9%
11th Grade Science (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	33.3	34.1	0.8%
11th Grade Science (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	32.2	33.3	1.1%
11th Grade Science (California)	30.4	31.7	1.3%
12th Grade Science (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	34.6	39.9	5.3%
12th Grade Science (Santa Ynez Valley Union High)	34	39.5	5.6%
12th Grade Science (California)	25.6	26.8	1.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	908	847	6.7%
African American	4	4
American Indian	9	6	33.3%
Asian	6	4	33.3%
Hispanic	402	412	2.5%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	454	376	17.2%
Two or More Races	33	42	27.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	27.4%	24.4%	3%

Schools Near Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CAST Science (2024)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2024)		Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2018)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics End of Course	Total
Santa Ynez Valley Union High	Public	9-12	2975 Mission Dr.	Solvang	93463	Santa Barbara County	Santa Ynez Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 688-6487	850	44	19.4	27.1%	391 (46.0%)	4 (0.5%)	405 (47.6%)	4 (0.5%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (4.4%)	56.4	708^th of 2323 public high schools	69.5%		75.3	408^th of 2348 public high schools	82.6%	300	34.8	6.3	32.7	46.5	46.5	29.5	29.5	$13,766
Refugio High	Public	9-12	2975 Mission Dr.	Solvang	93463	Santa Barbara County	Santa Ynez Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 688-6487	11	1	11.0	63.6%	1 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (90.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)								$16,936
Dos Pueblos Senior High	Public	9-12	7266 Alameda Ave.	Goleta	93117	Santa Barbara County	Santa Barbara Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(805) 968-2541	2,075	92	22.4	45.9%	823 (39.7%)	17 (0.8%)	927 (44.7%)	137 (6.6%)	5 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	153 (7.4%)	84.2	261^st of 2323 public high schools	88.8%		87	219^th of 2348 public high schools	90.7%	42	48.8	10.5	47.4	68.5	68.5	47.0	47.0	$11,880

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Santa Ynez Valley Union High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ballard Elementary
Elementary : College Elementary
Elementary : Los Olivos Elementary
Elementary : Oak Valley Elementary
Elementary : Santa Ynez Elementary
Elementary : Solvang Elementary
Elementary : Vista de Las Cruces
Middle : Jonata Middle

How many students attend Santa Ynez Valley Union High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 850 students attended Santa Ynez Valley Union High.

Is Santa Ynez Valley Union High a good school?

Santa Ynez Valley Union High ranks 708^th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Santa Ynez Valley Union High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Santa Ynez Valley Union High:

What do you think?

Rank History for Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for all students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for Special Education students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for Female students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for Disabled students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for Male students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for Hispanic students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rank History for White students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Enrollment information for Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Student/Teacher Ratio Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Impact of COVID-19 on Santa Ynez Valley Union High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Santa Ynez Valley Union High