Alta Vista Alternative High: Top School in Santa Barbara, CA (2026 List)

About Alta Vista Alternative High

Alta Vista Alternative High is a top school in Santa Barbara, California, that offers a public, non-traditional education for students in grades 9–12. It has about 190 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1. It is one of the best schools for independent study and flexible learning pathways. The school has a wide range of students, with 65% of them being minorities and 60% of them being economically disadvantaged. According to academic performance data, 33% of students are good at reading and 25% are good at math. One of the most well-known schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, it focuses on giving each student a unique learning experience in a community where the average home costs $2.2 million. People say that the school is one of the best places for students to learn how to be independent and get back on track with their studies. Alta Vista Alternative High is known for being open to all students and for using new, flexible ways of teaching to help them get their diplomas, and it is one of the best high schools in California.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 25%

Reading 33%

State average proficiency is 25% in Math and 33% in Reading.

9

Full-time Teachers

14 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

134

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 32.09%

Asian 2.99%

Hispanic 57.46%

Black 0.75%

Two+ Races 3.73%

Native Am. 0%

White

32.09%

Asian

2.99%

Hispanic

57.46%

Black

0.75%

Two+ Races

3.73%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 134

61.19%

82 Female

35.82%

48 Male

Student Population

134 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 14 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

240 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Alta Vista Alternative High Contact Information

Address

215 East Ortega St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101

View on Map

Phone

(805) 966-0883

Call Now

Website

http://www.sbunified.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Through its Integrated Wellness Approach, which includes specialized counselors available to students four days a week, Alta Vista Alternative High School is continuing to show its commitment to student well-being. The school's Middle College partnership with Santa Barbara City College is still a key program. It lets upperclassmen earn both high school diplomas and a lot of college credits at the same time through dual enrollment. The Alta Vista Independent Studies (AVIS) program has also improved its enrollment process to better help students learn on their own.

FAQ

Q1. Does Alta Vista Alternative High offer individualized learning assistance?

Ans. Yes, Alta Vista Alternative High gives students advice and help to help them reach their academic goals.

Q2. Are students allowed to join clubs and activities outside of school?

Ans. Yes, clubs, sports, and student groups help people learn how to be social and lead.

Q3. Are there ways to get better at school?

Ans. Yes, advanced classes and projects make students work hard in school and think for themselves.

Q4. Are there any programs that are creative?

Ans. Yes, students can be creative through practical activities music, drama, and visual arts.

Q5. Are college entrance exams conducted here?

Ans. Students can take the SAT and ACT tests on-site or through programs that work together.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

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What Parents Say