SMMUSD ranked #19 in California, according to recent report
By Chad Winthrop
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) was ranked among the top-20 out of nearly 1,000 public school districts in California, according to a recent report.
Niche, a website that helps parents discover schools and neighborhoods that are right for them, has named SMMUSD the 19th best overall school district in California out of 977 total districts.
“Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is a top rated, public school district located in Santa Monica, CA. It has 10,625 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 21 to 1. According to state test scores, 61% of students are at least proficient in math and 74% in reading,” reads the report.
In addition, Niche ranked SMMUSD as the 10th best district in the state to teach in, having the 19th best teachers and the 72nd best district in the state for athletes.
Niche gave SMMUSD an A+ rating overall and the following grades for specific areas: Academics A+, Diversity A Teachers A+, College Prep A+, Clubs & Activities B+, Health & Safety A, Administration A. Sports A-, Food B+, Resources & Facilities B+.
Among the best schools in the district, according to Niche, are Franklin and Grant Avenue elementary schools, both of which received A+ ratings. All schools in the district received a grade of A- or better.
Using a wide array of statistics, Niche’s 2021 rankings are based on rigorous analysis of demographic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and parents as well as state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT and ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings and more.
