Santa Monica Schools Ranked No. 8 Best In Los Angeles

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica schools are ranked No. 8 best in the Los Angeles area, according to Niche's 2022 rankings.

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District shined in categories related to academics, teachers, diversity, college prep, health and safety, and clubs and activities.

The 2022 Niche rankings considered multiple factors and data from the U.S. Department of Education for a comprehensive look at a district. This year’s analysis considered state testing scores, SAT and ACT testing scores, racial and economic diversity, surveys of student and parent experiences, athletic opportunities and more.

The most heavily weighted category was academics, accounting for 50 percent of a school’s score. The district was ranked with 74 percent of students proficient in reading and 61 percent proficient in math.

The average SAT score for Santa Monica-Malibu Unified students was 1260 and the ACT was 29, placing students at schools like the University of California - Los Angeles, University of Southern California and University of California - Berkeley.

The top-scoring district in the area was La Canada Unified School District, with a student-teacher ratio of 24 to one and a high level of student proficiency in math and reading, according to Niche.

See the full rankings on Niche.