CaliforniaSchoolsSan Marcos Senior High

San Marcos Senior High

PublicRegular
Santa Barbara, California · Santa Barbara Unified
Teachers93.0FTE
Ratio20.9:1students per teacher
Students1,943enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students1,943
Grade Span9–12
Student:Teacher20.9:1
Free/Reduced Lunch58%
Title INo
SectorPublic
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Pupil : Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
(2024)
1.4%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
91
(2024)
2.2%vs prior yr
Enrollment
1,926
(2024)
0.9%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselor : Pupils
1:225
(2020)
15.1%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurse : Pupils
(2020)
NASN max 1:750
Psychologist : Pupils
1:1,014
(2020)
2.4%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Worker : Pupils
(2020)
SSWAA max 1:250

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

14.7:116.8:119.0:121.1:123.3:125.4:12020202120222023202424.7:122.2:121.7:120.9:121.2:115.4:115.4:115.4:115.4:115.4:1San Marcos Senior HighUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

1,9181,9421,9651,9892,0122,036818486899194202020212022202320242,0281,9982,0201,9431,9268290939391EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment2,0281,9982,0201,9431,926
Teacher FTE8290939391
Pupil : Teacher ratio24.7:122.2:121.7:120.9:121.2:115.4:1

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:8,5581:17,1161:25,6741:34,2321:42,7902015201720201:2641:2661:2251:39,6201:2501:2501:250Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:1,4761:2,9511:4,4271:5,9021:7,3782015201720201:1,9811:6,8311:7501:7501:7501:9911:9911:1,0141:5001:5001:500Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)7.57.59
Nurses (FTE)10.30
Psychologists (FTE)222
Social Workers (FTE)00.10
Counselor : Pupils1:2641:2661:2251:250
Nurse : Pupils1:1,9811:6,8311:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:9911:9911:1,0141:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:39,6201:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20152020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.