A Central Coast education means a solid foundation for the future.
Small neighborhood schools with active community support are hallmarks of the region’s education system. Inside classrooms, a principal focus is expanding STEM foundations, building the creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will equip students to succeed in jobs that don’t yet exist.
Programs spanning language immersion, project-based learning, entrepreneurship, digital media and more expand students’ horizons even further. With enviable graduation rates and education attainment levels — both well above the norm — Central Coast residents are well prepared to meet the demands of an increasingly complex global economy.
A few highlights:
- The GreyBots, Atascadero’s high school robotics team, are three-time world champions in the FIRST Robotics Competition
- Five Santa Barbara County schools were named among the 2023 California Distinguished Schools, and three were bestowed the 2023 California Exemplary Arts Education Award
- Arts are promoted through programs such the Children’s Creative Project and Arts Collaborative.
- Community organizations such as Santa Barbara’s Partners in Education and the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation deliver millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to student programs and experiences like innovation labs and internships.
91%
high school graduation rate
198
schools
101k
students
