The Schools

Schools In and Around Carpinteria

(Information about the schools was taken directly from each schools website with the intention of providing an introduction to the schools’ missions. Visit the school websites for further information about each school.)

Public Schools

Carpinteria High School

Carpinteria High School, in partnership with the community and parents, believes that all students can learn and are capable of being successful in our diverse society. We are committed to providing a quality educational program in a caring, positive environment which promotes self-esteem and mutual respect.

Carpinteria Middle School

For students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades th school is a partnership in striving for excellence and modeling respect. Carpinteria Middle School is a California Distinguished School.

Aliso School

Aliso School is a high achieving K-5 school with a diverse student
population representative of the Carpinteria community it serves. Situated in a small agricultural and business community located on California’s scenic coast near Santa Barbara, it is surrounded by the Santa Ynez Mountains, a tidal salt marsh, and the Pacific Ocean.

Canalino School

Canalino School is located on a spacious campus in the Carpinteria Valley. There are 500 Kindergarten through fifth grade students. The students are taught by twenty highly qualified teachers, five Special Education teachers and an instrumental music teacher. Eleven highly-qualified Instructional Assistants work closely with each of the teachers to increase student learning through small group instruction. Enrichment is offered after school by teachers and community members.

Summerland School

Set on a hill less than a block from the Pacific Ocean, in the idyllic seaside community of Summerland, this sixty-nine student K-5 School offers a dazzling vista in a neighborhood setting. Summerland School has educated Summerland students for over one hundred years. Established originally in 1890 in a charming, one-room schoolhouse, it moved as it grew to its current location and became what it is today, a collection of four classrooms, each classroom comprised of two grades.

Carpinteria Family School

Carpinteria Family School offers an educational alternative to students, teachers, and parents in the Carpinteria Unified School District. Parents district staff, administration, and School Board created Carpinteria Family School with the belief that children come to school already immersed in their learning and have their own strengths and interests. We seek to support the individual and provide guidance, stimulation, and support. Carpinteria Family School strives to be a leading educational force in open education.

Rincon/Foothill Schools

Rincon and Foothill High Schools, in partnership with home, community, business, and higher education offer an alternative educational experience where individual student growth and success are the top priorities. Our students are encouraged to reach their full potential in a safe, personalized and supportive instructional environment. Our program provides students with the skills, knowledge, insight, and character - building experiences that will enable them to make a successful transition from school to post-secondary education, productive careers, and rewarding lives.

Santa Barbara Community College

Santa Barbara City College is a comprehensive community college serving the south coast of Santa Barbara County. Established in 1909, SBCC is renowned as the #1 community college in the nation. The college has a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs, as well as transfer programs that provide the first two years of study toward the baccalaureate degree. Students are attracted to SBCC by virtue of its outstanding faculty, small classes, state-of-the-art facilities, student support services and incredible location.

University of California, Santa Barbara

UCSB is one of only 61 institutions elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. And the Newsweek guide to America's best colleges has named UCSB one of the country's "hottest colleges" twice in the past decade.

More than 200 majors, degrees, and credentials are offered through UCSB's five schools and the Graduate Division.

Independent Schools

Lou Grant Parent Child Workshop

Welcome to the Lou Grant Parent-Child Workshop, a licensed cooperative preschool and parent education program. Located in Carpinteria, LGPCW has been educating parents and children since 1950.?? Under the guidance of early childhood educators, children and parents work, play, and learn from each other. Together they explore and experiment in the rich LGPCW environment and form a nurturing community of support.

?LGPCW attracts a diverse group of parents who seek a developmentally appropriate, play-based preschool for their children, and who are interested in being actively involved in their children's early learning and developing their own parenting skills.? LGPCW is an exciting place, and we invite you to scan this website, or even better, contact us and come see LGPCW for yourself.

Pacifica Graduate Institute

The mission of Pacifica Graduate Institute is to foster creative learning and research in the fields of psychology, the humanities, and mythological studies, framed in the traditions of depth psychology. Consistent with and supporting this vision, Pacifica Graduate Institute is employee-owned, and practices shared stewardship.

Howard School

Our goal is to promote growth of the whole child including emotional and physical development coupled with the pursuit of academic excellence. Small class sizes allow teachers to work closely with each child to develop strengths and target areas of weakness.

Waldorf School of Santa Barbara

The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara is a private, independent, non-sectarian school founded in 1984. Our school has a parent-toddler program, preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school. We are now celebrating 30 years of educating children!
The heart of the Waldorf approach is to match education to the different stages of a child's natural level of development. Waldorf Santa Barbara's goal is to present life to the children in such a way that they are filled with wonder and enthusiasm. The presentation of subject matter, be it math, history, physics or any other, is alive and speaks to the child’s experience. To see the whole in every part, to engage the head, hands and heart: this is the endeavor of Waldorf Education. The intention is not only to instruct, but to inspire and motivate each child’s inner forces to help them become creative, independent and moral individuals.

Santa Barbara Middle School

Santa Barbara Middle School cultivates in our students passion for life and life-long learning, a deep sense of trust in themselves, strength and courage to succeed at life's challenges, and compassion and respect for others.

Laguna Blanca

Capturing 80 years of tradition in Santa Barbara, Laguna Blanca
School is an independent, co-educational, college-preparatory day school for students in grades K-12. Its innovative program enriches the lives of students through a balance of outstanding academics, the arts, athletics, and a community that celebrates the dignity and worth of each individual. On beautiful campuses within a safe, nurturing environment, dedicated faculty and staff inspire success. Small classes offer individual attention and close interpersonal exchanges. Laguna graduates attend the nation’s most selective colleges and universities, often one of their top-choice schools. Committed to diversity, Laguna Blanca School offers a substantial need-based financial aid program.

Anacapa School

Anacapa School is an independent, co-educational, WASC–accredited, college preparatory day school for junior high and high school students in grades 7-12.  With our challenging academic program, dedicated faculty, small classes, and emphasis on critical thinking, we create a learning environment that promotes excellence in academics and the fine and performing arts as well as positive experiences in sports, student activities, and school trips.  Anacapa School’s historic campus is located in the heart of the Santa Barbara civic center, providing convenient access to rich educational and cultural resources.  Anacapa inspires students to set their sights high and to act with integrity and kindness.  Our graduates are accepted and thrive at some of the nation’s top colleges and universities.  We believe that the junior high and high school years are the most important ones for making positive impacts on the lives of students.
Lower School – Grades 7-8?Upper School – Grades 9-12

Pacificia Graduate Institute

Pacifica is an accredited graduate school with two campuses nestled between the coastal foothills and the Pacific Ocean a few miles south of Santa Barbara, California. The Institute offers masters and doctoral degree programs in psychology, the humanities, and mythological studies, all informed by the traditions of depth psychology.

Westmont College

Westmont College is an undergraduate, residential, Christian, liberal arts community serving God’s kingdom by cultivating thoughtful scholars, grateful servants and faithful leaders for global engagement with the academy, church and world.