Santa Monica and Malibu Schools Improved National Rankings
The two California schools climbed significantly in the latest U.S. News and World Report list of top high schools.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Santa Monica High School and Malibu High School have improved their positions in the 2026-27 U.S. News and World Report national rankings. Both institutions moved up from their previous standings evaluated in 2025.
Why it matters
Higher school rankings often serve as a benchmark for academic success and college preparedness. These improvements reflect growth in areas such as student curriculum breadth and performance metrics across the California district.
U.S. News evaluated nearly 18,000 public schools based on criteria including graduation rates and college readiness. Santa Monica High School achieved a state ranking of No. 82, while Malibu High School reached No. 158 in California.
The players
U.S. News and World Report
This media company is known for its annual rankings and analysis of higher education and public high school performance.
Santa Monica High School
This public secondary school is located in Santa Monica and serves students within the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Malibu High School
This public secondary school is located in Malibu and serves students within the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The details
The rankings are determined by evaluating metrics such as college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency, and performance of underserved student groups. While Santa Monica and Malibu high schools were recognized, Olympic High School was excluded from the assessment as an alternative school.
Timeline
The previous rankings for both schools were determined in 2025.
The current findings represent the 2026-27 annual ranking cycle.
Culture Shift
The rankings align with the broader emphasis on quantitative assessment in the U.S. education system, reflecting the standard methodology used for annual academic reporting. This movement tracks with an ongoing national focus on measuring college readiness and student performance metrics.
Higher national rankings can influence local property values and district perceptions for families residing in Santa Monica and Malibu. Parents and students may see these results as an indicator of academic resources and college preparedness available within their local school system.
The takeaway
Families should look at the specific criteria used by the report to determine if a school's strengths align with their student's unique academic needs. A high ranking provides a useful starting point, but individual school programs remain the most important factor for success.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in local education at Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Monica Daily Press.
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