Santa Monica and Malibu High Schools Improved Rankings
The two schools earned higher national and state spots in the new U.S. News and World Report high school rankings.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Santa Monica High School and Malibu High School have both climbed in the 2026-27 rankings released by U.S. News and World Report. The annual report evaluated nearly 18,000 public schools nationwide to determine their standings.
Why it matters
School rankings are a key indicator for families assessing local educational opportunities and district performance. The improved standings highlight shifting academic trends within the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Santa Monica High School placed No. 82 in California and No. 34 in the Los Angeles area, while Malibu High School reached No. 158 statewide and No. 73 regionally.
The players
U.S. News and World Report
This media organization publishes annual educational rankings and data analyses used by families to evaluate school quality.
Santa Monica High School
A California public school that improved its national standing to No. 562 in the latest report.
Malibu High School
A local public institution that moved up significantly to No. 953 in the national rankings.
The details
U.S. News determines these rankings by analyzing college readiness and curriculum breadth alongside state assessment proficiency. Analysts also review performance metrics for underserved students and overall graduation rates to score each institution. Alternative schools, such as Olympic High School, are excluded from this specific evaluation process.
Timeline
2025: Schools achieved their previous annual rankings.
2026-27: Current annual ranking cycle for U.S. high schools.
The Home Front
These results provide a year-over-year update on academic standing relative to the 2025 U.S. News and World Report high school rankings. Tracking these metrics helps families understand how local district performance fluctuates annually.
Families can use these updated rankings to review the current college-readiness and performance data of their local high schools. Consider cross-referencing these findings with your student's specific curriculum needs when planning for upcoming school years.
The takeaway
These rankings reflect the relative academic performance of public high schools across the state. Families can monitor these annual results to stay informed about changes in local school standing and program offerings.
Further reading
For more information on regional academic trends, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Monica Daily Press.
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