Santa Barbara Junior High School

General Information

Grades Served: 7-8
Address: 721 East Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Phone: (805) 963-7751
Fax: (805) 962-7196
E-mail: Mr. John Becchio
Principal: Mr. John Becchio
School Mascot: Condors
School Colors: Blue and White
Web Page: www.sbceo.org/~sbjhs

School Highlights

Santa Barbara Junior High School has a long and proud history. Many local citizens are graduates and have memories of their middle years spent at this handsome, historical landmark. Built in 1932 on a 16.44-acre site, the school is situated in the heart of the eastside community of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Junior High is the home of the Marjorie Luke Theatre, a cultural and community performing arts center that caters to community youth performing arts organizations. The library media center is at the heart of the school with extensive up-to date book, reference, audio visual and computer resources to support all levels of the curriculum.

In addition to a rigorous academic program for all students, Santa Barbara Junior High is recognized for unique curriculum-based experiences. Seventh grade history study culminates with a Renaissance Faire in May, highlighting specific segments of the period including costuming, food, medicine, social justice, cultural practices, literature, music and academics. 8th grade history students participate in Civil War Day which is an enrichment activity structured around the 8th grade social studies standards. Our science department hosts Science Nights in English and Spanish, Astronomy Night, and collaborates with USCB science graduate students to display how science and physics are prominent in every day activities. The band participates in the State Street and Milpas Street parades, and the drama department performs at least twice a year in the Marjorie Luke Theatre. The English department offers a debate, journalism and award-winning yearbook class. The math department has designed a unique program where students who score below proficient on the California Standards Test in math receive an additional support class. Santa Barbara Junior High also has a technology lab that features a recording studio and technology stations for use alongside a fully-equipped wood shop. Year after year our quality art department prepares students to feed directly into the Visual Arts and Design Academy and Multimedia Arts and Design Academy at Santa Barbara High School. Santa Barbara Junior High is also the only junior high school in Santa Barbara that offers advanced foreign language classes like Spanish 3-4, Latin 3-4, and French 3-4.

Santa Barbara Junior High is committed to promoting opportunities for academic excellence and developing personal and civic responsibility in a safe, tolerant and caring environment.

School Recognition

California Distinguished School (2001)

Feeder Schools and their District

Cleveland Elementary School – Santa Barbara School Districts
Cold Spring Elementary School – Cold Spring School Districts
Franklin Elementary School – Santa Barbara School Districts
Montecito Union Elementary School – Montecito Union School District
Peabody Charter School – Santa Barbara School Districts
Roosevelt Elementary School – Santa Barbara School Districts
Washington Elementary School – Santa Barbara School Districts

Santa Barbara Junior High School feeds into Santa Barbara High School.

Assessment Results

California’s testing program seeks ways to create a cohesive system that is fair to all students, provides reliable comparisons, and measures what students are expected to know. The Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program is the centerpiece of state testing. STAR has three basic components, all of which are multiple-choice tests: California Standards Test (CST), which is an achievement test based on state standards, California Achievement Test, 6th Edition (CAT/6), which is a nationally normed achievement test, California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA), for student with severe cognitive disabilities, and Spanish Assessment of Basic Education, Second Edition (SABE/2) for newly enrolled English learners. These “on demand” assessments are administered to all students in the grade level that is being tested. In addition to the “on demand” assessments, student achievement is continuously monitored by the classroom teacher(s). If you have additional questions regarding student testing, please direct them to the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Office of Research and Evaluation.

Test Results

Academic Performance Index

Academic Performance Index (API). The index is a system of measuring each school’s academic performance and progress in reaching established goals.

API Reports

School Safety / Disaster Preparedness

Santa Barbara Junior High School maintains a closed campus during the school day. Students are required to remain on campus under the supervision of the school staff throughout the school day unless they have parental permission to leave the campus.

Santa Barbara Junior High School was upgraded during a rehabilitation project in 1991 and meets modern safety standards.

All schools in the Santa Barbara School Districts periodically conduct fire and earthquake drills. Each school has a disaster preparedness plan and works in coordination with local law enforcement and other public safety organizations.

School custodians address daily cleaning and maintenance needs. The Districts’ maintenance team visits each campus regularly, according to a defined rotation schedule, and addresses specialized needs (e.g., painting, carpentry, etc.). In the event of a facility emergency at the school site, the District maintenance team responds on an immediate basis.

Student Enrollment and Ethnic Distribution

Enrollment and ethnicity information is gathered from the California Basic Education Data System (CBEDS). CBEDS information is updated each October as a California Department of Education reporting requirement. Comprehensive and comparative CBEDS data for all Santa Barbara County schools is available at: http://www.sbceo.org/districts/cbeds.shtml