Santa Barbara High School

File:Santa Barbara Senior High School.jpg

In 1916, the Santa Barbara Board of Education, along with students and community leaders, launched a bond campaign to build a new expanded Santa Barbara High School, which was then located at the corner of Anapamu and De la Vina near downtown Santa Barbara. After a series of bond elections, construction started in 1922 to enlarge the school and move it to the Upper Eastside of Santa Barbara, where it is now located at 700 East Anapamu Street.

Completed in 1924, the main high school building was designed by noted San Francisco-based architecture firm W.H. Weeks, which also designed Santa Barbara Junior High School and La Cumbre Junior High School.{{Cite web |title=Our History - Santa Barbara Unified School District |url=https://www.sbunified.org/about/district-historical-timeline |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.sbunified.org |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Ethan |date=2008-03-06 |title=Santa Barbara Junior High Celebrates 75th Anniversary |url=https://www.independent.com/2008/03/06/santa-barbara-junior-high-celebrates-75th-anniversary/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250326181829/https://www.independent.com/2008/03/06/santa-barbara-junior-high-celebrates-75th-anniversary/ |archive-date=March 26, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}} Along with McKinley Elementary School, designed by Winsor Soule & John Frederic Murphy Architects, all four schools have been characterized as 'architectural masterpieces'{{Cite web |date=2015-09-30 |title=The Rise of UCSB by The Santa Barbara Historical Museum |url=https://issuu.com/santabarbaramuseum/docs/132309_noticias_web |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Issuu |publisher=Noticias: Journal of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum |page=127 |language=en |edition=Vol. 54 No. 3}} by American political scientist, Lanny Ebenstein.{{Cite web |title=The Architect and Engineer, October 1937 |url=https://usmodernist.org/AECA/AECA-1937-10-1938-03.pdf |access-date=March 26, 2025}} All four have been designated City of Santa Barbara historic landmarks{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2020 |title=City of Santa Barbara Designated Landmarks as of November 10, 2020 |url=https://santabarbaraca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Services/Lists/List%20of%20Designated%20City%20Landmarks.pdf |access-date=March 26, 2025}}

File:Santa_Barbara_High_School._An_official_California_and_City_historic_landmark.jpg

The class of 1924 was the first class to graduate from the 700 East Anapamu Street site, despite the fact that the students had not attended class there. On Thanksgiving Day, 1924, Frederick Forrest Peabody donated to the school a new football stadium, which the student body named Peabody Stadium in his honor. In 1925, the first group of seniors to attend classes there received their graduation diplomas.

In November 2005, its 18th-century Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style was named an official California and City historic landmark.

Until the establishment of San Marcos High School in 1958 and Dos Pueblos High School in 1966, Santa Barbara High School was the sole public high school to serve the Santa Barbara-Goleta community.

In 2018, Santa Barbara Unified School District tapped Elise Simmons, a former social studies teacher, intervention coach, assistant principal and principal to serve as Principal of Santa Barbara High School. A 19-year veteran of the District, Simmons obtained her bachelor of arts and masters in education from UC Santa Barbara, and a doctorate from Concordia University in Chicago.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Elise Simmons Named Santa Barbara High Principal as District Announces New Appointments |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/2_new_principals_named_in_santa_barbara_unified_school_district |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}} Upon assuming the role of Principal, Simmons said her priorities would be college and career readiness, athletics, as well as student mental health and wellness.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Principal Elise Simmons Brings Don Pride in Return to Santa Barbara High School |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/profile_santa_barbara_high_school_principal_elise_simmons_20181026 |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}}

As of 2023, the current principal is Fred Razo.

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report included the following demographic statistics for Santa Barbara High School: 64.7% minority enrollment; 58.9% Hispanic; 35.3% white; 1.7% Asian and 1.1% Black.; 49% economically disadvantaged; 43% free lunch; 6% reduced price lunch.

The school has three academies: Visual Arts and Design (VADA), Computer Science (CSA), and Multimedia Arts and Design (MAD).

VADA, a small learning community established in 1999, offers courses in painting, drawing, digital art and photography.{{Cite web |last1=Jun 10 |first1=Delaney Smith Thu |last2=2021 {{!}} 2:06pm |date=2021-06-10 |title=Santa Barbara High's VADA to Build New Design Lab, Art Studio |url=https://www.independent.com/2021/06/10/santa-barbara-highs-vada-to-build-new-design-lab-art-studio/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Nov 28 |first1=Delaney Smith Sat |last2=2020 {{!}} 12:28pm |date=2020-11-28 |title=Santa Barbara Unified to Break Ground on Two New Projects |url=https://www.independent.com/2020/11/28/santa-barbara-unified-to-break-ground-on-two-new-projects/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-20 |title=Santa Barbara High VADA Program Receives $2.2M Grant for New Building |url=https://www.edhat.com/news/santa-barbara-high-vada-program-receives-22m-grant-for-new-building |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Edhat |language=en-US}}

In 2021, VADA launched a $6.5 million capital campaign to construct a new modern design lab and art studio for students to use laser cutters and 3-D printers. The new VADA center was funded by bond sales, a state grant and private donations.

The Computer Science curriculum offers computational art, software design, mobile programming, robotics and 3-D printing.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Santa Barbara High School Computer Science Academy Opens SB Maker's Space |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_high_school_computer_science_academy_opens_sb_makers_space |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}} In 2019, The National Center for Women in Technology awarded their annual Aspirations in Computing Award to SBHS student Ella Onishuk, co-president of the school's Girls Who Code Club, and an Honorable Mention to SBHS student Joy Patterson, vice-president of the Robotics Club. Patterson worked with a team of students to develop an award-winning app with an interactive map of Santa Barbara to boost local tourism following deadly mudslides in 2018.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-13 |title=SBHS Computer Science Academy Racks Up Awards |url=https://www.edhat.com/news/sbhs-computer-science-academy-racks-up-awards |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Edhat |language=en-US}}

The MAD academy offers courses in graphic design, web design, advanced film production and advanced photo journalism.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Take 2: MAD Academy Focuses on Increasing Diversity |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/take_2_mad_academy_focuses_on_increasing_diversity |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=SBHS Multimedia Arts & Design Academy - Santa Barbara Unified School District |url=https://www.sbunified.org/showcase/sbhs-multimedia-arts-design-academy |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.sbunified.org |language=en-US}} The academy also offers an annual service-learning trip to Mexico where students construct homes for families in need of housing.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-08 |title=Multimedia Arts & Design (MAD) Academy Showcase |url=https://www.edhat.com/event/multimedia-arts-design-mad-academy-showcase |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Edhat |language=en-US}}

The Santa Barbara High Theater has been in operation continuously for over 100 years. The performing arts department, which partners with the Santa Barbara Theater Foundation, employs professional designers, choreographers, musical directors and guest artists to work with students. Students perform year-round in an 800-seat theater featuring state of the art lighting and sound. Past productions have included The Crucible, Chicago, 'Carrie, and Head Over Heels''.

Former student participants in the performing arts program include Dana Costello (Jekyll & Hyde on Broadway), Jessica Adcock Love (Grace on Broadway). SBHS has had two finalists in the Youth Spotlight Awards (Geoffrey Hahn, runner-up, 2012 and Grant Bower, 2014).{{Cite web |title=Our Press |url=http://www.sbhstheatre.com/our-press |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Santa Barbara High School Theatre |language=en-US}}

Community activist Fabiola Gonzalez, a 2009 graduate from Santa Barbara High School, founded the multi-generational Santa Barbara Ethnic Studies Now! Coalition in 2015 to urge the Santa Barbara School Board to make ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement.

In 2018, the Santa Barbara School Board, in an effort to close the achievement gap, voted unanimously to require ethnic studies coursework for high school graduation in 2023—a date later extended to 2024.{{Cite web |last1=Nov 29 |first1=Erika Carlos Thu |last2=2018 {{!}} 12:00am |date=2018-11-29 |title=Ethnic Studies Now to Be Required in Santa Barbara High Schools |url=https://www.independent.com/2018/11/29/ethnic-studies-now-be-required-santa-barbara-high-schools/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sheahen |first=Scott |date=2022-03-12 |title=Santa Barbara Unified show off importance of ethnic studies |url=https://keyt.com/news/2022/03/12/santa-barbara-unified-show-off-importance-of-ethnic-studies/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=News Channel 3-12 |language=en-US}}

In collaboration with SBHS alumni, including local artist Manuel Unzueta, more than 20 students at Santa Barbara High School painted a 60-foot ethnic mural outside the campus cafeteria. The six-panel mural, titled ‘La Loteria De Vida" (The Life Lottery) features symbols of Chicano and Chumash culture, while paying tribute to history of Santa Barbara and the high school. Hundreds of people turned out for the mural's official unveiling in 2021.{{Cite web |last1=Mar 16 |first1=Jun Starkey Wed |last2=2022 {{!}} 9:06am |date=2022-03-16 |title=Santa Barbara High School Students Create Mural Honoring Shared History |url=https://www.independent.com/2022/03/16/santa-barbara-high-students-create-mural-honoring-shared-history/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}

----

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Santa Barbara High School 3,566 out of 17,843 schools in the nation; 528 out of 1,603 public high schools ranked in California. With a graduation rate of 91%, a majority students at Santa Barbara High School took at least one Advanced Placement exam, though the passage rate on the AP exam was only 37%. Proficiency scores based on Smarter Balance tests were as follows:

• 37% Mathematics Proficiency
• 62% Reading Proficiency
• 39% Science Proficiency

In 2010, Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools included Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara and San Marcos high schools.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara and San Marcos Make List of America's Best High Schools |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/dos_pueblos_santa_barbara_and_san_marcos_make_list_of_americas_best_high_sc |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}}

File:Santa_Barbara_High_School._Peabody_Stadium._Renovated_in_2021_for_$39_million.jpg

SBHS offers baseball, softball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo, wrestling, frisbee and surfing. Known for its athletic achievements, the Don went to five California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals in 2007-2008 and has won 51 titles. In 2014, the girls' basketball team, then coached by Andrew Butcher, won the CIF 3A Southern Section and was runner up for the state championship.{{Cite web |title=Santa Barbara High School International Student Exchange Program |url=http://www.iacela.com/santa-barbara-high-school.html |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=High School Foreign Exchange Student Programs in Los Angeles |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=High School |url=https://sbyouthultimate.org/high-school |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Santa Barbara Ultimate |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Apr 22 |first1=Mara Pyzel Fri |last2=2022 {{!}} 9:18am |date=2022-04-22 |title=Santa Barbara High Surf Team's Rippin' Season |url=https://www.independent.com/2022/04/22/santa-barbara-high-surf-teams-rippin-season/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}

Launched in decades ago, the SBHS Surf Team features a Surf History Hall of Fame that includes board shaper Jon Pyzel and pros Cole Robbins and Tom Curren. SBHS wood shop students are taught computer programming to cut foam for surfboards and refine the boards with hand planes and rulers.

In 2019, Santa Barbara High’s women’s longboard surf team won the championship for the Coastal High Schools Division at the Scholastic Surf Series High School State Championships held in Oceanside.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Santa Barbara High Girls Win State Surfing Title in Longboard |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_high_girls_win_state_surfing_title_in_longboard |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}} In 2022, the high school surf club won the division in all categories — men’s shortboard/longboard, women’s shortboard/longboard, and bodyboard.

A $39 million dollar renovation of Peabody Stadium was completed in 2020 with partial funding from the Foundation for Santa Barbara High School.{{Cite web |last=DeVine |first=Blake |date=2021-07-04 |title=Santa Barbara High celebrates completion of renovated Peabody Stadium |url=https://keyt.com/news/local-news/top-stories/2021/07/03/santa-barbara-high-celebrates-completion-of-renovated-peabody-stadium/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=News Channel 3-12 |language=en-US}} Refurbished Olympic-quality fields adhere to CIF standards, allowing the school to host competitive meets, including track, football, lacrosse and international soccer tournaments with a notably large field.{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Santa Barbara High School to Dedicate Renovated Peabody Stadium |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_high_school_to_dedicate_renovated_peabody_stadium |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}}{{cite web | url=https://foundationforsbhs.org/peabody-stadium-renovation/ | title=Peabody Stadium Renovation – Foundation for Santa Barbara High School }}

The school's newspaper, The Forge, has been in continuous publication since 1914, making it the second-oldest high school newspaper to publish without interruption in California. Among the 2022 features were articles entitled "The Surreal World of Ukrainians in Santa Barbara" and "Why You Should Donate Your Hair to Wigs for Kids."{{Cite web |title=Features – The Forge |url=https://sbhsforge.com/category/features/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |language=en-US}}

Former Forge editor Leon Litwack (class of 1947) is a Pulitzer Prize winner, retired UC Berkeley professor and author of books on slavery.{{Cite web |last1=Oct 15 |first1=Barney Brantingham Wed |last2=2014 {{!}} 9:00am |date=2014-10-15 |title=S.B. High's Student Newspaper Celebrates 100 Years |url=https://www.independent.com/2014/10/15/s-b-highs-student-newspaper-celebrates-100-years/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}} Mary Claudia Nettles Madson, a former 1938 SBHS journalism student on The Forge, was among the first female UPI journalists.{{Cite web |title=Wall of Fame Bios |url=https://www.sbdonsalumni.com/wall-of-fame-bios.html |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION |language=en}} Manuel Unzueta (1968), a former cartoonist for The Forge, is a well-known Santa Barbara muralist who has painted murals at Bohnett Park and the Eastside Library.

In 2008, The Forge was the target of a break-in, when thieves stole five computers, a printer, and a camera.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-02 |title=The Forge Is Cracked |url=https://www.independent.com/2008/02/02/forge-is-cracked/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}

To address a $3,000 shortfall in state per-pupil funding, the Foundation for Santa Barbara High School, a non-profit 501(c) 3, raises money to support academics, counseling, sports and other programs.{{Cite web |title=FAQs – Foundation for Santa Barbara High School |url=https://foundationforsbhs.org/faq/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |language=en-US}} During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation paid for outdoor tents and air purifiers for classrooms and the school library, as well as distributed grants to families in need. The Foundation renovated an indoor-outdoor “Solarium” for a teachers' lounge and raised $5 million for the 2,300 seat Peabody Stadium renovation.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-14 |title=Santa Barbara High Receives $5 Million Donation for New Stadium |url=https://www.edhat.com/news/santa-barbara-high-receives-5-million-donation-for-new-stadium |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Edhat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Eligibility Criteria & FAQs |url=https://www.sbfoundation.org/nonprofits/eligibility-criteria-faqs/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Santa Barbara Foundation |language=en-US}}

• Tanya Atwater, geophysicist, "Mother of Plate Tectonics"{{Cite web |title=The Mother of Plate Tectonics |url=https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2019/019569/mother-plate-tectonics |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The UCSB Current |language=en}}(1960)
• Dylan Axelrod, professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=axelrdy01|title = Dylan Axelrod Stats| publisher= Baseball Almanac|access-date= December 3, 2012}}
• Yeti Beats (aka Dave Sprecher), Grammy nominated producer{{Cite web |last=DeSantis |first=Marko |date=2022-03-27 |title=Santa Barbara Native Yeti Beats Receives Multiple Grammy Nominations with Protégé Doja Cat |url=https://www.independent.com/2022/03/27/santa-barbara-native-yeti-beats-receives-multiple-grammy-nominations-with-protege-doja-cat/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}} (2000)
• Stephen Benton, pioneer in holographic imaging, and inventor of the rainbow hologram (1959){{Cite web |last1=Mar 10 |first1=Santa Barbara High School Mon |last2=2014 {{!}} 6:51pm |date=2014-03-11 |title=Santa Barbara High School 13th {{as written|Ann|nual [sic]}} Wall of Fame awards |url=https://www.independent.com/2014/03/10/santa-barbara-high-school-13th-annnual-wall-fame-awards/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}
• Timothy Bottoms, actor (lead, "Johnny Got His Gun), producer (1970)
• Josh Brolin, Academy award nominee actor
• Booker Brown, NFL football player{{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=SBCC Starts Athletics Hall of Fame With Seven Inductees |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/sbcc_inducts_7_into_athletic_hall_of_fame |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}}
• Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com's daily editorial cartoonist (1974)
• Clare Carey, actress (1985)
• Pearl Chase, pioneer in the fields of conservation, preservation, social services, and civic planning (1903)
• Kami Craig, Olympic silver medalist (2008), and gold medalist (2012); water polo{{cite web|title=Sports-Reference.com|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cr/kami-craig-1.html|access-date=2021-08-05|archive-date=2014-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104203952/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cr/kami-craig-1.html|url-status=dead}} (2005)
• Randall Cunningham, former NFL Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and All-Pro player (1981)
• Sam Cunningham, USC All-American and Player of the Game (1973 Rose Bowl), College Football Hall of Fame 2011; former NFL New England Patriots running back (1969)
• Tom Curren, professional surfer (three time world champion), and musician (1982)
• Robert Denno, professor, entomology, butterfly ecologist (1945–2008){{Cite web |last=e-yearbook.com (tm) |title=Santa Barbara Junior High School - Condor Yearbook (Santa Barbara, CA), Class of 1959, Page 12 of 60 {{!}} E-Yearbook.com has the largest online yearbook collection of college, university, high school, middle school, junior high school, military, naval cruise books and yearbooks. Search and browse yearbooks online! |url=http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Santa_Barbara_Junior_High_School_Condor_Yearbook/1959/Page_12.html |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=e-yearbook.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last1=Eubanks |first1=Micky D. |last2=Raupp |first2=Michael J. |last3=Finke |first3=Deborah L. |date=2011-01-07 |title=Robert F. Denno (1945–2008): Insect Ecologist Extraordinaire |journal=Annual Review of Entomology |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=273–292 |doi=10.1146/annurev-ento-120709-144825 |pmid=20822445 |issn=0066-4170|doi-access=free }}
• Thomas Dibblee, figure in geological and topographical work in mapping the state of California (1931)
• Macduff Everton, American photographer, National Geographic{{Cite web |title=Artist Collection |url=https://www.arts.wa.gov/artist-collection/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=ArtsWA |language=en-US}}
• Don Ford, former NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers player (1971)
• Al Geiberger, professional golfer, record score (59) in a PGA Tour event (1955)
• Eric Goldman, law professor
• Kevin Gowdy, baseball player in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization (2015){{cite web |title=Kevin Gowdy Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/kevin-gowdy-666151 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}
• Martha Graham, pioneer of modern dance (1913)
• George Greenough, surfing pioneer{{Cite web |last=Warshaw |first=Matt |title=Greenough, George |url=https://eos.surf/entries/greenough-george/ |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=eos.surf |language=en-US}} (1960)
• Taylor Hackford, Academy award-winning filmmaker (1963)
• Brad Hall, Saturday Night Live news anchor (early years), creator of TV's The Single Guy, environmental activist (1972)
• Deacon Hill, quarterback for the Iowa Hawkeyes (2020){{cite web |last1=Punzal |first1=Barry |title=Santa Barbara High Star Quarterback Deacon Hill Makes It Official in Signing with Wisconsin {{!}} Sports |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/santa_barbara_high_star_quarterback_deacon_hill_makes_it_official_wisconsin/ |website=Noozhawk |date=16 December 2020}}
• Diana M. Holland, U.S. Army major general{{cite news |last=Deters |first=Barbara |date=April 6, 1985 |title=High School Students Get Taste of the Soldier's Life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117642885/soldiers-life/ |work=Salinas Californian |location=Salinas, CA |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=April 14, 1987 |title=Serving In Uniform: Diana M. Leach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117642722/diana-leach/ |work=Paradise Post |location=Paradise, CA |page=B-2 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• Gary K. Hart, former California Secretary of Education and state legislator (1961)
• Karen Kane, fashion designer (1974)
• Ward Kimball, Disney animator, academy award winner for the cartoon It's Tough to be a Bird; creations include Jiminy Cricket, the Mad Hatter, and Pecos Bill (1932){{Cite web |last=Noozhawk |title=Santa Barbara High Welcomes Five Newest Members of 'Always a Don' Wall of Fame |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_high_school_alumni_association_20140316 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=www.noozhawk.com |language=en}}
• Karch Kiraly, three-time Olympic gold medalist (indoor 1984, 1988; beach, 1996) and professional volleyball great (1978)
• Bill Leavy, NFL referee Super Bowl XL (1965)
• Mason Lender, entrepreneur, author{{Cite web |last=Loveton |first=Dave |date=2019-03-04 |title=Santa Barbara High's Mason Lender is Scholar-Athlete of the Year |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/santa_barbara_highs_mason_lender_is_scholar_athlete_of_the_year/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Noozhawk}} (2019)
• Leon Litwack, Pulitizer Prize winner for History for his book Been in the Storm So Long (1947)
• Jordan Maron (aka Captain Sparklez), popular Youtuber{{Cite web |title=CaptainSparklez - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@CaptainSparklez |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=www.youtube.com}} (2010)
• Alma Martinez, Olympian for Mexico (2004), women's football{{cite web|title=Sports-Reference.com|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/alma-martinez-1.html|access-date=2021-08-05|archive-date=2010-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203214545/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/alma-martinez-1.html|url-status=dead}} (1999)
• Eddie Mathews, Baseball Hall of Famer (1949)
• Ross McMains, basketball coach{{cite web |title=Ross McMains' High School Career Home |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/santa-barbara/santa-barbara-dons/athletes/ross-mcmains/?careerid=6mgjn5brtdg77 |website=www.maxpreps.com |language=en}}
• Thalia Munro, Olympic bronze medalist (2004), water polo{{cite web|title=Sports-Reference.com|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/thalia-munro-1.html|access-date=2021-08-05|archive-date=2012-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114141031/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/thalia-munro-1.html|url-status=dead}} (2000)
• John Northrop, aviation (1913)
• Charles A. Ott Jr., United States Army Major General and Director of the Army National Guard (1937)
• Charles Schwab, founder of the world famous discount brokerage firm and innovative philanthropist (1955)
• Ron Shelton, writer/director of film including Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump (1963)
• Chris Shiflett, lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters
• Ryan Spilborghs, Major League Baseball outfielder (1998){{Cite web |date=2010-09-28 |title=Ryan Spilborghs |url=https://sbroundtable.org/hall-of-fame/inductees/athletes/ryan-spilborghs/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table |language=en-US}}
• John Whittemore, World's Oldest Athlete (1917)
• Jamaal Wilkes, former NBA Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors player with four NBA Championships (1970)

The school's alma mater is "Santa Barbara, Hail to Thee!".{{Cite web |url=http://www.sbhs.tierranet.com/ |title=Santa Barbara High School Wall of Fame |access-date=2010-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210040936/http://sbhs.tierranet.com/ |archive-date=2011-02-10 |url-status=dead }} It was written by Doris Holt, Class of 1944.

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://sbhs.sbunified.org Santa Barbara High School]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110210040936/http://sbhs.tierranet.com/ Santa Barbara High School Wall of Fame]
• [http://www.sbhstheatre.com Santa Barbara High School Theatre]
• [https://sbhsforge.com The Forge (SBHS student newspaper)]
• [https://www.sbunified.org Santa Barbara Unified School District]
• [https://foundationforsbhs.org Foundation for Santa Barbara High School]
• [https://www.ethnicstudiesnow.com Ethnic Studies Now Coalition]

{{SBHSDHighSchools}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Barbara, California

Category:Educational institutions established in 1875

Category:High schools in Santa Barbara County, California

Category:History of Santa Barbara County, California

Category:Landmarks in California

Category:Public high schools in California

Category:1875 establishments in California