Closure Begins No Later than March 18 and continues through the end of March
With the COVID-19 situation changing rapidly, the Santa Barbara County K-12 Public School Superintendents, charter school administrators, and Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools, Susan Salcido, have been carefully evaluating the possibility of school closure for students throughout Santa Barbara County. Leaders have been meeting regularly to evaluate this complex issue. Today, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (SBCPHD), the decision has been made to close all schools by Wednesday, March 18. By proactively making this difficult decision, districts can implement their plans in light of their individual community needs
“The closure of any school has real consequences beyond the loss of instruction, social connection and cognitive engagement. This was a very difficult decision, which was not made lightly,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Salcido. “Our school leaders recognize that this closure has widespread ramifications and are working to address impacts such as nutrition for students who typically receive meals during the school day.”
At this time, there are no confirmed cases in Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso said, “We support the decision to close public schools. While there are no confirmed cases at this time, this demonstration of social distancing will help to slow the spread of the virus and minimize the public health impacts in our community.”
Some of our districts have 20,000 students in suburban areas and others operate in rural locations with fewer than 100 students. This plan allows for some flexibility for each district to implement their closure plan with their communities in mind.
Classes will not resume before the end of March. Given the dynamic situation, decisions related to reconvening will be made in conjunction with SBCPHD.
Schools FAQ
Public schools, charter schools, programs and services of the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) in Santa Barbara County will close no later than Wednesday, March 18, meaning that last day students will be on campus is Tuesday, March 17. Administrators will be monitoring the situation to determine when schools might be able to reconvene safely.
K-12 Public School Districts (no later than March 18 – end of March) | |
Ballard School District | March 18 |
Blochman School District | March 16 (open for drop off on Monday/Tuesday) |
Buellton School District | March 18 |
Carpinteria Unified School District | March 16 |
Cold Spring School District | March 16 |
College School District | March 18 |
Cuyama School District | March 18 – April 20 |
Goleta Union School District | March 16 |
Guadalupe School District | March 18 |
Hope School District | March 16 |
Lompoc Unified | March 18 |
Los Olivos School District | March 18 – April 14 |
Montecito Union School District | March 16 |
Orcutt School District | March 18 |
Santa Barbara Unified School District | March 16 |
Santa Maria Bonita School District | March 18 |
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District | March 18 |
Santa Ynez Valley School District | March 18 – April 14 |
Solvang School District | March 18 |
Vista del Mar School District | March 18 |
Santa Barbara County Education Office programs at school sites will close in alignment with the school site closure date with the exception of the court schools which will remain open. Early Start services in the home will transition to remote consultation starting March 18.
Charter Schools (no later than March 18 – end of March) | |
Adelante Charter | March 16 |
Family Partnership Charter | March 16 (open on 3/17 for families that need drop off options) |
Manzanita Public Charter | March 18 – April 6 |
Olive Grove Charter | March 16 (remote learning) |
Orcutt Academy Charter | March 18 |
Peabody Charter | March 16 |
Santa Barbara Charter | March 16 – April 3 |
Santa Ynez Valley Charter | March 16 – April 3 (Spring Break April 6-13) |
Trivium Charter | March 17 (remote learning) |
Private Schools (In-person learning closure dates. If your student attends this school, please contact the school directly.) | |
Agape School of Christian Education | |
The Anacapa School | |
Bishop Garcia Diego High School | March 16 & 17 (no students on campus), March 18-April 9 (remote learning), April 10-19 (Easter Break) |
Cachuma Elementary & Middle School | Open |
Children’s Montessori School | |
Coastline Christian Academy | March 16-20 (remote learning), March 23-27 (Spring Break) |
Crane Country Day School | March 16-20 (remote learning), March 23-April 3 (Spring Break) |
Dunn School | March 18-April 14 (remote learning, Spring Break) |
Eagles Christian Academy | |
Eureka School of Santa Barbara | |
First Baptist Christian School | |
Garden Street Academy | |
Grace Christian Academy | |
John Paul II Preparatory | |
La Purisima Concepcion Elementary | March 17 – March 31* |
Laguna Blanca School | March 16 |
Lompoc Valley Baptist School | |
Marymount of Santa Barbara | March 16-20 (remote learning), March 23-27 Spring Break* |
Midland School | |
Montessori Center School | March 16-27* |
Notre Dame | March 16-31* |
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary | March 16-31* |
Pacific Christian | March 18 – April 3 |
Providence School | March 16-20 (remote learning), March 23-27 Spring Break* |
Saint Therese Classical Academy | March 16-March 31* |
Santa Barbara Middle School | March 16 |
Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy | |
South Coast Montessori | |
St. Joseph High | March 17 – March 31* |
St. Louis de Montfort Elementary | March 16 – March 31* |
St. Mary of the Assumption School | March 16 – March 31* |
St. Raphael Elementary | March 16 – March 31* |
The Howard Carden School | March 16 (closed), March 17-end of the month (remote learning) |
The Knox School of Santa Barbara | March 16 – April 20* (remote learning) |
The Santa Ynez Valley Family School | |
Valley Christian Academy | |
The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara |
*The school will consider the conditions at this point to determine if it’s safe to reopen campus-based learning.